Impact of Extreme Heat on Myocardial Blood Flow and Flow Reserve in Young and Older Adults

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · Feb 18, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how extreme heat affects blood flow to the heart in both young and older adults. Researchers are particularly interested in understanding why older adults seem to experience more heart-related issues during heat waves, as they often have a harder time regulating their body temperature. The goal is to learn how heat exposure impacts blood flow and heart function, especially in older individuals compared to younger ones.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be healthy, either between the ages of 18-35 or 65 and older. They should not have serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, and cannot be taking certain medications that affect heart function or sweating. Participants can expect to undergo tests that measure how well their heart's blood flow responds to heat stress. This study aims to provide valuable insights into how aging influences heart health during hot weather, which could ultimately help improve care for older adults during heat waves.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Healthy male and female individuals
• • 18-35 years or 65+ years of age
• • Free of any underlying moderate to serious medical conditions
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Known heart disease; other chronic medical conditions requiring regular medical therapy including cancer, diabetes, neurological diseases, uncontrolled hypertension, and uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia.
• • Taking of any medications (such as beta blockers and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers) that have known influences on either cardiac function or sweating responses.
• • Abnormalities detected on routine screening.
• • Current smokers, as well as individuals who regularly smoked within the past 3 years.
• • Body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m\^2
• • Pregnant individuals