Thermoregulatory Responses to Cold Transients: Effects of Two Clothing Systems in Resting Women.
Abstract
This report focuses on development of a thermoregulatory model useful for forecasting heat exchange properties, shivering thermogenesis, and body temperature response in women wearing protective clothing. Six female, nonsmokers (18-29 yr), resting supine, were exposed to a cold ramp (Ta= Tr = 20C to -5C, 0.320C/min,V=1m*s-1) In the follicular phase (F=days 2-6) and in the luteal phase (L= days 19-23) of their menstrual cycle. Subjects wore either Battle Dress Uniforms (BDU) or Battle Dress Overgarment over the BDU with thermal resistances of Rt = 0.2 and 0.4 m2*K*W-1, respectively. Esophageal temperature (T es) rose during the cold ramps. shivering thermogenesis (^M= M-M basal,W*m-2) was correlated (r2= 0.9) with reduced mean weighted skin (T sk, six sites) and finger temperature (T fing, under a work glove). Menstrual cycle stage and clothing resistance were significant (P less than equalO.05) modifiers of the rate of heat debt based on partitional calorimetry determined from M, body weight, surface area, T es, and T sk Thermal Information from extremities and variations In body heat content during a given menstrual phase, independent from core and T sk, must be considered in any thermoregulatory model quantifying ^M effects In resting omen exposed to cold stress. Several cold-air models which Incorporate %Body Fat, core and skin temperature Inputs were fairly reliable predictors of shivering response over a limited scope of operational and environmental levels.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA320690
Entities
People
- Julio A. Gonzalez
- Laurie A. Blanchard
- Richard R. Gonzalez
- William F. Allison Iii
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine