Scientists have been testing how heat affects our hearts for years. But here's the thing: the most commonly used method might not provide much insight into what happens to the heart during heat waves.
Scientists have been testing how heat affects our hearts for years. But here's the thing: the most commonly used method might not provide much insight into what happens to the heart during heat waves.
A new study led by the University of Ottawa, Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit with researchers from Harvard University, University of Otagon, Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, and the University of Portsmouth, has revealed critical insights into how we test extreme heat’s impact on heart function. With rising global temperatures, understanding these effects is crucial for protecting public health, especially during heat waves.
The research, which analyzed data from over 400 laboratory studies involving more than 6,800 participants, highlights how different heating methods affect the heart’s performance under heat stress. "Our study shows that exposure to encapsulated heating methods, like water-perfused suits or hot water immersion, can lead to significantly increased heart rates, blood pressures, and cardiac strain when compared to natural heat exposures, like those experienced during hot weather" says Robert Meade, who was a postdoctoral fellow at uOttawa’s Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit and lead author of the study.
Read more at University of Ottawa
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