Enhancing Heat Resiliency in Older Adults During Indoor Overheating Via Heat Acclimation by Warm Water Immersion

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA · Oct 30, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how warm water immersion can help older women better cope with extreme heat indoors, especially as climate change makes overheating more common. The researchers want to find out if spending time in warm water for seven days can improve the body's ability to handle heat and reduce stress on the heart and body when exposed to hot indoor conditions. This is particularly important for older women, who may be at a higher risk of heat-related health issues compared to men.

To participate in this trial, women aged 60 to 85 who are non-smokers and can speak either English or French may be eligible. They should be able to give informed consent and have conditions like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, as long as they have been stable for a while. Participants will experience warm water immersion sessions, which may help them feel more comfortable and safe during hot weather. It's important to know that those with certain health issues or serious complications related to diabetes may not be able to join the study.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Non-smoking.
• • English or French speaking.
• • Ability to provide informed consent.
• • With or without a) chronic hypertension (elevated resting blood pressure; as defined by Heart and Stroke Canada and Hypertension Canada), b) type 2 diabetes as defined by Diabetes Canada, with at least 5 years having elapsed since time of diagnosis
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Episode(s) of severe hypoglycemia (requiring the assistance of another person) within the previous year, or inability to sense hypoglycemia (hypoglycemia unawareness).
• • Serious complications related to your diabetes (gastroparesis, renal disease, uncontrolled hypertension, severe autonomic neuropathy).
• • Uncontrolled hypertension - BP \>150 mmHg systolic or \>95 mmHg diastolic in a sitting position.
• • Restrictions in physical activity due to disease (e.g. intermittent claudication, renal impairment, active proliferative retinopathy, unstable cardiac or pulmonary disease, disabling stroke, severe arthritis, etc.).
• • Use of or changes in medication judged by the patient or investigators to make participation in this study inadvisable.
• • Cardiac abnormalities identified during screening