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Document Type

Article

Abstract

Virtually all studies concerning human response to cold stress have examined men in a resting state. The present study examined the thermoregulatory responses of women of Asian (n = 5) and European (n = 6) descent under both resting and mild exercise conditions. Resting experiments consisted of sitting for 60 minutes at —5°C, while the exercise (60W) was 3 consecutive sets of 20 minute work: 15 minute rest, at —5°C. The Asians were significantly (p<0.05) shorter and lighter, had smaller body surface area (B.S.A.) and larger body surface area per mass (B.S.A./kg), as well as having differences (p<0.05) in cephalic and nasal indices. At rest in the cold the groups had similar decreases in chin and malar temperatures (despite differences (p<0.05) in facial skinfolds), but the Asians maintained warmer (p<0.05) nose temperatures. No consistent differences were found between groups for core, skin or mean body temperatures. During the exercise trials both subject groups remained warmer and no consistent differences were found between groups for the body temperatures. Significant (p<0.05) relationships were found at rest between net heat loss and body fat, B.S.A. and B.S.A./kg. In contrast, during exercise the relationships with net heat loss were not significant. The study demonstrated that facial responses to cold do appear to show racial differences although they did not necessarily correlate with differences in head and facial dimensions. Body morphology could account for differences in heat loss at rest, but during exercise the role of such insulative adaptations diminishes and the metabolic response appears to dominate.

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