Tag

Thermoregulation

All articles tagged with #thermoregulation

health1 day ago•16 min saved

Heatwaves Meet Your Meds: Why Some Drugs Heighten Heat Risk

Common medications, including antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs), antipsychotics, ADHD stimulants, beta blockers, and diuretics, can disrupt the body's thermoregulation and fluid balance, increasing dehydration and heat‑related illness during heatwaves; risk is higher with drug combinations and among older adults. The article highlights personal experiences, calls for better clinician and patient awareness, and advises not stopping meds without a doctor, while emphasizing hydration, cooling strategies, and seeking medical care for serious symptoms.

via BBC|

#climate-change #dehydration #health

science1 month ago•12 min saved

Heat and endurance: humans outlast horses over long, hot distances

Humans sprint poorly against horses, but over long, hot distances our continuous sweating and decoupled breathing let us keep cooling and keep moving, giving us a surprising endurance advantage. Horses can outrun us in a dash, yet their large bodies and gait limit heat shedding, so with enough heat exposure a human can outlast a galloping horse. The idea supports the endurance-running hypothesis and persistence hunting as possible drivers of human evolution, though it remains debated and not universally accepted. Evidence cited includes the Wales Man vs Horse races and ethnographic examples, while critics argue the centrality of heat-driven endurance may be overstated.

via Space Daily|

#endurance-running #human-evolution #note-extra-tag-not-allowed

health2 months ago•24 min saved

Hot Water Immersion Triggers Stronger Heat and Immune Response Than Saunas

In a controlled study, 20 healthy young adults were exposed to hot water immersion, traditional sauna, and far‑infrared sauna. All methods raised core temperature, but hot water immersion produced the highest core temperature and strongest cardiovascular responses (heart rate, blood flow, cardiac output) and elicited measurable inflammatory immune changes, likely because sweating is less effective in water. The findings highlight that heat delivery matters for physiological stress and suggest heat therapy could aid those unable to exercise, but long-term benefits aren’t established and medical clearance is advised for people with heart conditions; heat therapy is not a substitute for regular exercise.

via ZME Science|

#cardiovascular-health #health #heat-therapy

science5 months ago•2 min saved

Florida crocodiles start basking on boats as habitat shifts

Researchers tracking American crocodiles in Broward County have documented them sunning on docks, kayaks, and even jet skis, a thermoregulatory behavior that arises as their natural habitat is disturbed. Sun exposure helps regulate body temperature and may influence parasite dynamics, illustrating how urbanization is pushing crocodiles to use human structures for basking to survive.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#american-crocodile #basking-behavior #habitat-disturbance

animals5 months ago•71 min saved

The Chill Switch: How Some Animals Control Body Heat to Weather Extremes

Some mammals and birds can deliberately alter their internal temperature through heterothermy, using short bouts of torpor or longer hibernation to conserve energy and water during harsh weather, predators, or food shortages. Studies highlight bats, sugar gliders, dormice, and other species adjusting torpor in response to wind, rain, predators, and even moon phase, showing a flexible survival strategy beyond normal body temperature control. This helps them endure variability, though it isn’t a foolproof shield against climate change.

via Live Science|

#animals #heterothermy #hibernation

science7 months ago•5 min saved

Unique Cold-Blooded Mammals: Social Oddballs

The naked mole-rat, a mammal native to East Africa, exhibits unique characteristics such as eusocial behavior and remarkable cancer resistance, and it thermoregulates in a manner similar to cold-blooded animals by relying on external heat sources and behavioral adaptations, challenging traditional classifications of mammals as strictly warm-blooded.

via IFLScience|

#cold-blooded #eusocial #mammals

science-and-health2 years ago•2 min saved

"The Science Behind Women Feeling Colder Than Men"

Research shows that women tend to prefer warmer environments while men prefer cooler ones, with women being more sensitive to cold due to factors such as smaller body size, lower metabolic rate, and lower skin temperature. Hormonal changes, medical conditions, and other factors can also influence temperature sensitivity. Studies on birds and bats suggest that sex-related temperature preferences may have evolved to reduce resource competition and protect offspring.

via The Washington Post|

#gender-differences #hormonal-changes #medical-conditions

science-and-technology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Introducing the Solar-Powered Wearable for Personal Climate Control"

Researchers led by Ziyuan Wang have developed a flexible, solar-powered device that can be integrated into clothing to regulate body temperature by heating or cooling the skin. The device combines a solar cell with an electrocaloric material, which changes temperature when exposed to an electric field. It operates continuously for 24 hours, recharges with sunlight, and can switch between heating and cooling modes. This innovation could be particularly beneficial for people working in extreme environments and astronauts in space.

via Ars Technica|

##bodytemperatureregulation #flexiblepolymers

science-and-environment3 years ago•4 min saved

Survival Tactics: Wild Animals' Ingenious Ways to Stay Cool

As temperatures rise due to climate change, animals are employing various tactics to beat the heat. Some species, like squirrels, engage in "splooting" or "heat dumping" by spreading out on cooler surfaces. Others are evolving different body shapes, such as larger beaks, legs, and ears, to better regulate their body temperatures. Red kangaroos use saliva to lower their body temperature, while echidnas blow snot bubbles to cool their blood. Storks excrete liquid onto their legs, and birds like pelicans and cormorants use "gular fluttering" to cause evaporation. Understanding these heat regulation methods can help predict how animals will respond to climate change.

via CNN|

#animals #climate-change #evolution

science3 years ago•2 min saved

Study Finds Correlation Between Brain Size and Yawning.

A large-scale animal study has found a correlation between brain size and the duration of yawning in vertebrates. The study collected data on 1,291 yawns from 55 mammal species and 46 bird species and found that animals with larger brains and more neurons tend to have longer-lasting yawns. The researchers suggest that yawning is an essential way of cooling down the brain, and bigger brains need longer yawns to properly cool them. The study could fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge about yawning, including why it happens in the first place and why animals such as giraffes have no need to bother with yawning at all.

via ScienceAlert|

#animal-study #brain-size #neurons