Infringement of a thermoregulation of an organism: the reasons and symptoms

Each of us knows about the existence of such a thing as body temperature. In a healthy adult, its indicators should be in the range of 36-37 ° C. Deviations in one direction or another indicate the occurrence of a disease of any etiology or a violation of thermoregulation of the body. This condition of the disease, as such, is not, but it can cause destabilization of the organs and systems, even lead to a fatal outcome. All warm-blooded mammals, including humans, possess the ability to thermoregulate. This function was developed and fixed in the course of evolution. It coordinates the processes of metabolism, makes it possible to adapt to the conditions of the external world, thereby helping living organisms fight for their existence. Each individual, regardless of species, status or age, is exposed to the environment every second, and dozens of different reactions continuously flow in his body. All these processes provoke fluctuations in body temperature, which, if not thermoregulation, controlling them, would lead to the destruction of individual organs and the whole body as a whole. In principle, this happens when a thermoregulatory violation occurs. The causes of this pathology can be quite diverse, from trivial hypothermia to serious diseases of the central nervous system, thyroid or hypothalamus. If a thermoregulatory system that does suffer from such ailments does not cope well with its functions, to correct the situation, one must treat the underlying disease. If the thermoregulation is disturbed in a healthy person, and the cause is external conditions, for example weather, it is necessary to be able to provide such a victim first aid. Often his further health and life depend on this. This article offers information on how to regulate body temperature, what symptoms indicate a malfunction in thermoregulation, and what actions should be taken in this case.

Features of body temperature

The violation of thermoregulation is inextricably linked with the temperature of the body. Most often it is measured in the armpit, where it is normally taken equal to 36.6 ° C. This value is an indicator of heat exchange in the body and should be a biological constant. Nevertheless, the temperature of the body in small ranges can vary, for example, depending on the time of day, which is also the norm. Its lowest values are fixed between 2 and 4 o'clock at night, and the highest between 4 and 7 o'clock in the evening. In different parts of the body, the temperature also changes, and this does not depend on the time of day. Thus, in the rectum, the values from 37.2 ° C to 37.5 ° C are considered normal, and in the mouth from 36.5 ° C to 37.5 ° C. In addition, each body has its own temperature norm. The highest is in the liver, where it reaches 38 ° C to 40 ° C. But the temperature of the warm-blooded body should not vary from climatic conditions. The role of thermoregulation is precisely to keep it constant under any environmental conditions. In medicine, this phenomenon is called homeothermia, and a constant temperature is called isothermia.

The violation of thermoregulation of the body is characterized by an increase or decrease in body temperature. There is a clear range of its upper and lower values, beyond which you can not go, because it leads to death. At certain resuscitation measures a person can survive if his body temperature drops to 25 ° C or rises to 42 ° C, although survival cases are known even at more extreme values.

The concept of thermoregulation

Conventionally, a human body can be represented as a kind of core with a constant temperature, and a shell, where it varies. In the core processes occur, as a result of which heat is released. Heat transfer takes place through the shell between the external medium and the core. The source of heat is the food we eat every day. When processing food, oxidation of fats, proteins, carbons occurs, that is, the metabolism reaction. During their flow and heat production is formed. The essence of thermoregulation is to maintain a balance between heat transfer and the formation of heat production. In other words, in order to keep the body temperature within the norm, the shell should give the heat medium as much as it is formed in the core. Infringement of thermoregulation of a body is observed, when there is an over-expenditure of heat production, or, on the contrary, it is formed much more than the shell is capable to deduce in an environment.

This can happen because of:

- environmental conditions (too hot or too cold);

- increased fiznagruzok;

- not suitable clothes for clothes;

- taking some medicines;

- drinking alcohol;

- the presence of diseases (vegetovascular dystonia, brain tumor, diabetes insipidus, various syndromes of hypothalamic disorder, thyrotoxic crisis, and others).

Thermoregulation is carried out in two ways:

1. Chemical.

2. Physical.

Let us consider them in more detail.

Chemical method

It is based on the relationship between the amount of heat generated in the body and the rate of exothermic reactions. The chemical type includes two ways of maintaining the right temperature - contractile and non-reduced thermogenesis.

The contractile begins to act when it is necessary to increase the body temperature, for example, while staying in the cold. We notice this by lifting hairs on the body or running "crawl", which is a microvibration. They allow to increase heat production up to 40%. With a stronger freezing, we begin to tremble. This is also nothing more than a method of thermoregulation, in which the production of heat production increases by about 2.5 times. In addition to involuntary reflex reactions to cold, a person, while moving, can raise the temperature in his body. The violation of thermoregulation in this case occurs when the effect of cold is too long, or the temperature of the medium is too low, as a result of which the activation of the exchange reactions does not help to produce the desired amount of heat. In medicine, this condition is called hypothermia.

Thermogenesis can be non-reduced, that is, without muscle involvement. Metabolism is slowed or accelerated under the influence of certain medications, with increased production of hormones in the thyroid gland and in the adrenal medulla, with a more active activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The reasons for the violation of human thermoregulation in this case lie in the diseases of the above thyroid organs, the central nervous system, the adrenal gland function. Information about changes in temperature is always fed to the central nervous system. The thermal center is located in the tiny section of the intermediate brain, the hypothalamus. It distinguishes the front area responsible for heat transfer, and the rear, responsible for the production of heat. Pathologies of the central nervous system or dysfunction of the hypothalamus disrupt the harmonious work of these parts, which negatively affects the thermoregulation.

On the intensity of heat exchange, and in addition, the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 also affect certain functions of the vessels. In a normal state, in order to conserve heat, the vessels narrow, and to reduce it, expand. California scientists have proved that hormones can "interfere" with blood vessels, as a result of which they stop reacting to the amount of heat produced and the body's need for it. In medical practice, there is often a violation of thermoregulation in patients with a brain tumor diagnosis or thyrotoxic crisis.

Physical method

He performs work on the release of heat into the environment, which is carried out by several methods:

1. Radiation. It is characteristic of all bodies and objects, the temperature of which is greater than zero. Radiation occurs by electromagnetic waves in the infrared range. At a temperature of 20 ° C and a humidity of about 60%, an adult loses up to 50% of his heat.

2. Conduction, which means loss of heat when touching cooler objects. It depends on the area of the surfaces in contact and the duration of contact.

3. Convection, which means cooling the body with particles of the medium (air, water). Such particles touch the body, take away heat, heat up and rise, giving way to new colder particles.

4. Evaporation. This is all familiar sweating, as well as the evaporation of moisture from the mucous by breathing.

In conditions of impossibility to use these methods, there is a violation of thermoregulation of the organism. The reasons for this can be different. Thus, convection and conduction are hampered or reduced to zero if a person is wrapped up in clothes that do not touch air or any objects, and evaporation is impossible at 100% humidity. On the other hand, a significant activation of heat transfer also leads to a violation of thermoregulation. For example, convection increases in the wind and increases manifold in cold water. This is one of the reasons why people, even those who can swim well, are killed in shipwrecks.

Thermoregulation in the elderly

Above we considered what the thermoregulation of the human body and the causes of its violation are, but without taking into account age features. However, in humans, the ability to control body temperature throughout life undergoes changes.

The old people are disturbed by the mechanisms of the hypothalamus performing the assessment of the temperature of the external environment. They do not immediately feel the cold, standing on the ice floor, also do not immediately react to hot water, for example, in the shower. Therefore, they can easily harm themselves (overcool, burn). It is noticed that in the elderly people who do not even complain about the cold, mood deteriorates, there is an unreasonable discontent, and when creating a comfortable climate, all these harmful "symptoms" of an old age decrease or disappear.

At the same time, many old people freeze even at sufficiently comfortable air temperatures. They can often be seen on a warm summer day dressed in winter. Such changes in thermoregulation are due to circulatory disorders and a decrease in hemoglobin levels.

Old people not only in the cold, but also in the heat react somewhat differently. At high ambient temperatures, sweating begins later, and recovery of the body's temperature index is slower. In other words, the symptoms of hypothermia or overheating begin to manifest later than in young people, and the recovery of the body goes harder.

Infringement of thermoregulation at the child

For the child's body, other features of the thermoregulation system are characteristic. In newborns, it is very imperfect. Infants are born with body temperature in the range of 37.7 ° C - 38.2 ° C. After a few hours, it falls by about 2 ° C, and then again reaches a mark of 37 ° C, which should not cause concern. Higher rates can be a signal for the onset of a disease. The imperfection of the thermoregulation system in infants should be compensated by the creation of appropriate climate conditions for it. So, up to 1 month in the children's air temperature should be maintained at 32 ° C - 35 ° C, if the baby is stripped, and 23 ° C - 26 ° C if it is swaddled. To stimulate thermoregulation should start with the simplest - do not put a hat on the head. In children older than 1 month, these temperature standards are reduced by about 2 ° C.

Children born prematurely have more serious problems with thermoregulation, therefore in the first days, and sometimes even weeks, they are kept in special cuvettes. All manipulations with them, including handling the umbilical cord, washing and feeding, are also carried out in cuvettes.

Control of the body over temperature is stabilized only to the age of 8 years.

The violation of thermoregulation in an infant may occur for the following reasons:

- oppressive effects on the hypothalamus (hypoxia of the fetus, birth hypoxia, intracranial injuries during obstetric care);

- congenital pathology of the central nervous system;

- hypothermia;

Overheating (excessive wrapping);

- drugs (beta-blockers);

- Changing climatic conditions (it happens when traveling with parents together with babies).

In infants, the temperature measured in the armpit is considered normal in the range from 36.4 ° C to 37.5 ° C. Lower values may indicate dystrophy, vascular insufficiency. Higher values indicate inflammatory processes taking place in the body.

Symptoms of thermoregulation disorders in hypothermia

Depending on the cause, which caused a malfunction in the control over the body temperature, there are different signs indicating a violation of the body's thermoregulation. Symptoms of hypothermia or hypothermia begin to occur when the body temperature drops below 35 ° C. Such a state can occur with prolonged exposure to frost or water. For the average person, the water temperature in the range 26-28 ° C is acceptable, that is, it can be kept long enough. With a decrease in these indicators, the time that can be found in an aquatic environment without compromising health is drastically reduced. For example, at t = 18 ° C it does not exceed 30 minutes.

Hypothermia, depending on the complexity of the course, includes three stages:

- light (body temperature from 35 ° C to 34 ° C);

- medium (t = 34 ° C to 30 ° C);

- heavy (t = 30 ° C to 25 ° C).

Symptoms in mild form:

- goose pimples;

- cyanosis;

- a trembling of the body;

- rapid breathing;

- sometimes there is an increase in blood pressure values.

In the future, the violation of thermoregulation processes progresses.

The patient has such symptoms:

Low blood pressure;

Bradycardia;

- rapid breathing;

- narrowing of the pupils;

- stop trembling in the body;

- the disappearance of the sensitivity of pain;

- oppression of reflexes;

- loss of consciousness;

- a coma.

Treatment for hypothermia

If due to hypothermia the thermoregulation of the body has disrupted, the treatment should be aimed at raising the body temperature. In the mild form of hypothermia, it is sufficient to perform such actions:

- go into a warm room;

- drink hot tea;

- rub your legs and put on warm socks;

- Take a hot bath.

If there is no way to quickly get into heat, you need to start active movements - jumping, rubbing hands (only not with snow), claps, any physical exercises.

The first help in violation of thermoregulation of the second, and especially the third degree should be provided by the closest people, since the victim himself can no longer take care of himself. Algorithm of actions:

- to transfer a person to heat;

- quickly remove his clothes;

- rubbing the body with light movements;

- wrap in a blanket, but better in a fabric that does not allow air to pass through;

- if the swallowing reflex is not broken, give a warm liquid (tea, broth, water, but not alcohol!).

If possible, you need to call an ambulance and take the patient to the hospital, where they will be treated with antispasmodics, analgesics, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins. In some cases, resuscitation is carried out, sometimes it is necessary to amputate frostbitten limbs.

In children, the onset of hypothermia is particularly frequent. When supercooled, they need to be warmed up with wrapping, give a breast or warm milk. An excellent tool that stimulates thermoregulation is hardening, which parents should spend the baby from the first months of life. At the initial stages it consists of air baths and walks in the fresh air. Further, wiping feet with a wet cloth, washing with cool water, bathing with a gradual decrease in water temperature, walking barefoot are added.

Hyperthermia

A rise in body temperature or hyperthermia almost always causes a violation of the body's thermoregulation. The reasons can be the following:

- Many diseases (trauma, infection, inflammation, vegetovascular dystonia);

- prolonged exposure to the sun;

- clothing that prevents sweating;

- stress;

- increased physical activity;

- binge eating.

If a patient has any signs of a disease (cough, GI disorders, complaints of pain in the organs and others), he must perform a series of diagnostic tests to identify the cause of the temperature increase:

- blood test;

- Analysis of urine;

- Radiography;

- ECG;

- Ultrasound.

Having diagnosed, they conduct therapy for the detected disease, which in parallel restores the body temperature to normal values.

If due to overheating there was a violation of thermoregulation, the treatment consists in creating the conditions for the injured person to restore the functioning of the body systems. With a sunstroke there are such symptoms:

General malaise;

- headache;

- nausea;

- temperature increase;

Increased sweating;

- Sometimes there are cramps, loss of consciousness and nosebleeds.

The victim should be placed in a cool place (it is advisable to lay and raise his legs) and:

- if possible, undress;

- wipe the body with a damp cloth;

- put a cold compress on the forehead;

- Give them a drink of cool, salted water.

Thermal shock is of three types of intensity:

- mild (body temperature slightly increased);

- medium (t = 39 ° C to 40 ° C);

- heavy (t = 41 ° C to 42 ° C).

The mild form is manifested by headache, frustration, fatigue, rapid breathing, tachycardia. As a treatment, you can take a cool shower, drink mineral water.

The violation of thermoregulation of the human body in the middle form is manifested by such symptoms:

- adynamia;

- nausea before vomiting;

- headache;

- tachycardia;

- sometimes loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of severe form:

Confused consciousness ;

- convulsions;

- pulse frequent threadlike;

- Frequent, superficial breathing;

- the tone of the heart is deaf;

- skin is hot and dry;

Anuria;

- delusions and hallucinations;

- change in blood composition (decrease in chloride, increase in urea and residual nitrogen).

With medium and severe forms, intensive therapy is carried out, including injections of "Diprazin" or "Diazepam", as indicated by the administration of analgesics, neuroleptics, cardiac glycosides. Before the ambulance arrives, the victim needs to be undressed, wiped off with cold water, put ice in the groin, underarms, on the forehead and the back of the head.

Thermoregulatory disturbance syndrome

This pathology is observed with dysfunction of the hypothalamus and can manifest as hypo- and hyperthermia.

Causes:

- congenital pathologies;

- swelling;

- intracranial infection;

- exposure to radiation;

- bulimia;

Anorexia;

- malnutrition;

- an excess of iron.

Symptoms:

- patients equally badly withstand, and cold, and heat;

- Constantly cold extremities;

- during the day the temperature remains unchanged;

- subfebrile temperatures do not respond to antibiotics, glucocorticoids;

- lowering the temperature to normal values after sleep, after taking sedatives;

- connection of temperature fluctuations with psychoemotional stress;

- other signs of dysfunction of the hypothalamus.

Treatment is carried out depending on the causes that caused problems with the hypothalamus. In some cases, it is enough to assign the right diet to a patient, in others hormonal therapy is required, and in the third - surgical intervention.

Syndrome of restraint also indicates a violation of thermoregulation. Those who have this syndrome are always cold, even in the summer. The temperature is often normal or slightly elevated, the subfebrile condition lasts a long and monotonous time. Such people can experience sudden pressure surges, fast heart rate, breathing disorders and excessive sweating, impulses and motivation. Studies show that the cause of the syndrome of restitution are disorders in the autonomic nervous system.