Sex Differences in Acclimation to a Hot-Dry Environment,

Abstract

Sex-related differences in acclimation to a hot-dry environment were evaluated in 10 males and 9 females. The subjects were exposed during early spring to a hot-dry climate: 49 C, 20% rh for 6 consecutive days. Exposure lasted 120 min: 10 min rest, 50 min walk, 10 min rest, 50 min walk. Heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (T(re)) mean skin temperature (T(sk)), and heat storage dropped significantly for both sexes (P < 0.05), from the 1st to the 6th day with no significant changes (P > 0.05) between the last two days. In spite of similar metabolism, similar sweat rate and lower heat gain by radiation and convection for the females, their T(re) and T(sk) remained significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of the males at the end of acclimation. It was suggested that the thermoregulatory set-point is higher for unacclimatized women than for men; this difference does not abolish with acclimation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1980
Accession Number
ADA092360

Entities

People

  • Kent B. Pandolf
  • Ralph F. Goldman
  • Yair Shapiro

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acclimatization
  • Arteries
  • Body Weight
  • Convection
  • Environment
  • Heart Rate
  • Heat Acclimatization
  • Heat Balance
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Loss
  • Heat Transfer
  • Metabolism
  • Military Research
  • Physiology
  • Radiation
  • Security
  • Statistical Analysis

Readers

  • Exercise and Sports Science.