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Relationship between body heat content and finger temperature during cold exposure
D Brajkovic1, M B Ducharme, J Frim
1Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3M 3B9. draan.brajkovic@dciem.dnd.ca
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|May 18, 2001
Summary
This study found that change in body heat content (DeltaH(b)) better indicates changes in finger dexterity and extremity temperatures than the rate of body heat storage (S) during cold exposure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Physiology
- Human Thermoregulation
Background:
- Understanding how the body manages heat is crucial for preventing cold injuries.
- Previous studies primarily used thermometry to assess heat balance, with limited focus on partitional calorimetry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between body heat storage, body heat content, extremity temperatures, and finger dexterity.
- To compare the efficacy of partitional calorimetry versus thermometry in assessing thermal responses.
Main Methods:
- Partitional calorimetry was used to measure the rate of body heat storage (S) and change in body heat content (DeltaH(b)).
- Measurements included finger and toe skin temperatures, rectal temperature, and finger dexterity.
- Eight male subjects were exposed to -25°C air under four different torso heating and clothing conditions for 3 hours.
Main Results:
- Finger dexterity decreased significantly as extremity temperatures dropped.
- A direct linear relationship was observed between DeltaH(b) and extremity temperatures when DeltaH(b) was negative.
- DeltaH(b) proved to be a more sensitive indicator of changes in extremity temperatures and finger dexterity over time compared to S.
Conclusions:
- Extremity comfort can be maintained even with slightly negative body heat storage.
- Change in body heat content (DeltaH(b)) is a superior metric for tracking thermal strain and its impact on extremity function during cold exposure.