Relationship between body heat content and finger temperature during cold exposure

2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 2445-2452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Brajkovic ◽  
Michel B. Ducharme ◽  
John Frim
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
The Body ◽  
Finger Temperature ◽  
Finger Dexterity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Finger Skin ◽  
Body Heat ◽  
Partitional Calorimetry

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˙.

Finger dexterity, skin temperature, and blood flow during auxiliary heating in the cold

2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 758-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Brajkovic ◽  
Michel B. Ducharme
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Finger Dexterity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Forearm Skin ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Finger Skin ◽  
Forearm Muscle ◽  
Body Heat

The primary purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of two forms of hand heating and to discuss specific trends that relate finger dexterity performance to variables such as finger skin temperature (Tfing), finger blood flow (Q̇fing), forearm skin temperature (Tfsk), forearm muscle temperature (Tfmus), mean weighted body skin temperature (T̄sk), and change in body heat content (ΔHb). These variables along with rate of body heat storage, toe skin temperature, and change in rectal temperature were measured during direct and indirect hand heating. Direct hand heating involved the use of electrically heated gloves to keep the fingers warm (heated gloves condition), whereas indirect hand heating involved warming the fingers indirectly by actively heating the torso with an electrically heated vest (heated vest condition). Seven men (age 35.6 ± 5.6 yr) were subjected to each method of hand heating while they sat in a chair for 3 h during exposure to -25°C air. Q̇fing was significantly ( P < 0.05) higher during the heated vest condition compared with the heated gloves condition (234 ± 28 and 33 ± 4 perfusion units, respectively), despite a similar Tfing (which ranged between 28 and 35°C during the 3-h exposure). Despite the difference in Q̇fing, there was no significant difference in finger dexterity performance. Therefore, finger dexterity can be maintained with direct hand heating despite a low Q̇fing. ΔHb, T̄sk, and Tfmus reached a low of -472 ± 18 kJ, 28.5 ± 0.3°C, and 29.8 ± 0.5°C, respectively, during the heated gloves condition, but the values were not low enough to affect finger dexterity.

Influence of body heat content on hand function during prolonged cold exposures

2006 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 802-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Flouris ◽  
S. S. Cheung ◽  
J. R. Fowles ◽  
L. D. Kruisselbrink ◽  
D. A. Westwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Rectal Temperature ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Finger Tapping ◽  
Mean Skin Temperature ◽  
Body Heat

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.

Changes of thermal balance induced by passive heating in resting man

1975 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Henane ◽  
J. Bittel
Keyword(s):  
Rectal Temperature ◽  
Heat Dissipation ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Skin Surface ◽  
Thermal Balance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Heat Acclimatization ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Body Heat

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.

Thermoregulation in swimmers and runners

1979 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1086-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. McMurray ◽  
S. M. Horvath
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Volume Ratio ◽  
Heat Acclimatization ◽  
Vasomotor Control ◽  
Percentage Body Fat ◽  
Body Heat ◽  
Control Exercise

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.

Heat storage regulation in exercise during thermal transients

1976 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Chappuis ◽  
P. Pittet ◽  
E. Jequier
Keyword(s):  
Heat Storage ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Thermal Transients ◽  
Thermoregulatory System ◽  
Body Heat ◽  
Rest And Exercise

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.

Do chronic primary insomniacs have impaired heat loss when attempting sleep?

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (4) ◽  
pp. R1115-R1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gradisar ◽  
Leon Lack ◽  
Helen Wright ◽  
Jodie Harris ◽  
Amber Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Heat Loss ◽  
Core Body Temperature ◽  
Finger Skin Temperature ◽  
Finger Temperature ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
The Core ◽  
Hands And Feet ◽  
Core Body ◽  
Finger Skin

For good sleepers, distal skin temperatures (e.g., hands and feet) have been shown to increase when sleep is attempted. This process is said to reflect the body’s action to lose heat from the core via the periphery. However, little is known regarding whether the same process occurs for insomniacs. It would be expected that insomniacs would have restricted heat loss due to anxiety when attempting sleep. The present study compared the finger skin temperature changes when sleep was attempted for 11 chronic primary insomniacs [mean age = 40.0 years (SD 13.3)] and 8 good sleepers [mean age = 38.6 years (SD 13.2)] in a 26-h constant routine protocol with the inclusion of multiple-sleep latency tests. Contrary to predictions, insomniacs demonstrated increases in finger skin temperature when attempting sleep that were significantly greater than those in good sleepers ( P = 0.001), even though there was no significant differences in baseline finger temperature ( P = 0.25). These significant increases occurred despite insomniacs reporting significantly greater sleep anticipatory anxiety ( P < 0.0008). Interestingly, the core body temperature mesor of insomniacs (37.0 ± 0.2°C) was significantly higher than good sleepers (36.8 ± 0.2°C; P = 0.03). Whether insomniacs could have impaired heat loss that is masked by elevated heat production is discussed.

BODY HEAT STORAGE, METABOLISM AND RESPIRATION OF COWS ABRUPTLY EXPOSED AND ACCLIMATIZED TO COLD AND 18 °C ENVIRONMENTS

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 641-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. McLEAN ◽  
W. T. WHITMORE ◽  
B. A. YOUNG ◽  
R. WEINGARDT
Keyword(s):  
Initial Phase ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
The Body ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Mean Body Temperature ◽  
Cyclic Patterns ◽  
Cyclic Temperature ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Body Heat ◽  
Effective Buffer

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

scholarly journals Whole body heat loss is reduced in older males during short bouts of intermittent exercise

2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (6) ◽  
pp. R619-R629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanie Larose ◽  
Heather E. Wright ◽  
Jill Stapleton ◽  
Ronald J. Sigal ◽  
Pierre Boulay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Intermittent Exercise ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Evaporative Heat Loss ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Body Heat ◽  
Older Males

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.

The physiology of heat regulation

1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (4) ◽  
pp. R838-R850 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Heat Loss ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Heat Content ◽  
The Body ◽  
Temperature Heat ◽  
Calorimetric Studies ◽  
Physiological Method ◽  
Related Level ◽  
Deep Body ◽  
Body Heat

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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