Minimizing the risk of cold stress and thermoregulation in neonatal Essay

Minimizing the risk of cold stress and thermoregulation in neonatal children - Essay Example Any deviation from the normal values will influence the biochemical processes and will disturb the natural homeostasis presents within the cells of the human organism. The temperature of the body is divided in two parts: the temperature of the internal organs, known as the core temperature, and skin temperature. The temperature of the internal organs remains almost exactly constant, within a variation of 0.6 0C. Nevertheless, many healthy people whose temperature has been measured orally have shown a range of normal temperatures, varying from under 36 0C to over 37.5 0C. The average normal temperature of the internal organs is considered to be within the range of 36.6 to 37.5 0C if it's measured orally and 1 0C if it's measured rectally. Since the temperature regulatory systems of the body are not perfect, the body temperature varies in different situations, such as extreme exercise and extremes of temperature of surroundings. For example, during exercise, when excessive heat is produced, the temperature of the body can rise temporarily to as high as 38.5 to 40 0C. On the other hand, when the body is subjected to extreme cold, the temperature of t he body can often fall below 36 0C. The skin temperature, on the other hand, constantly varies, depending on the surroundings. This temperature is important when we take into account the ability of the skin to lose heat to the surroundings. As was stated before, the body's perfect functioning is dependent on maintain the balance, or homeostasis, in the organism. The control of body temperature is no different; in essence, it represents a balance between heat production of the body and heat loss. Logically, the rate of heat production that increases more than the loss of heat leads to elevated temperature of the body. If the loss of heat is greater, lowering of body temperature occurs. Heat production represents the principal by-product of metabolism. There are various factors that determine the rate of heat production, and these factors combined are named the metabolic rate of the body. According to Guyton and Hall (2000, p.822) the most important factors are the following: 1) Basal rate of metabolism of all the cells of the body 2) Extra rate of metabolism as a result of muscle contraction (this includes muscle contractions caused by shivering) 3) Extra metabolism caused by the effect of thyroxin (and to a smaller extend other hormones like growth hormone and testosterone) 4) Extra metabolism caused by the effect of epinephrine, norepinephrine and the sympathetic stimulation of the cells. 5) Extra metabolism caused by increased chemical activity in the cells, especially when the cell temperature increases. The main generators of heat in the body represent the internal organs, especially the liver, brain and heart, and in the skeletal muscles during exercise. From these organs the heat is transferred to the skin, where it is lost to the air and other surroundings. According to Guyton and Hall (2000, p.822) the rate at which the body heat is lost is determined by two factors: 1) How rapidly heat can be conducted from where it is produced in the body core to the skin 2) How rapidly heat can then be transferred from the skin to the surroundings. The insulator system of the body, that prevents the heat from

The danger of smoking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The danger of smoking - Research Paper Example Therefore, it is extremely essential to increase the level of awareness of the general public regarding the ill effects and hazards of smoking. The cigarette smoking might immediately change the precious life of the human being into death through stroke or heart attack. According to Gary Ford, it is stated that habit of consuming tobacco is more influential rather than health consciousness. Therefore, these individual consider tobacco smoking to be a passion or relaxation from their mental tension and so, they consume tobacco without any distress for health. Moreover, most of the individual treat smoking as a sense of status and style and so do not believe in the statistics of deaths presented by WHO or National Health Service (NHS). But they always remain in the top-most position in the list of deaths caused for excessive smoking of tobacco. Therefore, in order to decrease the rate of deaths or health related disorders, the passion of tobacco smoking needs to be reduced significantly. Tobacco smoking is extremely dangerous as it means the inhalation of numerous harmful chemicals or by-products of smoke such as nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. Nicotine is the addictive constituent of tobacco (Ford 525). When nicotine is smoked, then immediately the molecules get inside the lungs of the individual. Then these nicotine molecules get absorbed by the blood stream and travel to the brain and lock the specific receptor regions. However by locking the specific receptor regions, the brain gets affected in a way that hinders the metabolism and appetite of the individual. Carbon monoxide is also another important ingredient of tobacco smokes. Carbon monoxide is also a poisonous gas inhaled into the lungs and absorbed by the blood cells of the body. After being inhaled, carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen present in blood cells and so numerous cells die, because of lack of oxygen supply. However,