The Importance of Maintaining Health and Healthy Lifestyle Practices

This document discusses the importance of maintaining health and healthy lifestyle practices. It covers topics such as the homeostatic feedback system for body temperature regulation, the components of the cardiac conduction system, the functions of vitamin B12, and the consequences of its deficiency. It also identifies the group of people who are more likely to be at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Question and answer
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING HEALTH AND HEALTHY
LIFESTYLE PRACTICES
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Question and answer
Part – A
Q1. An important aspect of homeostasis is maintaining normal body
temperature. Describe the homeostatic feedback system (i.e. stimulus-control
centre-effectors-response, series of steps) that would be activated in response to
elevated body temperature.
Homeostasis is the tendency, state or process within the human body that
works to maintain a constant equilibrium within the internal body environment in
response to changing internal and external environmental factors. This involves
maintaining equilibrium state of various different variables in the body like fluid
balance, blood sugar, pH, chemicals, hormones as well as body temperature and many
more (Modell et al. 2015). The homeostasis process working to manage normal body
temperature is known as “thermoregulation in humans”. This thermoregulation
maintains a constant body temperature (37C/98.6F) for proper functionality of
enzymes within the body (Fawcett & Watson, 2014).
Kotas & Medzhitov (2015) stated that “negative feedback loops” are involved
in Homeostasis process where brain “hypothalamus” performs the role of control
centre located in the middle of the human brain. The negative feedback system is
activated by disturbing external or internal “stimulus or cue”. The stimulus is sensed
by the body sensors (nerve cells, receptors etc.), which transfer the information to the
control centre “hypothalamus”. This hypothalamus controls and manipulates
hormones, enzymes and other chemicals in response to stimulus or cue to ensure
homeostasis is maintained in the body.
This negative feedback loop system works to manage human body
temperature set point of 37C/98.6F. When the body temperature increases (stimuli) it
is detected by primary nerve cell (sensor) having endpoints in the brain and skin.
These nerve cells persist thermo receptors that transfer information to the temperature
regulation control centre of the brain i.e. hypothalamus. The hypothalamus stimulates
a response in the form of activated sweat glands (effectors) to bring back normal body
temperature by sweating out the extra heat of the body. The below described diagram
clearly demonstrates this “negative feedback loop” that works to manage human body
temperature in homeostasis (Morrison, 2016).
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Question and answer
Figure 1: Negative feedback loop of homeostasis regulating body temperature
(Source: Fawcett & Watson, 2014).
This negative feedback loop works to maintain a stable body temperature,
which means it even response to stimuli of decreased body temperature that generally
occurs in cold conditions. The temperature regulatory system of brain initiates a
response to minimise the heat loss from the body ensuring normal body temperature.
The below-described image clearly describes this “negative feedback loop for
maintaining body temperature in homeostasis” (Brestoff & Artis, 2015).
Figure 2: Homeostasis body temperature regulation mechanism
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Question and answer
(Source: Fawcett & Watson, 2014).
Kotas & Medzhitov (2015) studied the “Control system” that regulates and
stabilises the core temperature in the human body. The anterior hypothalamic nucleus
and adjacent preoptic area of the hypothalamus is the region that specifically connects
the nervous system to the endocrine system of the body works to manage body
temperature in the human body. The heat production and dissipation are performed by
the endocrine system by increasing or decreasing the energy of the body to maintain
set body temperature. This is the proper mechanism of homeostasis that works to
maintain body temperature.
Part – B
Feedback
The writing academic style involves scientific language mostly used to describe
complicated scientific processes. There are minor grammatical errors that can surely
be corrected by getting assistance from PCAL. The work reaches acceptance level
with minor mistakes. However, with almost no plagiarism, the response is well
paraphrased reflecting no matches in turnitin. Lastly, the referencing is also of
acceptance level with correctly used APA referencing style, in-text and referencing
list.
Q2. Describe the components and conduction pathway of the cardiac conduction
system of the heart. Relate the conduction system to the corresponding sequence
of heart chamber contractions?
The cardiac conduction system involves functioning of certain specialised and
specified cardiac muscle cells or components that process signals to heart muscles
causing contraction (Levick, 2014). According to Van Weerd & Christoffels (2016)
studies, basically, the heart work as “central heating system” that requires electricity
to perform its function. The heart generated its own electricity or power source by the
cardiac conduction system in the form of impulse produced by contraction of heart
muscles.
The heart components working in the conduction pathway are The sino-atrial
(SA) node, The bundle of His, The atrioventricular (AV) node, The left and right
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Question and answer
bundle branches and The Purkinje fibers. These components work in a collaborative
manner to produce contraction in heart muscles. This contraction produces a signal
that creates electric current identified by Electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor proper
functionality of the cardiac conduction system (Jensen, Wang, Christoffels &
Moorman, 2014).
The SA node in the heart works as a natural pacemaker that produces
electrical stimuli, which pass via myocardial cells towards the atria. This creates a
contraction wave that spreads quickly through both atria of the heart. Eventually, this
electrical stimulus initiated from SA node reaches the AV node providing time for the
contracting atria to pump all the blood in ventricles of the heart. Once the atria have
completely transferred the blood to ventricle the valves between them close
completely. After this step, the atria again begins to refill with blood allowing electric
stimuli to pass from AV node to Bundle of His branches and purkinje fibers. These
purkinje fibers make a branched network in the ventricle of the heart. In this manner,
electric stimuli reach the ventricle allowing it to contract (Kennedy et al. 2016).
Further, as soon as ventricle contracts, right ventricle pumps its blood towards lungs
and the left ventricle pumps its blood towards aorta making ventricles empty at this
point. Simultaneously, atria again get a blood refill causing contraction. The SA node
releases other stimuli to repeat a similar contraction process (Levick, 2014). In this
manner, the cardiac conduction system of the heart works allowing pumping of the
blood in the body.
Kennedy et al. (2016) studied another process involved in heart conduction
process that is recharging of SA and AV node before moving from one contraction to
another. This occurs in two steps, the SA node recharges while atria are refilling and
AV node recharges while ventricle is refilling causing a continuous conduction
process in the heart without any pause.
Q3. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is important for normal
development and health. Please answer the following.
a. Name 2 food sources high in vitamin B12
The two-food sources considered high in vitamin B12 are Pork and Beef.
b. Describe the functions of vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin for normal functionality of the nervous
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Question and answer
system involving the brain. Vitamin B12 plays a major role in red blood cells
formation and DNA regulation. Further, multiplication of RBC is detected to be
improper in the absence of vitamin B12 (Combs & McClung, 2016). Vitamin B12 is
also a part of metabolic activities helping in energy production and fatty acid
synthesis. It also helps in the absorption of folic acid in the body that helps to release
energy (Vici, Belli, Biondi & Polzonetti, 2016). Further, Kennedy (2016) stated some
indirect functioning of vitamin B12 in improving memory, preventing heart diseases
and boosting energy in human body. Lastly, an adequate amount of vitamin B12 is
essential to avoid major birth defects especially neural tube defects, brain and spine
defects (Vitamin B, 2019).
c. Describe possible consequences to the body if there is a deficiency in vitamin
B12 and why.
The most commonly reported consequence of vitamin B12 deficiency is
neurological defects in the body that occur due because an adequate amount of this
vitamin is essential for normal development as well as the functioning of the human
nervous system. These consequences can range from physical to mental defects like
depression, memory loss, confusion, fatigue, numbness of hands and feet, reflex
problems and growth problems (Combs & McClung, 2016). According to Kennedy
(2016) studies, vitamin B12 deficiency can also result in psychosis, dementia and
mania where the brain is damaged severely.
Another major consequence of vitamin B12 deficiency is the development of
anaemia because the red blood cells of the body may not develop properly or may
remain low in count due to vitamin B12 deficiency resulting in anaemia (Combs &
McClung, 2016). Lastly, Rathod, Kale & Joshi (2016) also mentioned that vitamin
b12 deficiency could also harm metabolic activities of the body because this vitamin
is an essential component of the metabolic system. The deficiency may result in
improper reflex, constipation, weight loss, diarrhoea and menstrual problem in
women (Vitamin B, 2019).
d. Name one group of people that are more likely to be at risk of becoming
deficient in vitamin B12 and why.
The Vegans are the group of people that highly confront vitamin B12
deficiency because vitamin B12 is naturally present only in animal foods. As vegans
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Question and answer
do not consume any kind of animal food they are most likely to be vitamin B12
deficient (Combs & McClung, 2016).
References
Part – A
Books
Fawcett, T., & Watson, R. (2014). Pathophysiology, homeostasis and nursing.
Routledge.
Journals
Brestoff, J. R., & Artis, D. (2015). Immune regulation of metabolic homeostasis in
health and disease. Cell, 161(1), 146-160.
Kotas, M. E., & Medzhitov, R. (2015). Homeostasis, inflammation, and disease
susceptibility. Cell, 160(5), 816-827.
Modell, H., Cliff, W., Michael, J., McFarland, J., Wenderoth, M. P., & Wright, A.
(2015). A physiologist's view of homeostasis. Advances in physiology
education, 39(4), 259-266.
Morrison, S. F. (2016). Central control of body temperature. F1000Research, 5.
Part – B
Books
Combs Jr, G. F., & McClung, J. P. (2016). The vitamins: fundamental aspects in
nutrition and health. Academic press.
Levick, J. R. (2014). An introduction to cardiovascular physiology. Butterworth-
Heinemann.
Journals
Jensen, B., Wang, T., Christoffels, V. M., & Moorman, A. F. (2014). Evolution and
development of the building plan of the vertebrate heart. Biochimica Et Biophysica
Acta (BBA)-Molecular Cell Research, 1833(4), 783-794.
Kennedy, A., Finlay, D. D., Guldenring, D., Bond, R., Moran, K., & McLaughlin, J.
(2016). The cardiac conduction system: generation and conduction of the cardiac
impulse. Critical Care Nursing Clinics, 28(3), 269-279.
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Question and answer
Kennedy, D. (2016). B vitamins and the brain: Mechanisms, dose and efficacy—A
review. Nutrients, 8(2), 68.
Rathod, R., Kale, A., & Joshi, S. (2016). Novel insights into the effect of vitamin B
12 and omega-3 fatty acids on brain function. Journal of biomedical science, 23(1),
17.
Van Weerd, J. H., & Christoffels, V. M. (2016). The formation and function of the
cardiac conduction system. Development, 143(2), 197-210.
Vici, G., Belli, L., Biondi, M., & Polzonetti, V. (2016). Gluten free diet and nutrient
deficiencies: A review. Clinical nutrition, 35(6), 1236-1241.
Website
Vitamin B. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/vitamin-b
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