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Control of sweating rate while exercising in the heat
Medicine and Science in Sports
|January 1, 1979
Summary
Exercise in heat requires effective sweating to prevent overheating. This study models sweating as a proportional control system, where increased internal temperature drives higher sweat rates, impacting heat storage and exercise tolerance.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Environmental Physiology
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- Exercise in hot environments poses a risk of heat storage and circulatory strain.
- Effective heat dissipation through sweating is crucial for maintaining thermal balance during exercise.
- The body's ability to increase sweat rate is key to resisting heat gain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the physiological control of sweating during exercise in the heat.
- To understand how internal temperature influences sweating rate.
- To investigate factors affecting the sweating response and their impact on heat storage.
Main Methods:
- The study models the physiological control of sweating as a proportional control system.
- It analyzes the relationship between internal temperature and sweating rate.
- It considers factors like dehydration and physical training that modify the sweating response.
Main Results:
- Increases in internal temperature are the primary drivers of increased sweating rate.
- Sweating functions as a proportional control system in response to heat.
- Factors such as dehydration and training alter the threshold and gain of the sweating response.
Conclusions:
- The physiological control of sweating is effectively a proportional system driven by internal temperature.
- Modifications to the sweating response (e.g., dehydration, training) directly influence heat storage.
- Altered heat storage impacts the steady-state internal temperature during exercise in hot conditions.