A Heart Rate Index for Assessing Heat Stress

The primary objective of this investigation was to develop an index capable of assessing the magnitude of heat stress imposed on young heat acclimatized men exposed to variable work, climatic conditions, and clothing properties. In order to achieve this objective, two different heat stress indices were developed and evaluated based upon two separate biophysical models. For your heat acclimatized men subjected to hot environmental conditions, one of these biophysical models predicts the heart rate, while the other predicts the rectal temperature response. The predicted physiological responses obtained from these models were then used separately to derive the two heat stress indices. The heat stress indices were tested experimentally, and also by using data generated by other investigators. Based on test results, the index derived from the heart rate predictive model (Heart Rate Index) has been recommended.