Physiological reactions to cold of Caucasian females

Abstract

The physiological reactions to cold of nine female Caucasians were examined and compared with the reactions of a sample of male Caucasians. The experiment was conducted in the climatic chamber of the Applied Physiology Laboratory at air temperatures of 27 and 5 C, with a wind velocity of 80–100 ft/min. The sample of nine did not provide for intermediate temperature studies. The metabolic rates of the females were lower than those of the males, at both 27 and 5 C, but when expressed per square meter no differences were found. Finger and toe and rectal temperatures were the same for both sexes at 5 C, but the average female finger temperature was lower than that of the males at 27 C. The average female skin temperature was 2 C lower than that of the males. This indicates a greater subcutaneous insulation for females and this is confirmed by skinifold measurements. Both Caucasian sexes therefore display an increase in rectal temperature with fall in air temperature, which contrasts markedly with the Bantu and Bushman, both of whom show a decrease in rectal temperatures. Caucasian females and cold; cold responses of Caucasian females Submitted on September 17, 1963

Thermal discomfort with cold extremities in relation to age, gender, and body mass index in a random sample of a Swiss urban population

“…Numerous investigators have reported that women have colder mean skin temperatures during rest in cold air than men [19-22]. While this has been attributed to differences in body fat by some authors [20,21], others have not been able to show a relationship between fatness and mean skin temperature [23,24]. The literature is thus not in agreement.…”

Effect of Repeated Cold Water Swimming Exercise on Adaptive Changes in Body Weight in Older Rats

“…Numerous investigators have reported that women have colder mean skin temperatures during rest in cold air than men (Cunningham, Stolwijk, Wenger, 1978;Wyndham et al, 1964;Wagner, Horvath, 1985). While this has been imputed to differences in body fat by some authors (Wyndham et al, 1964;Wagner, Horvath, 1985), others have not been able to prove a correlation between fatness and mean skin temperature (Stevens, Graham, Wilson, 1987). Facultative interactions between metabolic responses to cold and physical fitness remain controversial.…”

The effect of caffeine on energy balance

“…On the other hand, caffeine had no significant effect on EI in the women. Previous studies have found gender differences in the response to factors influencing the SNS [66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73]. For instance, higher responses in blood pressure and CA to cold and exercise stress were recorded in men compared with women [71][72][73].…”