Human “heat tolerance” has no accepted definition or physiological underpinnings; rather, it is almost always discussed in relative or comparative terms. This course proposes to use environmental limits to heat balance accounting for metabolic rate and clothing, that is, the environments for…
Key Points:
Heat tolerance is a nebulous term and almost always is discussed in relative or comparative terms
We propose a novel absolute metric for individual heat tolerance grounded in empirical human data, driven by multidimensional heat stress, and modified by personal factors
We make the case that individual heat tolerance based on critical environmental limits, the upper limit for heat balance across a wide range of ambient temperatures and humidity, is an appropriate metric
The effects of environment, exercise or work intensity, clothing, and personal factors can be quantified into a conceptual absolute heat tolerance category
Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews 52(2):p 39-46, April 2024. | DOI: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000332
