SWEATING IS REDUCED AFTER EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO ALTITUDE

Ventline, H. E., Giordano, L. M., Luetkemeier, M. J., & Davis, J. E. (2004). Effects of moderate altitude on peripheral sweating. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(5), Supplement abstract 765.

Healthy Ss (N = 15) were measured for sweating at L1 (lowland - 243 m before ascent), A1 (1 day after ascent to 3,416 m), A2 (16 days after ascent), and L2 (1 day after return to lowland). Sweating was induced for 11-min and was collected for 15 minutes on each occasion.

Sweat volume, sweat gland density, and volume of sweat per gland decreased significantly from lowland (L1) to second altitude recording (A2). Volume of sweat per gland remained decreased at L2. Sweating adaptations to altitude took considerable time, in this case 16 days, to emerge.

Implication. Sweating is reduced after extended exposure to altitude.

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