Biomaterial Database

Heat production during cold water immersion: the role of shivering and exercise in the development of hypothermia. 1995

T Waag, and O Hesselberg, and R E Reinertsen

Department of Zoology, University of Trondheim, Norway.

Immersed in cold water, the body loses heat to the external environment. Heat production rises in order to compensate for heat loss by shivering or exercise. The aim of this study was to determine whether heat production is more successfully maintained over a long period of time by physical activity than by shivering when a human being is wearing an insulated survival suit and is immersed in cold water, and whether increased insulation of those parts of the suit exposed to water improves protection against heat loss with all-around standard insulation of the suit. Nine men participated in four series of experiments each lasting six hours. They were immersed in water at 3.6 degrees C and wore survival suits. One series of trials was made at rest, one series with periods of work, one series at rest where the insulation on the back was increased by 10 mm, and one series at rest with a survival suit featuring a new type of insulation. The results showed that periods of work give better chances of survival than continuous heat production by shivering in a well insulated suit. Furthermore, an extra layer of insulation in the back region significantly improved the thermal status of the subjects. When both rectal and skin temperature change at the same time in the same direction, there is a stronger influence on thermoregulation than when rectal temperature alone changes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007035	Hypothermia	Lower than normal body temperature, especially in warm-blooded animals.	Hypothermia, Accidental,Accidental Hypothermia,Accidental Hypothermias,Hypothermias,Hypothermias, Accidental
D008297	Male		Males
D001831	Body Temperature	The measure of the level of heat of a human or animal.	Organ Temperature,Body Temperatures,Organ Temperatures,Temperature, Body,Temperature, Organ,Temperatures, Body,Temperatures, Organ
D001833	Body Temperature Regulation	The processes of heating and cooling that an organism uses to control its temperature.	Heat Loss,Thermoregulation,Regulation, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulation, Body,Body Temperature Regulations,Heat Losses,Loss, Heat,Losses, Heat,Regulations, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulations, Body,Thermoregulations
D003080	Cold Temperature	An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm.	Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012768	Shivering	Involuntary contraction or twitching of the muscles. It is a physiologic method of heat production in man and other mammals.	Shiverings
D015444	Exercise	Physical activity which is usually regular and done with the intention of improving or maintaining PHYSICAL FITNESS or HEALTH. Contrast with PHYSICAL EXERTION which is concerned largely with the physiologic and metabolic response to energy expenditure.	Aerobic Exercise,Exercise, Aerobic,Exercise, Isometric,Exercise, Physical,Isometric Exercise,Physical Activity,Acute Exercise,Exercise Training,Activities, Physical,Activity, Physical,Acute Exercises,Aerobic Exercises,Exercise Trainings,Exercise, Acute,Exercises,Exercises, Acute,Exercises, Aerobic,Exercises, Isometric,Exercises, Physical,Isometric Exercises,Physical Activities,Physical Exercise,Physical Exercises,Training, Exercise,Trainings, Exercise