Cold Air Inhalation, Esophageal Temperature and Lung Function in Exercising Humans
Abstract
Eight normal individuals performed 10 min of bicycle exercise at 80% of their predicted maximum workload while breathing air at 22 C, saturated with water vapor and air at -40 C, dry. Rectal temperature and temperature at various locations along the length of the esophagus were measured during the exercise period. Pulmonary mechanics were measured before and 5 to 10 min after exercise. Temperature in the lower third of the esophagus was in close agreement with rectal temperature and was unaffected by level of respiratory heat exchange. Upper esophageal temperature decreased substantially during exercise, the magnitude of the decrease being dependent upon proximity to intrathoracic airways and the level of respiratory heat exchange. Subjects bronchodilated in response to exercise breathing warm air but this response was abolished by exercise breathing -40 C air. We conclude that at sufficiently high levels of respiratory heat exchange, normal individuals exhibit mild bronchoconstriction qualitatively similar to the severe bronchospasm induced in asthmatics by modest increases in respiratory heat exchange.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 14, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA069510
Entities
People
- D. E. Roberts
- E. C. Deal Jr.
- E. R. Mcfadden Jr.
- J. J. Jaeger
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine