Age, Alcohol Consumption, Heat Stress
Conditions
Keywords
alcohol, heat stress, heat wave, sweating, core temperature, micturition, perception, behaviour
Brief summary
Climate change has significantly increased the earth's average surface temperature and heat waves have been predicted to increase in frequency, intensity and duration. Extreme heat events have increased the susceptibility to heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke or death. Heat health action plans have been designed to advertise cooling behaviours to mitigate physiological strain. Heat health action plans suggest avoiding alcohol consumption during extreme heat as it may increase dehydration and impair behavioural or physiological temperature regulation and thermal perception. Regardless of these messages, alcohol sales continue to remain high during the summer months year after year, and 1/5 of adults identify alcohol as a hydration strategy during extreme heat events. A recent scoping review investigating the effects of alcohol and heat has demonstrated that acute alcohol consumption does not negatively influence thermoregulation, hydration, or hormone markers of fluid balance in the heat compared to a control fluid (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-024-01113-y). Further, alcohol consumption may elicit sex- and age-specific alterations in physiological and perceptual responses, neither of which have been explored. Therefore, this study aims to comprehensively evaluate how alcohol consumption systematically alters physiological responses and perceptions during conditions similar to those experienced indoors during extreme heat events in younger and older adults.
Interventions
DRUGPlacebo Beverage
Participants rest in a climate controlled room maintained at 40°C and 30%RH for 120 minutes follow placebo beverage consumption (180 minutes total).
Participants rest in a climate controlled room maintained at 40°C and 30%RH for 120 minutes follow alcoholic beverage consumption (180 minutes total).
Sponsors
Lakehead University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male or Female above the age of 19 * Able to provide informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* History of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 1 or 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, cystic fibrosis, or alcohol addiction or dependence * Been hospitalized due to COVID-19 * Pregnant/Breastfeeding * Scoring an eight or above on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Point Thermal Comfort Scale | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | Thermal comfort scale with 1- comfortable and 5 - very uncomfortable |
| Urine Output | Total urine output (e.g. volume) from baseline to immediately following 120 minutes of heat stress | — |
| ASHRAE seven-point thermal sensation scale | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | — |
| Heart Rate | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | 3-lead electrocardiogram |
| Skin Temperature | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | Mean skin (4 sites) |
| Core Temperature | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | measured rectally |
| Blood Pressure | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | ECG-gated blood pressure cuff |
| Heart Rate Variability | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | — |
| Arrythmia presence | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | — |
| Whole-body Sweat Loss | mass measured at baseline and end heat stress. | Difference in mass from baseline to end heat stress |
| Postural Sway via the Romberg Test | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | The total movement of the body around the center of mass with feet together |
| Skin Blood Flow | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood Alcohol Concentration | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | Measured using a police grade portable breathalyzer |
| Subjective Blood Alcohol Concentration (visual analog scale 0.0 - 0.20) | measured at baseline (pre drink), and every 30 minutes following consumption (up to 120 minutes). | Visual analog scale with left and right anchors of 0.0 and 0.20, respectively, with markers every 0.005 increment |
Countries
Canada
Contacts
Primary ContactNicholas Ravanelli, PhD
Outcome results
None listed