Acclimatization

From ArticleWorld

Acclimatization is the biological process where a living organism adjusts the physiology of its body to a different environment. This can mean adjusting to a different Circadian pattern, a different altitude or a different level of humidity or temperature.

Types

Acclimatization to different time zones requires the body to change the normal Circadian rhythm of hormones, corticosteroids and biological functions. Failure to acclimatize to a time change is not particularly dangerous; however, an individual often feels ill, fatigued or stressed until the body adjusts to the change.

When an individual moves to a different altitude, it is generally preferable that the change be done gradually. Mountain climbers often set up a base camp part way up the mountain to allow acclimatization to the altitude. Higher altitudes have less air pressure and less oxygen in the air that requires an individual increase his or her blood volume in order to take up more oxygen. The higher altitude also results in an increase in rate and volume of breathing. Failure to acclimate to altitude causes altitude sickness which can be mild and lead to headache, shortness of breath and malaise. If severe, failing to acclimatize to high altitudes can cause fatal pulmonary edema.

Temperature acclimatization is particularly important to those who must exert themselves in a different environment. Athletes sometimes need a week or so to adjust to a different thermal environment. Soldiers often must train in conditions similar to where they are to be deployed so that they don’t suffer the effects of extreme heat, such as heat stroke or the effects of extreme cold. A change from extreme heat to extreme cold without acclimatization can affect ones breathing and result in bronchospasm of the bronchial tree.

Acclimatizing to humidity variations is desirable for athletes and others who must exert themselves but does not pose much of a problem unless an individual has a breathing problem made worse by changes in humidity.

Aeronautics

Astronauts must deal with extreme acclimatization whenever they are in space. The thrust into space places cardiovascular challenges on these individuals. Once they are in space, their physiology must adapt to the relative lack of gravitational pull they experience on earth. In general, the body adapts well to weightlessness. The return to earth, however, can be difficult as the muscles must readjust to gravity and the cardiovascular and respiratory systems must be able to acclimatize to higher air pressures and the change in gravitational pull.