Timeline for Can one acclimatize to cold -- and remain healthy -- by enduring some chilliness at the beginning of the cold season?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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| Oct 23, 2023 at 9:38 | history | edited | Chris H | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Oct 23, 2023 at 8:48 | comment | added | Chris H | @njuffa I have access. The abstract does a good job of summarising the paper, but I'll quote the last sentence "The proportionately greater decrease in shivering compared to the decrease in cold-induced metabolism suggests the presence of nonshivering thermogenesis in man." Also, from the introduction: "Bazett et al.investigated such a possibility and found that plasma, red cell, and blood volumes were higher in summer than in winter. MacLean and Partridge, ... reaffirmed Yaglou’s original observation ... the effective temperature of greatest comfort was 67°F for winter and 72 “F for summer | |
| Oct 23, 2023 at 7:20 | comment | added | njuffa | @D Duck I do not have access to that paper (paywall), only the abstract. Google Scholar indicates that there is a plethora of literature on acclimatization in humans; presumably this is because it is of interest to the performance (mental and physical) of various outdoor workers, athletes, and the military. The abstract I quoted indicates that there is such a thing as a seasonal acclimatization process to cold. Those with access to paywalled literature could supply details. | |
| Oct 23, 2023 at 6:52 | comment | added | D Duck | @njuffa - does that paper say that acclimatization to cold is - you get a little warmer but essentially you just stop shivering? | |
| Oct 22, 2023 at 20:08 | comment | added | Chris H | @Peter-ReinstateMonica one interesting possibility is changes in brown fat, which generates heat. In general human metabolism is very adaptable, but cold tolerance goes beyond metabolism | |
| Oct 22, 2023 at 20:04 | comment | added | Chris H | Thanks @njuffa, I've been offline for a couple of days (kayaking, mountain biking, and van camping, so good on-topic reasons!). The literature I'm more familiar with is about acclimatisation to cold water immersion, but there's some overlap in my reading. | |
| Oct 22, 2023 at 9:29 | comment | added | njuffa | @Peter - Reinstate Monica There seems to be some evidence for this: Thomas R. A. Davis and D. R. Johnston, "Seasonal acclimatization to cold in man", Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. 16, No. 2, Mar. 1961, pp. 231-234: "The highly significant change in shivering and the less significant change in heat production observed suggests that man seasonally acclimatizes to cold and that this acquired acclimatization is lost during the summer months." | |
| Oct 22, 2023 at 4:30 | comment | added | Peter - Reinstate Monica | Is there any evidence that acclimatization to lower temperatures really works? What would be the physiological mechanism that enables us to stay functional in colder weather than before? (Apart from accumulating a layer of body fat which I tend to do in the warmth of my home under the Christmas tree, in preparation for the upcoming extreme hikes, or so I tell myself ;-).) | |
| Oct 20, 2023 at 8:37 | history | answered | Chris H | CC BY-SA 4.0 |