An immigrant has to go through an acclimatization process upon arriving in his or her new home.
Acclimatization is the act and result of acclimatizing . This verb , which comes from the French acclimater , refers to getting a living being to adapt to a climate or environment other than the one to which it is accustomed.
For example: "I recommend that you take this shrub for your garden: it does not require much care and is easy to acclimatize," "Matías's acclimatization process to the new school is being complicated," "After a few months of acclimatization, the player has already found his best form .
What is acclimatization
Acclimatization, in a physiological sense, implies the adaptation of an organism to the changes that occur in its environment . This is a period whose length varies according to the species and the circumstances of the change.
Faced with alterations in the environment, living beings can register changes in their biochemistry , morphology and behavior. In some animals, to cite one case, the hair grows more intensely in the winter so that the specimens can resist low temperatures and thus achieve acclimatization.
Acclimatization is very important for mountaineers.
The habituation
The idea of acclimatization is also used as a synonym for habituation or adaptation in a broad sense.
Take the case of a 19-year-old Paraguayan soccer player who is hired by a German team. The young man, who has never lived or played outside his country, will have to get used to another language, different habits, new teammates, etc. Therefore, he may have to go through an acclimatization period until he feels comfortable in his new club and can perform at his level.
Acclimatization and adaptation
Sometimes, it is very common for the terms adaptation and acclimatization to be confused. However, it must be established that, although related because they refer to the responses that an individual gives to the environment, they are different.
In this way, we find the fact that the word adaptation must be used when it comes to mentioning adaptation from a genetic point of view . This means that it is in close connection with what is known as natural selection and that allows beings to live, survive and persist in some places or others with different climatic conditions.
On the other hand, there is acclimatization. This term should be used when we refer to adaptation but from a physiological level . In this case, it is established that it occurs punctually, has specific characteristics and circumstances and then disappears when those also disappear.
Its importance in mountaineers
Examples of people for whom acclimatization plays a fundamental role are mountaineers or mountaineers . When they are going to carry out a new adventure at a summit, they must follow a series of guidelines to be able to acclimatize and for it to end up being positive:
- They should not ascend more than 400 meters per day.
- It is necessary to establish rest days.
- They must be in good health and physical shape.
- It is essential that they drink a lot of water while eating a diet rich in starches and sugars.