Quantifying the Physiological and Biophysical Time-Course of Human Heat Adaptation

Abstract

The present thesis builds on existing work done in the field of human thermoregulation, with a specific focus on the impact of repeated heat exposures to a natural (acclimatisation) or artificial (acclimation) environment on physiological adaptation and heat stress risk. The aim of the experimental study presented in chapter 3 was to model the independent influence of different environmental and personal parameters on predicted acclimatisation status throughout a representative year in Australia. Chapter 4 aimed to quantify the time course of changes in ωmax throughout 7 consecutive days of heat acclimation. Finally, chapter 5 aimed to develop a novel, non-invasive method to assess changes in physiological heat acclimation status in an at-home setting.