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Impact of uncomplicated controlled hypertension on thermoregulation during exercise-heat stress

Abstract

Exercise is promoted for management of hypertension and as a general healthy behavior, but environmental conditions are seldom considered in these recommendations. Hypertension may affect skin blood flow and sweating, two of the primary mechanisms which prevent continued elevations in core temperature by facilitating whole-body heat loss during exercise-heat stress. We show that during incremental exercise-heat stress (in hot-dry conditions), controlled and uncomplicated hypertension is unlikely to exert a meaningful effect on whole-body heat loss in individuals who are already physically active.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (399434) and the Government of Ontario (16-R-036). We would like to thank Dr. Martin Poirier for his assistance in data collection.

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Correspondence to Glen P. Kenny.

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Akerman, A.P., Notley, S.R., Sigal, R.J. et al. Impact of uncomplicated controlled hypertension on thermoregulation during exercise-heat stress. J Hum Hypertens 35, 880–883 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-020-00402-6

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