Acute effects of firefighting on cardiac performance

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Exercise Physiology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Firefighting is physically demanding, potentially impacting cardiovascular health.
• Understanding the acute cardiac effects of firefighting is crucial for assessing occupational risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cardiac response to a 3-hour live firefighting exercise.
• To assess changes in cardiac size, performance, and arterial compliance.

Main Methods:

• Echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging were used to measure cardiac function.
• Standard physiological parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, temperature) and plasma volume were monitored.
• Forty experienced male firefighters participated in a standardized 3-hour exercise protocol.

Main Results:

• Significant decreases in left ventricular diastolic dimension, stroke volume, fractional shortening, and mitral E velocity were observed.
• Tachycardia, increased core temperature, and reduced plasma volume occurred.
• No changes in systolic contractile function were noted on tissue Doppler imaging, but lateral wall diastolic velocity decreased.

Conclusions:

• The 3-hour firefighting exercise induced cardiac changes consistent with cardiac fatigue.
• A decrease in systemic arterial compliance was also observed, suggesting impaired vascular function.
• These findings highlight significant cardiovascular changes associated with firefighting, warranting further investigation into associated cardiovascular risks.