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.

Test your knowledge of exercise physiology with this quiz covering cardiovascular responses to heat stress, hydration and dehydration, thermoregulation in different populations, heat illness, cold considerations, and the impact of exercise on the immune system and obesity.