ADAPTATION TO HIGH ALTITUDE COLD IN THE ANDES

Abstract

The problem of human accommodation to a cold environment is evaluated and a framework of the interacting biological and cultural adjustments possible is developed. Data are presented on the cultural and biological accommodations which permit the stable functioning of a native community in the cold environment of the high Andes. Items of material culture which provide cold protection are described in relation to this function and data on the efficacy of some of these items, such as fire use and house form, are presented. Total body cooling and 'Lewis Wave' studies were made on U. S. Whites, University of Cuzco Whites, and Indian students and on native villagers in order to assess possible biological adaptation to cold. The results suggest that the natives have an acclimatizational change in metabolism which raises heat production during cold exposure and a genetically based increase in extremity blood low when exposed to extreme finger cooling.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 31, 1963
Accession Number
AD0407783

Entities

People

  • Paul T. Baker

Organizations

  • Pennsylvania State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acclimatization
  • Adaptation (Biological)
  • Altitude
  • Animals
  • Body Temperature
  • Clothing
  • Cooling
  • Domestic Animals
  • Environment
  • Families (Human)
  • Heat Energy
  • High Altitude
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Solar Radiation
  • United States
  • Universities

Readers

  • Gender and Food Studies
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.
  • Women's Health and Cancer Risk Research: African American Women and Pregnancy Outcomes.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology