Exercise Physiology

Exercise Physiology: Cardiovascular Response, Heat Regulation, Hydration, and Cold Considerations

• Cardiovascular response to heat stress includes skin and muscle competing for blood flow, leading to cutaneous vasodilation and sweating.
• Heat increases heart rate to compensate for decreased stroke volume, but there is a limit to this compensation.
• Acclimatization to heat results in adaptive changes such as improved thermoregulation, cardiovascular endurance, and increased plasma volume.
• Dehydration, or hypohydration, occurs when an individual loses more than 2% of their body weight, impairing performance if fluid is not replaced quickly.
• Hyponatremia, or water intoxication, can occur when an individual consumes more water than needed, leading to an imbalance in osmolarity and muscle cramps.
• Men and women have similar responses for thermoregulation, except during the menstrual cycle when women's body temperature slightly increases.
• Children have lower muscle mass and higher surface area-to-mass ratio, affecting heat production and thermoregulation.
• Aging affects thermoregulation, as older individuals have lower plasma volume and decreased ability to lose heat, making them more susceptible to heat illness.
• Heat illness includes heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, each with specific symptoms and treatments.
• Cold considerations involve factors such as clothing, heat production, and thermoregulation, with special attention to children, women, and older individuals.
• The immune system benefits from continuous moderate exercise, while intense exercise can lead to suppression of immune function, making individuals more vulnerable to infections.
• Obesity affects body fat percentage, with white, brown, and beige adipose tissues playing distinct roles in energy storage and heat production.