Young men and women demonstrate similar endurance against high temperatures, though men’s resistance begins to decline after age 65. For women, this decrease occurs even earlier, states Professor W. Larry Kenny of Pennsylvania State University, specializing in Physiology and Kinesiology, reports Ukr.Media.
Despite the similar resiliency in the young, it doesn’t grant them 100% safety. Young adults remain susceptible to heatstroke, especially during intense physical exertion, if dehydrated, or unacclimatized to heat. Their “resilience” signifies their thermoregulatory systems (sweating, blood circulation) function more effectively, yet these systems also have limitations.
Even if you are young and healthy, do not disregard safety precautions in hot weather. Reduce intense outdoor workouts during peak heat hours (10:00 AM to 4:00-5:00 PM), consume ample fluids before, during, and after activity, and stop immediately if feeling dizzy, nauseous, or extremely tired.
According to the professor, individuals can endure high heat and humidity only for brief durations. Effective sweating plays a crucial part in this capability.
“When hot and highly humid conditions impede sweat evaporation, core body temperature starts rising, and heatstroke risk differs among people,” explained Dr. Kenny.
Sweat cools the body not directly, but through evaporation from the skin’s surface. As sweat evaporates, it draws heat away from the body. This is why high humidity is hazardous in heat – it prevents sweat evaporation, causing it to simply drip off without effectively performing its cooling role. Sweating can also be impaired by dehydration (insufficient fluid for sweat), certain skin conditions or sweat gland damage, and specific medical issues.
He highlighted that the Penn State lab has conducted over 550 studies in the last five years. These experiments assessed temperature and humidity levels various individuals could tolerate. Findings revealed no major differences between young men and women in performing daily tasks in hot conditions; however, gender-based variations become more apparent with age.
“Women aged 40-64 show comparable heat susceptibility to men over 65 years old. Women beyond 65 face an even greater risk of adverse effects from overheating,” the researcher added.
The physiological mechanisms underlying these age and gender discrepancies are not yet fully understood. Pennsylvania State University is actively investigating whether hormonal changes during menopause contribute to women’s reduced heat tolerance.
Джерело: ukr.media