Thermoregulation: Its Varieties, Functions, and Associated Health Issues
In the intricate dance of life, our bodies strive to maintain a delicate balance, one that is crucial for our survival - the balance of temperature. This biological mechanism, known as thermoregulation, is vital for mammals, including humans, to function optimally.
Thermoregulation, the process that keeps our internal body temperature around 98.6°F (37°C), is a complex interplay of three key mechanisms: afferent sensing, efferent responses, and central control. Afferent sensing involves temperature receptors around the body that identify whether the core temperature is too hot or cold, and relay the information to the hypothalamus. Efferent responses are behaviors that humans can engage in to regulate their body temperature, such as putting on a coat or moving into the shade. The hypothalamus acts as the central control, using the information it receives to produce hormones that alter body temperature.
However, external factors and internal conditions can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to thermoregulation disorders.
Environmental factors, such as extended exposure to high temperatures, high humidity (which reduces sweat evaporation), direct sunlight, and poor air circulation, can overwhelm the body's ability to maintain normal temperature, causing disorders like heat exhaustion. Pre-existing health conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, lung or kidney diseases, and neurological disorders, impair the body’s ability to cool itself or respond adequately to temperature changes, leading to thermoregulation problems.
Age-related changes, particularly in older adults, reduce sweating efficiency and delay physiological signals like thirst, increasing vulnerability to heat-related disorders. Hormonal changes and infections can also cause thermoregulation issues, such as fever-related sweating and hot flashes in menopause. Medications and drug withdrawal can disrupt temperature regulation, leading to abnormal sweating or impaired cooling. Neurological conditions such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease may worsen thermoregulatory responses during heat exposure.
On the other end of the spectrum, extreme weather can cause hypothermia in cool temperatures by chilling a person through freezing temperatures, sweat, rain, or submersion in cold water. Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Symptoms include shivering, confusion, exhaustion, fumbling hands, slurred speech, drowsiness, memory loss, and cold skin in young children and babies.
Hyperthermia occurs when the body's heat-regulating mechanisms fail, causing the body temperature to become too high. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include sweating, fast or weak pulse, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headaches, and fainting. Extreme weather can also cause hyperthermia in warm temperatures by causing the body to heat up faster than it can cool down.
If a person has symptoms of hypo- or hyperthermia, it is important to seek immediate medical attention by dialing 911 or the number of the nearest emergency department. Common causes of thermoregulation disorders in humans include these environmental factors, pre-existing health conditions, neurological disorders, and medication effects.
In summary, thermoregulation disorders arise from a combination of external stressors like heat and humidity plus internal factors including chronic diseases, age, neurological impairments, hormonal states, and medication effects. These influences can reduce the body's ability to maintain stable core temperature, leading to conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It's crucial to be aware of these factors and take necessary precautions to maintain a healthy body temperature, ensuring a balanced and comfortable life.
[1] National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Heat-Related Disorders. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000764.htm [2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Heatstroke. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heatstroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20370958 [3] American Academy of Family Physicians. (2021). Hyperthermia. Retrieved from https://familydoctor.org/condition/hyperthermia/ [4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Older Adults and Heat. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/olderadults.html [5] National Institute on Aging. (2021). Heat-Related Illnesses in Older Adults. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/heat-related-illnesses-older-adults
- An ailment like HIV, a chronic disease, can make one vulnerable to thermoregulation disorders due to its potential impact on the body's immune system and ability to respond to temperature changes.
- Asthma, a respiratory condition, can also disrupt thermoregulation by affecting the body's ability to breathe efficiently, leading to difficulty in cooling or heating the body as needed.
- Macular degeneration, a common eye condition in older adults, does not directly impact thermoregulation, but it may indirectly affect it through reduced visual acuity, making it difficult for individuals to perceive and respond to changes in temperature.
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a type of lung cancer, can impair thermoregulation by affecting respiration and the body's ability to exchange heat with the environment.
- Certain medications, such as those used for mental health conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, can disrupt hormonal balance and thermoregulation mechanisms.
- Ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases can affect thermoregulation, as the chronic inflammation and associated symptoms can consume energy and impair temperature regulation.
- Obesity, a chronic health condition characterized by excessive body weight, can reduce the body's ability to cool itself effectively, making individuals more susceptible to heat-related disorders.
- Preparation (prep) before engaging in activities in extreme weather conditions, such as applying sunscreen or wearing protective clothing, can help maintain a healthy body temperature and prevent thermoregulation disorders.
- Eczema, a skin condition characterized by red, itchy, and inflamed skin, does not directly impact thermoregulation, but it may indirectly affect it through reduced sweat evaporation and decreased skin elasticity.
- Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder, can affect thermoregulation by altering the body's response to sugar levels, which in turn can impact the body's ability to cool or heat itself as needed.
- The societal issue of mental health, particularly in relation to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders, can indirectly impact thermoregulation through the associated symptoms, such as changes in appetite and activity levels that can alter body temperature.
- CBD, a compound derived from cannabis, has been studied for its potential therapeutic effects on various neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease, which in turn can impact thermoregulation by affecting the nervous system's temperature regulation mechanisms.
- Thermoregulation disorders, such as heat stroke and hypothermia, can also lead to other chronic diseases and mental health issues, exemplifying the interconnectedness of health-and-wellness, mental health, and medical-conditions, as well as the importance of therapies-and-treatments designed to address these issues.
