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Respiratory drive during sudden cold water immersion.
I B Mekjavić1, A La Prairie, W Burke
1School of Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
Respiration Physiology
|October 1, 1987
Summary
Sudden skin cooling triggers an immediate gasp reflex, a key factor in cold water drowning. This study links respiratory drive to cooling rates, highlighting individual differences in response to cold.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Environmental Medicine
- Drowning Research
Background:
- Sudden drops in skin temperature elicit an immediate ventilatory response known as the inspiratory or 'gasp' reflex.
- This reflex is a suspected contributor to drowning incidents in cold water immersion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the rate of skin cooling and respiratory drive during cold water immersion.
- To explore factors influencing the variability of the inspiratory reflex response.
Main Methods:
- Five subjects were immersed in 10°C water, with varying thermal protective clothing.
- Peak skin temperature cooling rates (dTs/dt) and respiratory drive (P0.1) were measured.
- Data analysis focused on correlations between cooling rates and respiratory responses.
Main Results:
- Peak skin temperature cooling rates varied significantly with protective clothing, from 6.9°C/min (shorts) to 1.8°C/min (pilot suit).
- Respiratory drive (P0.1) showed a strong correlation with peak cooling rates (dTs/dt).
- The relationship between P0.1 and dTs/dt was subject-dependent, not linked to body composition.
Conclusions:
- The inspiratory reflex is a direct result of cutaneous thermoreceptor activation.
- Individual differences in integrating thermal information explain the variability in respiratory responses.
- Understanding the gasp reflex is crucial for cold water safety and drowning prevention strategies.