title: [Disorders caused by heat, cold, and abnormal pressure].
abstract: Exposure to heat disturbs the homeostasis of body water, serum osmosis, and core temperature, resulting in the development of heat cramp, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Commonly coexisting risks are humidity, windlessness, infrared radiation, physical exertion, continuous work, chemical protective clothing, and lack of acclimatization. Exposure to cold constricts peripheral arteries and reduces metabolism, resulting in the development of chilblains, frostbite, immersion foot, and hypothermia. Wind, water immersion, and alcohol drinking will aggravate the symptoms. Exposure to abnormal pressure underwater or inside caissons or air cabins compresses or distends closed cavities inside the body, resulting in squeeze, nitrogen narcosis, oxygen intoxication, decompression sickness, reverse block, lung edema, and arterial gas embolism. Multifaceted preventive measures and on-site emergency care should be undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.
authors.forename: Seichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horie
mesh_terms: D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*