Results

The five athletes consented to have their data collected for scientific research. As stated, four were men (80%) and one was a woman (20%). All were friends and training partners during their preparation to complete an Ironman event in 2005.

Averages for the different biochemical parameters were taken before and after each subject spent 60 minutes in the infrared heat chamber. The average starting glutathione red blood cells (glut-rbc) was 250, and the average ending 218.8. Glutathione plasma (Glut-plasma) began at an average of 142.4, and increased to 190.4. The average Anti-oxidant assay (AOA) level started at 1.1, and ended at 1.3. Cortisol levels began at 12.7 and increased to 19.0 following exposure to the extreme heat. (See Table 2.)

Serum osmolality (Osmo) averaged 296.2 at the start of the study and rose to 302.2 at the end. The average white blood cell (WBC) count was 7.26 before and 8.08 after. Hemoglobin (HGB) began at 13.6 and ended at 15.9. Hematrocrit (HCT) starting levels averaged 43.28 and finished at 46.72. Platelets (PLT) began at 278.4 and increased to 303.8. Urine specific gravity (UASG) began at 1.018 and ended at 1.0162. Urine pH (UAPH) started at an average of 6.4 and ended at 6.5. There was only a small change in C-reactive protein (CRP) as well; levels began at 0.62 and ended at 0.64. Finally, Ferritin (Fer) levels averaged 106 prior to the experiment and rose to 114 after. (See Table 3.)

The average potassium level began at 4.35. After 30 minutes it dropped to 4.20, and ended at 4.36. Calcium panels began at an average of 4.83. Thirty minutes into the experiment it increased to 4.87, and ended at 5.01. Magnesium panels began at an average of 1.21. Midway levels were documented at 1.23, with an ending average of 1.31. Sodium levels began at an average of 141.0, after 30 minutes averaged 142.3, and ended at 143.8. (See Table 4.)

In terms of pH, normal levels range from 7.50-7.52 when samples are run on the Model 8 NOVA. Figure 2 depicts the actual result for the five athletes. Note all participants experienced increases in all blood pH values as their time in the hyperthermia chamber increased. (See Figure 2.) The average venous serum blood pH for the five athletes began at 7.55, increased to 7.59 after 30 minutes, and ended at 7.67 after 60 minutes.

Normal core body temperature in humans is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. In this study, beginning body temperature averaged 97.5 degrees, and it rose to 99.7 degrees after 30 minutes in the heating chamber, and after 60 minutes was 101.4 degrees. (See Figure 3.)

When the actual body temperature of the five athletes was plotted against their changes in blood pH, it becomes even clearer that extreme body temperatures correlated with rises in venous serum blood pH. (See Figure 4.)

Subjects were asked to rate their answers to the survey questions at the beginning, as well as after every 15 minutes for the hour they were lying in the chamber. All question used an interval scale of 0 to 10. Ten indicated the most positive subjective response with 0 indicating the most negative. Not all of the reported responses began with a rating of 10 because if one subject did not feel “optimal” at the start of the experiment, the overall starting average for that variable would be less than 10. For example, the subjects were asked to rate their mental clarity during the experiment. At the beginning of the proceedings, the self-rated average mental clarity was 9.8. Halfway through the trial, the average mental clarity dropped to 7.6, and upon completion of an hour in the hyperthermia chamber, the subjects rated their average mental clarity as 3.2.

“Overall feeling” was a subjective ranking, best explained by the question and answer, “How do you feel? Answers: “Great, good, fair, or awful.” By assigning numeric rankings to this question, 10 was the average starting response, 7.2 the average at 30 minutes, and 5.6 at the end of the 60 minutes in the chamber. Averages answers to all of the survey questions can be seen in Table 5, including thirst, ability to breathe, amount of sweat, comfort/temperature perception, stomach feeling/ache, headache/head pressure, appetite, and body achiness.

Lastly, the subjects were asked about their perceived ability to run at different intervals throughout the experiment. The athletes’ starting ability to run averaged 6.2. They did not start out with a higher average due to the participants having varying degrees of injuries, illness, and pretrial fatigue, which they perceived would affect their ability to run as compared to how they would run if at peak condition (peak condition being a 10 on the scale used in this study). A rating of three meant the athlete felt he or she would only be able to walk, and a rating of two meant the athlete felt he or she would only be able to walk very slowly. A rating of one meant barely able to walk at all, and a rating of 0 would be completely stopped. After 30 minutes, the average rated ability to run was 2.8, and at the end of the trial it had further decreased to 0.2. When the athletes’ perceived ability to run is plotted against venous serum blood pH, a direct negative correlation is seen. (See Figure 5.)