Facial fanning reduces heart rate but not tolerance to a simulated hemorrhagic challenge following exercise heat stress in young healthy humans

Abstract

We investigated whether reducing face skin temperature alters arterial blood pressure control and lower body negative pressure (LBNP) tolerance after exercise heat stress. Eight subjects (1 female; age, 27 ± 9 years) exercised at ~63% VO2max until core temperature had increased ~1.5°C before undergoing LBNP to pre syncope either with fanning to return face skin temperature to baseline (∆-5°C, Fan trial) or without (No Fan trial). LBNP tolerance was quantified as cumulative stress index (CSI; mmHg*min). Prior to LBNP whole body and face skin temperatures were elevated from baseline in both trials (38.0 ± 0.5°C and 36.3 ± 0.5°C, respectively, both P < 0.001). During LBNP, face skin temperature decreased in the Fan trial (30.9 ± 1.0°C) but was unchanged in the No Fan trial (36.1 ± 0.6°C, between trials P < 0.001). Mean arterial pressure was not different between trials (P = 0.237) and was similarly reduced at pre syncope in both trials (from:82 ± 7 to: 67 ± 8mmHg, P < 0.001). During LBNP, heart rate was attenuated in the Fan trial at Mid LBNP (146 ± 16 vs. 158 ± 12 bpm, P = 0.036) and at peak heart rate (158 ± 15 vs. 170 ± 15 bpm; P < 0.001). LBNP tolerance was not different between trials (321 ± 248 vs. 328 ± 115 mmHg*min, P = 0.851). In exercise heat stressed individuals, lowering face skin temperature to normothermic values suppressed heart rate thereby altering cardiovascular control during a simulated hemorrhagic challenge without reducing tolerance.