Variation in sweating patterns: implications for studies of hot flashes through skin conductance
1Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003-9278, USA. leidy@anthro.umass.edu
Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
|May 24, 2007
Summary
Sweating patterns varied between Mexican and US women, impacting hot flash measurement accuracy. Objective measures showed higher accuracy in Mexico, but population differences in acclimatization and sweat production need further study.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Thermoregulation
- Women's Health
Background:
- Sweat physiology research suggests variations in sweating patterns may influence hot flash measurements.
- Population differences in heat stress response are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine variations in sweating patterns between women in Puebla, Mexico, and Amherst, MA.
- To compare the concordance between subjective and objective hot flash measures across these populations.
Main Methods:
- 13 women in Mexico and 15 in Massachusetts (aged 45-61) participated.
- Methods included surveys, body heat diagrams, anthropometrics, and skin conductance monitoring for hot flashes.
- Skin conductance was measured sternally (both locations) and nuchally (Mexico only).
Main Results:
- Mexican women reported heat in the neck (100% vs 40%) and arms/hands (85% vs 40%) more than women in Massachusetts.
- Midback hot flashes correlated with nuchal skin conductance and subjective reports in Mexico.
- Concordance for true positives was higher in Mexico (61% vs 29%), while false negatives were higher in Massachusetts (57% vs 21%).
Conclusions:
- Sweating pattern variations did not fully explain differences in subjective-objective hot flash measure concordance.
- Future research should investigate population acclimatization and sweat volume during hot flashes.
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