Physical Stessors and the Human Body - page 1
Keywords: Human Body Physical Stessors Health Human Body
By JN on 02/06/2009
Level: Bachelor Honours Degree (BA, BEng, BSc etc)
Page Number: 1 of 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
The working anatomy and physiology of the human body can face many stressors, some of which are physical stressors. Physical stress can be caused by a number of different forms: Noise, vibration, UV light, radiation and many more. This essay will cover how the physical stressors affect the body, how the effects can be treated and how an environmental health practitioner may get involved.
Noise is defined as unwanted or uncontrollable sound (S.A. Stansfield and M.P. Matheson, 2003). The main causes of unwanted noise or sound is due to road traffic, railways, aircraft, construction and entertainment. It has been found that as many as twenty percent of the European Union population are exposed to noise levels that are considered unacceptable and likely to affect health (W.H.Bassett, 1999).
Relationships have been discovered between noise and increased blood pressure, heart rate and adrenaline and noradrenaline, these findings are mainly from psychology studies. One thing noise can lead to is sleep deprivation. This can have affects on mood and performance, which can in its self cause a lot of problems.
Noise triggers the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol. Prolonged exposure from the simplest of noises such as road/ air traffic can end up being responsible for permanent functional and metabolic changes. This causes changes in hormone levels, also leading to stress (W.H.Bassett, 1999).
Increased sound levels can cause significant hearing loss. Volumes of around 70dB, so for example major roads, can result in cumulative hearing loss over time. The sound levels can cause trauma to the cochlear structure in the inner ear and it is this that can account for the hearing loss experienced (http://www.transportenvironme nt.org/mod ule-htmlpages-display-pid-16.html, 2007).
In extreme cases of noise exposure cardiovascular disease may occur. This can intern lead to heart attacks and strokes, due to sustained high blood pressure. In cases resulting in heart attacks and strokes, noise is not likely to be the sole influence; there are often other contributing factors. In less extreme cases, this rise in blood pressure or hypertension can create headaches, causing sufferers to be more irritable.
Hearing loss can never be regained, however hearing aids can be fitted and worn in and around the ear to aid hearing. They are available in many forms and are designed to fit; digital ones are also now available. As well as this many places including universities and museums now have the loop system where by hearing aid users can adjust a
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