Human Heat Stress
Description
Older adults (≥65 years) consistently experience higher rates of heat-related illness and mortality, with elevated vulnerability also observed among older females, individuals living with chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, and those using medications that impair thermoregulation. While epidemiological evidence clearly identifies these groups as high-risk, the physiological mechanisms that place them at elevated risk remain poorly understood.
Extreme heat imposes physiological strain, manifested through increases in core temperature, heart rate, and dehydration, yet it is unclear which personal characteristics most strongly predict these responses. Existing research provides valuable insights but is limited by narrow methodological scope. Most studies isolate single factors such as age or biological sex, despite the real-world co-occurrence of multiple risk characteristics. Sample sizes are typically small and restricted to healthy adults, reducing the ability to detect continuous associations across diverse populations. Additionally, many studies focus exclusively on core temperature, overlooking other key markers of physiological strain. As a result, significant gaps remain in understanding the independent and interactive effects of age, sex, health status, and medication use on physiological heat responses.
Goals and Learning Outcomes
The objective of this project is to identify the personal-level predictors of physiological heat strain, including hyperthermia, cardiovascular strain, and dehydration, during controlled heat exposure. By analyzing a large, diverse adult sample, this project will quantify how individual characteristics independently and jointly contribute to physiological responses that underlie heat-related health risks.
The project is expected to:
- Identify which personal characteristics most strongly predict physiological heat strain.
- Clarify why certain individuals experience greater health risks during extreme heat.
- Generate evidence-based recommendations for personalized heat-risk mitigation strategies.
Ultimately, this work will help public health agencies identify vulnerable populations more accurately and support targeted interventions during extreme heat events.
Majors and Schools Sought
- Students from any of the sciences are welcome to apply.