On the 6th, a research team from Roehampton University in the UK reported that there is an upper critical temperature (UCT) for humans, which might be between 40°C and 50°C. Understanding the temperature values that lead to an increase in metabolic rate and how temperatures vary among different individuals could provide important guidance for work, exercise, travel, and more. This research is a continuation of their previous work published in the Physiological Reports journal.
The study found that when people are exposed to temperatures between 40°C and 50°C, their resting metabolic rate is likely to be higher. The resting metabolic rate is a measure of how much energy the body consumes to maintain normal functions at rest, in other words, the minimum energy expended in a stationary state.
Previous experiments conducted by the research team indicated that when people are exposed to at least 40°C, their resting metabolic rate increases. At 40°C and 25% humidity, participants’ metabolic rates increased by an average of 35% compared to the baseline (normal levels). At 50°C and 50% humidity, people’s core temperature increased by an average of 1°C, metabolic rates increased by 48% compared to the baseline, and heart rates increased by 64%.
Researchers stated that this means the hotter the environment, the harder the body has to work to maintain normal functions.
In the latest experiment announced on the 6th, researchers used echocardiography or cardiac ultrasound to examine the heart activity of 24 participants at 50°C and 25% humidity. Results showed that women’s heart rates increased more on average compared to men. This may indicate that women’s bodies are less efficient at dissipating excess heat.
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