Heat acclimation in elderly

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

1. Having no contra-indications to exercise testing as judged by the screening physician based on assessment of:
- medical history
- physical examination
- results of the 12-lead ECG examination
2. Females aged 20 to 30 years or aged over75 years at day 01 of the study
3. Normal weight and BMI (between 18 and 28)
4. Voluntary participation
5. Having given written informed consent
6. Willing to comply with the study procedures
7. Willing to accept use of all nameless data, including publication, and the confidential
use and storage of all data for at least 15 years
8. Willing to accept the disclosure of the financial benefit of participation in the study to the
authorities concerned.

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion criteria (adapted from ACSM 2000):
- Acute or chronic infection
- Unstable metabolic disorder
- Significant locomotor disturbance
- Neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, or rheumatic disorders that are exacerbated by exercise
- Uncontrolled systemic hypertension; systolic blood pressure at rest over 180 mmHg, diastolic over 100 mmHg
- Any evidence of cardiovascular disease on medical history, physical examination, electrocardiography, treadmill exercise testing, or echocardiography
- Unstable respiratory/pulmonary disorders
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Medication known to interfere with study variables
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Severe anemia (Hb <6 mmol/l)
- Severe psychological, or psychiatric disturbance
- Severe insomnia
- History of clinical signs of heat intolerance
- Contra-indications to ingest temperature capsule
- Any other condition considered by the screening physician as a contra-indication to exercise testing;Indications for terminating exercise (stop criteria)
(adapted from ACSM 2000)
- Drop (>= 10 mmHg) in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or no increase of SBP despite an increase in exercise load
- Blunted heart rate response to increasing exercise load
- Chest pain (angina)
- Nausea
- Near syncope, or syncope
- Increasing nervous system symptoms (ataxia, dizziness, vertigo)
- Signs of poor perfusion: pallor, cyanosis, cold and clammy skin
- SBP rise over 260 mmHg, diastolic over 115 mmHg
- Cardiac rhythm disturbances
- ST segment abnormalities on ECG
- Technical difficulties in monitoring ECG or blood pressure
- Subject*s wish to terminate exercise;Contra-indications for subsequent exercise challenge
- ST segment depression or elevation during recovery
- Cardiac arrhythmia during recovery
- Insufficient heart rate recovery;Signs and symptoms indicating excessive effort
(when observing these signs, the project leader should consider to stop further exercise challenges)
- Angina pectoris
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Inappropriate bradycardia
- Inappropriate tachycardia
- Ataxia, light headedness, confusion
- Nausea
- Claudication
- Pallor, cyanosis
- Inappropriate dyspnoea
- Prolonged fatigue
- Unusual insomnia
- Weight gain due to fluid retention (edema in the legs)
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Pregnancy or lactation

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>The main study parameter is the change in acclimation status. The most<br /><br>sensitive parameter is the heart rate at constant load in the heat, which<br /><br>decreases due to acclimation. </p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures