Premium
The cardiovascular challenge of exercising in the heat
Author(s) -
GonzálezAlonso José,
Crandall Craig G.,
Johnson John M.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.142158
Subject(s) - hyperthermia , medicine , skeletal muscle , oxygen delivery , blood flow , perspiration , cardiac output , thermoregulation , perfusion , cardiology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anesthesia , oxygen , hemodynamics , chemistry , organic chemistry , psychiatry
Exercise in the heat can pose a severe challenge to human cardiovascular control, and thus the provision of oxygen to exercising muscles and vital organs, because of enhanced thermoregulatory demand for skin blood flow coupled with dehydration and hyperthermia. Cardiovascular strain, typified by reductions in cardiac output, skin and locomotor muscle blood flow and systemic and muscle oxygen delivery accompanies marked dehydration and hyperthermia during prolonged and intense exercise characteristic of many summer Olympic events. This review focuses on how the cardiovascular system is regulated when exercising in the heat and how restrictions in locomotor skeletal muscle and/or skin perfusion might limit athletic performance in hot environments.