Changes of thermal balance induced by passive heating in resting man

1975 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Henane ◽  
J. Bittel

Heat acclimatization has been induced in 12 resting healthy men by 90-min exposure to 45C dry bulb and 24% relative humidity for 9 successive days. The most significant results ovserved were 1) increased sensitivity of sweating with marked quickening of sweat measured, 2) decreased rate of body heat storage associated with a lower rectal temperature at end of exposure, as follows: 14.07 plus or minus 1.58 Wtimeshtimeskg-1 before and 9.39 plus or minus 1.69 afterward for body heat storage; 37.55 plus or minus 0.15C before and 36.99 plus or minus 0.24C afterward for rectal temperature. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in the final sweat rates, mean skin temperatures, or the heat conductance between the body interior and skin surface. The quickness of the heat dissipation process caused by both increased sensitivity of sweating and lower internal body temperature is the major factor in achieving a thermal balance and a decreased body heat content after acclimatization.

2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 2445-2452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Brajkovic ◽  
Michel B. Ducharme ◽  
John Frim

The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the relationship between rate of body heat storage (S˙), change in body heat content (ΔHb), extremity temperatures, and finger dexterity. S˙, ΔHb , finger skin temperature (Tfing), toe skin temperature, finger dexterity, and rectal temperature were measured during active torso heating while the subjects sat in a chair and were exposed to −25°C air. S˙ and ΔHb were measured using partitional calorimetry, rather than thermometry, which was used in the majority of previous studies. Eight men were exposed to four conditions in which the clothing covering the body or the level of torso heating was modified. After 3 h, Tfing was 34.9 ± 0.4, 31.2 ± 1.2, 18.3 ± 3.1, and 12.1 ± 0.5°C for the four conditions, whereas finger dexterity decreased by 0, 0, 26, and 39%, respectively. In contrast to some past studies, extremity comfort can be maintained, despite S˙ that is slightly negative. This study also found a direct linear relationship between ΔHb and Tfing and toe skin temperature at a negative ΔHb. In addition, ΔHb was a better indicator of the relative changes in extremity temperatures and finger dexterity over time than S˙.


1979 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1086-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. McMurray ◽  
S. M. Horvath

Thermoregulatory responses of six trained swimmers and five runners to cold and heat were evaluated during 30 min of exercise (60% VO2max) while immersed to the neck in 20, 25, 30, and 35 degrees C water. Mean oxygen uptake was similar for both groups during all four trials. Changes in metabolic rate during the 8th to 28th min were significantly greater for the runners in 20 degrees C water, and swimmers in 30 and 35 degrees C water. Heart rates, Tsk, delta Tre, Tb, body heat content, and heat storage were dependent on water temperature. Runners were able to attain higher sweat rates than swimmers in 35 degrees C water. Swimmers had significantly greater tissue conductance values in the 35 degrees C exposure. Swimmers thermoregulated better in 20 degrees C water than runners, possibly due to a larger surface area-to-volume ratio, percentage body fat, subcutaneous fat, or improved vasomotor control. Exercise in the heat was better tolerated by runners. Physical training in water does not improve heat acclimatization to the extent of training in air, but does improve cold tolerance.


2006 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 802-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Flouris ◽  
S. S. Cheung ◽  
J. R. Fowles ◽  
L. D. Kruisselbrink ◽  
D. A. Westwood ◽  
...  

We examined the influence of 1) prior increase [preheating (PHT)], 2) increase throughout [heating (HT)], and 3) no increase [control (Con)] of body heat content (Hb) on neuromuscular function and manual dexterity of the hands during a 130-min exposure to −20°C (coldEx). Ten volunteers randomly underwent three passive coldEx, incorporating a 10-min moderate-exercise period at the 65th min while wearing a liquid conditioning garment (LCG) and military arctic clothing. In PHT, 50°C water was circulated in the LCG before coldEx until core temperature was increased by 0.5°C. In HT, participants regulated the inlet LCG water temperature throughout coldEx to subjective comfort, while the LCG was not operating in Con. Thermal comfort, rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, mean finger temperature (T̄fing), change in Hb (ΔHb), rate of body heat storage, Purdue pegboard test, finger tapping, handgrip, maximum voluntary contraction, and evoked twitch force of the first dorsal interosseus muscle were recorded. Results demonstrated that, unlike in HT and PHT, thermal comfort, rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, twitch force, maximum voluntary contraction, and finger tapping declined significantly in Con. In contrast, T̄fing and Purdue pegboard test remained constant only in HT. Generalized estimating equations demonstrated that ΔHb and T̄fing were associated over time with hand function, whereas no significant association was detected for rate of body heat storage. It is concluded that increasing Hb not only throughout but also before a coldEx is effective in maintaining hand function. In addition, we found that the best indicator of hand function is ΔHb followed by T̄fing.


1980 ◽  
Vol 239 (3) ◽  
pp. R233-R240 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. B. Pandolf ◽  
T. B. Griffin ◽  
E. H. Munro ◽  
R. F. Goldman

Twenty-four heat-acclimatized male volunteers were wrapped as previously described (Am. J. Physiol. 239 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 8): R226-R232, 1980) but to produce miliaria rubra (heat rash) in specific regions of the body. Three experimental rash groups were involved: 1) the torso (17% total skin surface rashed, n = 6), 2) torso and arms (38%, n = 8), or 3) legs (41%, n = 6), while four subjects served as controls. All subjects were reexposed to walking in the heat on the 7th day after unwrapping, and again 14, 21, and 28 days after unwrapping. When compared to responses for the last heat acclimatization day, tolerance time and sweat rate were lower and mean body temperature and delta heat storage significantly higher for experimental rash subjects contrasted to the controls for up to 21 days; however, no significant differences between the three rashed groups were found. The critical amount of surface area for heat intolerance from heat rash appears to be related to the specific region of the body and associated sweating responses; smaller rashed areas of the trunk, because they have greater potential for abundant sweating, may produce similar responses to heat stress as larger rashed areas of the limbs. Heat intolerance due to rash was not resolved until after 21 days.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. O'Hanlon Jr. ◽  
Steven M. Horvath

Thirty-four men were exposed to 8 °C for 2 h. Their reactions were studied to indicate how physiological relationships change during exposure to cold. Measurements of various body temperatures, MST, MBT, body heat content (BHC), [Formula: see text], heat production, and heart rate (HR) were made before the onset of and periodically during cold exposure. Various skin temperatures fell to different levels while rectal temperature rose slightly, then fell 0.3 °C by the end of the exposure. BHC declined by 6%, [Formula: see text] nearly doubled, [Formula: see text] and heat production increased by 66 and 75% respectively, and HR changed little during cold exposure. Relationships which changed most significantly during cold exposure were those between MST and rectal temperature, certain skin temperatures and rectal temperature, [Formula: see text] (also heat production) and BHC, [Formula: see text] and rectal temperature, and finally, those between every body temperature and the age of the subjects. Relationships which also changed were those between finger and toe temperature as well as those between [Formula: see text] (also heat production) and each of the following: [Formula: see text], rectal temperature, thigh temperature, HR, and age. These results indicated that (1) temperature in the upper extremities was actively maintained at a higher level than temperature in the lower extremities, (2) increased metabolism became a progressively more effective adaptation than redistribution of blood volume, (3) subjects with the lowest BHC tended to increase their metabolism the most, (4) [Formula: see text] was inversely related to core temperature after the latter fell below normal, (5) HR was unrelated to the increase in [Formula: see text], (6) the usual inverse relationship between age and metabolism was not found in the cold, and finally, (7) older subjects generally tended to maintain higher body temperatures than younger subjects.


1976 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Chappuis ◽  
P. Pittet ◽  
E. Jequier

Rate of heat storage (S) was measured by using direct and indirect calorimetry simultaneously in 11 subjects during rest and exercise at three ambient temperatures (Ta of 20, 25, and 30 degrees C), and at two work intensities (40 and 90 W). At rest, the mean value of S was -64.9 W at 20 degrees C, -26.1 W at 25 degrees C, and +9.9 W at 30 degrees C. After 50 min of exercise at 40 or 90 W, S tended toward zero at the three ambient temperatures. This indicates that thermal equilibrium was reached. In addition, at the end of the exercise periods total heat losses (R + C + E) measured at a Ta of 20, 25, and 30 degrees C were similar, i.e., independent of Ta. During the thermal transients and the steady state of exercise, the calorimetric method allows immediate measurement of S to be made, since all the physical terms of the body heat balance equation are determined. The changes in mean body temperature (delta Tb) measured by thermometry showed a delay of 5–10 min when compared with delta Tb measured by calorimetry. Thus, determination of delta Tb by thermometry is not directly applicable during thermal transients, unless the observed delay is taken into account. Our results also support the concept that Tb may be the regulated variable of the thermoregulatory system, since we obtained a very significant and uniform correlation between Esk and delta Tb at the three Ta and the two work intensities which were studied.


2009 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 1264-1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas D. Flouris ◽  
Stephen S. Cheung

We examined the effect of thermal balance perturbation on cold-induced vasodilation through a dynamic A-B-A-B design applying heat ( condition A) and cold ( condition B) to the body's core, while the hand is exposed to a stable cold stimulus. Fifteen healthy adults (8 men, 7 women) volunteered. Applications of heat and cold were achieved through water immersions in two tanks maintained at 42 and 12°C water temperature, respectively, in an A-B-A-B fashion. Throughout the experiment, the participants’ right hand up to the ulnar styloid process was placed inside a temperature-controlled box set at 0°C air temperature. Results demonstrated that cold-induced vasodilation occurred only during condition B and at times when body heat content was decreasing but rectal temperature had not yet dropped to baseline levels. Following the occurrence of all cold-induced vasodilation events, rectal temperature was reduced, and the phenomenon ceased when rectal temperature fell below baseline. Heart rate variability data obtained before and during cold-induced vasodilation demonstrated a shift of autonomic interaction toward parasympathetic dominance, which, however, was attributed to a sympathetic withdrawal. Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses demonstrated that the cold-induced vasodilation onset cutoff points for rectal temperature change and finger temperature were 0.62 and 16.76°C, respectively. It is concluded that cold-induced vasodilation is a centrally originating phenomenon caused by sympathetic vasoconstrictor withdrawal. It is dependent on excess heat, and it may be triggered by excess heat with the purpose of preserving thermal balance.


1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 641-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. McLEAN ◽  
W. T. WHITMORE ◽  
B. A. YOUNG ◽  
R. WEINGARDT

Six cows were alternated between cold (−30 to 0 °C) and 18 °C environments. Rectal (Tr), mean skin (Ts) and mean body (Tb = 0.86 Tr + 0.14 Ts) temperatures, respiration rate (RR) and metabolism per unit body size (M) were measured on first exposure and after acclimatization to each environment. Cows acclimatized to the cold had the same Tr as when acclimatized to 18 °C, but Ts and RR were lower and M was higher in the cold than in the 18 °C environment. Acclimatization appeared to occur in two phases. In the initial phase, lasting less than a day, new 24-h cyclic patterns (greater in the cold than in 18 °C) were established in body temperatures, respiration and metabolism. In the second phase which took longer than 2 days new levels were established in these parameters. The change in heat stored in the body between the two environments was not as great as previously found in an environment with a relatively small but cyclic temperature variation. It is suggested that changes in body heat storage are associated with cyclic or sudden changes in the environment, when it can act as an effective buffer against thermal stress. Key words: Cattle, mean body temperature, body heat storage, acclimatization


2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (6) ◽  
pp. R619-R629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanie Larose ◽  
Heather E. Wright ◽  
Jill Stapleton ◽  
Ronald J. Sigal ◽  
Pierre Boulay ◽  
...  

Studies in young adults show that a greater proportion of heat is gained shortly following the start of exercise and that temporal changes in whole body heat loss during intermittent exercise have a pronounced effect on body heat storage. The consequences of short-duration intermittent exercise on heat storage with aging are unclear. We compared evaporative heat loss (H E) and changes in body heat content (ΔHb) between young (20–30 yr), middle-aged (40–45 yr), and older males (60–70 yr) of similar body mass and surface area, during successive exercise (4 × 15 min) and recovery periods (4 × 15 min) at a fixed rate of heat production (400 W) and under fixed environmental conditions (35°C/20% relative humidity). H E was lower in older males vs. young males during each exercise (Ex1: 283 ± 10 vs. 332 ± 11 kJ, Ex2: 334 ± 10 vs. 379 ± 5 kJ, Ex3: 347 ± 11 vs. 392 ± 5 kJ, and Ex4: 347 ± 10 vs. 387 ± 5 kJ, all P < 0.02), whereas H E in middle-aged males was intermediate to that measured in young and older adults (Ex1: 314 ± 13, Ex2: 355 ± 13, Ex3: 371 ± 13, and Ex4: 365 ± 8 kJ). H E was not significantly different between groups during the recovery periods. The net effect over 2 h was a greater ΔHb in older (267 ± 33 kJ; P = 0.016) and middle-aged adults (245 ± 16 kJ; P = 0.073) relative to younger counterparts (164 ± 20 kJ). As a result of a reduced capacity to dissipate heat during exercise, which was not compensated by a sufficiently greater rate of heat loss during recovery, both older and middle-aged males had a progressively greater rate of heat storage compared with young males over 2 h of intermittent exercise.


1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (4) ◽  
pp. R838-R850 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Webb

Heat regulation is presented as the physiological method of handling metabolic heat, instead of temperature regulation. Experimental evidence of heat regulation from the literature is reviewed, including more than 20 years of calorimetric studies by the author. Changes in heat production are followed by slow exponential changes in heat loss, which produce changes in body heat storage. Heat balance occurs at many levels of heat production throughout the day and night, and at each level there is a related level of rectal temperature. Heat flow can be sensed by the transcutaneous temperature gradient. The controller for heat loss appears to operate like a servomechanism, with feedback from heat loss and possibly feedforward from heat production. Physiological responses defend the body heat content, but heat content varies over a range that is related to heat load. Changes in body heat content drive deep body temperatures.


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