The major source of heat for endotherms is the metabolism of their internal organs. Over two-thirds of the heat generated in a resting human is created by the organs of the thoracic and abdominal cavities and the brain (which contributes 16% of the total — about the same as all our skeletal muscles when they are at rest).
If this is the case, then why does metabolism alter with posture? Why do people who cannot maintain their body temperature suffering from hyperthermia and hypothermia is very common with neurological conditions. These people still have all of the internal organs and all appear to be working fine in most cases, yet their metabolism is adversely affected.
The clue lies in postural changes. Could the flow of blood and fluids through the body be responsible for the heat generated in warm blooded species? Why does IBT alter metabolism? Why does going into orbit around the earth for example adversely affect the metabolism and astronauts have serious problems maintaining their body temperature, and use exercise to keep warm. Despite having the very best in heated space suits, hypothermia still presents problems.
As previously discussed and shown photographically, IBT / Gravity alters the pressure and even the diameter of swollen vessels, reduces blood pressure from dangerous levels to normal levels within weeks, yet marginally improves the body temperature. This was shown by taking mouth temperatures during the night and plotted against a graph found in every nursing and physiology manual showing a 2 degree drop around 3.30 am for people sleeping flat. The inclined bed however prevents this drop in temperature from taking place by assisting the flow of blood and fluid through the entire network of vessels and tissue. All of this fluid activity cannot take place without generating friction. Yes fluids do generate friction travelling through conduits.. So the question arises why are some species warm blooded and other species not so warm blooded?
Again posture comes into the physiology of reptiles, larger fish like sharks and larger mammals in the ocean continually change their angle in relation to the circulation networks. Some creatures appear to us to be behaving oddly like the hibernating dormouse sleeping curled up in a ball raising Here there is ample evidence that altering posture for reptiles alters their core temperature. Alligators and crocodiles can be found resting on sloping banks basking in the sun. Head down and their temperature falls, head up and it rises.
loss requires the correct sized radiator in order to balance the burned fuel against the cooling air rushing through the radiator. Partially blocked or compromised and the engine boils the water.
My wife and I and many more people have realised we no longer require so much bedding to keep warm in bed, and do not experience very uncomfortable nights profusely sweating when summer temperatures and humidity soars as we had done for many years sleeping flat. So although we are warmer throughout, we are resisting the overheating phase also.
Unless some kind of fever is present we do not tend to either over heat or become cold in bed. But IBT goes much further, bringing about remarkable improvements during the day for people with spinal cord injury, that have reported on numerous occasions being able to go outdoors without wearing a coat and not experiencing hypothermia as had been the case previously.
Reply to someone asking about temperature and spinal cord injury.
It does not matter how you do it, whether you sling out your heavy bed and get another, place a plywood wedge beneath your mattress, or simply put some folded blankets under your mattress to give you the angle. Do IT!
When I started this, I had the belief that it would simply have to work with spinal cord injuries. I now, not only still hold to this belief, I have collated a tremendous amount of positive data, that supports the fact that the human body is not designed to be horizontal at any point in our lives.
I have been watching the thread relating to warmth. One of the first changes that people notice using the inclined bed is that their body temperature rises when compared to sleeping on a flat bed! In order to understand why sleeping inclined should be any different to sleeping flat, or for that matter sleeping with your upper body raised and your legs raised, you must first understand what generates the heat in the body of us and other animals.
Answer is “Posture:” Look at reptiles, relatively un-elevated and cold-blooded. Dinosaurs, again reptiles and once thought to be cold blooded, now accepted as being warm blooded reptiles. Why? Answer: Because they were elevated above the horizontal posture of today's reptiles.
Next time you’re at the zoo, or in a pet store, study the lizards and see how they use gravity in order to either warm themselves or cool themselves, by altering their posture. Cows and sheep in a field will also use the same principles as the lizard, by choosing to sleep on a hill facing up when laying on the ground! Is it a coincidence that Crocodile and alligator use a River bank incline to warm themselves and cool themselves, by deciding which way round they want to be in relation to gravity?
When a person get a spinal cord injury, they are immobilised for prolonged periods of time. Inevitably stuck in bed. “Lizard Posture”!
Sitting in a wheelchair, designed to tilt the weight of a person back into the chair, and in doing so, places restrictions on circulation, which in turn reduces friction, leading to a drop in body temperature, which in turn leads to susceptibility of infections. “Hibernating Dormouse Posture”
A bat for example, hangs upside down and is able to reduce its body temperature to near freezing during hibernation. The same goes for the dormouse, who, like the bat adapts its posture so that its body temperature and circulation drop to the bare minimum.
When a person with a spinal cord injury elevates their bed and sleeps on an incline, the circulation increases throughout the body. As gravity accelerates the circulation of fluids through the narrow vessels of the body, it causes additional friction, The uptake from the gut and intestines becomes more efficient and less water flows through the bowels, resulting in firmer stools! with the end by-product resulting in additional warmth. Evaporation increases from the skin and respiratory tract due to the inevitable increase in body temperature, further accelerating circulation, which in turn accelerates evaporation. When the bodily fluids become warmer, they flow more easily, reducing friction and thereby regulating us from overheating and this in turn aids the recovery. This is particularly important with regards to respiratory problems such as infection.
Everyone so far who has a spinal cord injury and tried this simple intervention has noticed that they are more able to maintain normal body temperature.
Andrew
Discussion on evolution and temperature.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum ... c=16023.25
