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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans
Published on: December 22, 2016
Characteristics of hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation in humans
Bun Tsuji1, Keiji Hayashi2, Narihiko Kondo3
1Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Japan; Department of Health Sciences, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
Abstract:
In humans, hyperthermia leads to activation of a set of thermoregulatory responses that includes cutaneous vasodilation and sweating. Hyperthermia also increases ventilation in humans, as is observed in panting dogs, but the physiological significance and characteristics of the hyperventilatory response in humans remain unclear. The relative contribution of respiratory heat loss to total heat loss in a hot environment in humans is small, and this hyperventilation causes a concomitant reduction in arterial CO2 pressure (hypocapnia), which can cause cerebral hypoperfusion. Consequently, hyperventilation in humans may not contribute to the maintenance of physiological homeostasis (i.e., thermoregulation). To gain some insight into the physiological significance of hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation in humans, in this review, we discuss 1) the mechanisms underlying hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation, 2) the factors modulating this response, and 3) the physiological consequences of the response.
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