Physiological Responses of Men and Women to Prolonged Dry Heat Exposure,
Abstract
Heat-acclimated men (n=10) and women (n=9) were exposed to hot-dry conditions (49 C, 20% rh) for 4 hours to determine the effect of prolonged work in the heat on physiological differences between sexes. Hourly exposures consisted of 10 min resting and 50 min walking at 1.34 m/s (metabolic rate = 195 and 170 W/(m sq) for men and women respectively). No significant difference in rectal temperature (Tre) was found between the sexes for each hour (h) of exposure. Heart rate (HR) of women, however, averaged 10-17 beats/(min) higher than men. Mean skin temperature (Tsk) was also significantly higher in women throughout the exposure. For both sexes, the 4th-h Tre, Hr and Tsk were significantly higher than the preceeding 3 h. No differences in total sweat rate or sweat sensitivity were evident. It was concluded that: (a) prolonged exposure to dry heat does not accentuate physiological differences between the sexes; (b) women are able to secrete sweat at rates comparable to men over a 4-h period; and (c) 2-h acclimation sessions do not necessarily acclimate individuals for work of longer duration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA093192
Entities
People
- B. A. Avellini
- K. B. Pandolf
- N. A. Pimental
- R. F. Goldman
- Y. Shapiro
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine