Heat mitigation and management for females

About the Project

Global warming is causing a sustained increase in temperatures each decade, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves, which collectively is harming human health.

Heat illness due to exertional activity or passive heat gain (e.g., during a heat wave) carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Whilst mitigating climate change is an essential step, heat illnesses are largely avoidable with the implementation of effective heat mitigation and management strategies, combined with appropriate education.

Prior to relocation or exposure to hot conditions, current recommendations are to complete heat acclimation, involving exercising in the heat for at least 14 occasions, where core and skin temperatures are elevated, and sweating is initiated. Upon relocation to a hot climate, recommendations are to adopt cooling procedures using electric fans, ice towels, cold-water immersion, and ice-slurry ingestion. Collectively these strategies reduce thermoregulatory strain, and improves thermal comfort, cognitive function, and physical performance.

To date, heat mitigation guidelines are underpinned almost exclusively by research conducted in men, without consideration of issues associated with the biological and phenotypical sex differences and often protocols are not accessible or sustainable.

This PhD and programme of study will aim to assess the utility of sustainable and accessible heat mitigation or management strategies in females across the lifespan.

For informal discussion, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Jessica Mee j.mee@worc.ac.uk.

Supervisory team:

• Director of Studies: Dr Jessica Mee
• Supervisors: Dr Ben Duncan
• Research Group: Human Performance Research Group