Work

The cardiovascular challenge of exercising in the heat

Year: 2007

Type: review

Abstract: Exercise in the heat can pose a severe challenge to human cardiovascular control, and thus the provision of oxygen to exercising muscles and vital organs, because of enhanced thermoregulatory demand for skin blood flow coupled with dehydration and hyperthermia. Cardiovascular strain, typified by reductions in cardiac output, skin and locomotor muscle blood flow and systemic and muscle oxygen delivery accompanies marked dehydration and hyperthermia during prolonged and intense exercise characteristic of many summer Olympic events. This review focuses on how the cardiovascular system is regulated when exercising in the heat and how restrictions in locomotor skeletal muscle and/or skin perfusion might limit athletic performance in hot environments.

Source: The Journal of Physiology

DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.142158

Authors: José González‐Alonso, Craig G. Crandall, John M. Johnson

Institutions: Brunel University of London, Texas Health Dallas, Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center

Language: English

Topic: Thermoregulation and physiological responses

Subfield: Physiology (medical)

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute