Sex Differences in Changes in Blood Pressure During Passive Heating

Abstract

The human body has developed intricate physiological processes in response to changes in the external environment; the aim of these processes is to maintain homeostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of passive heating on blood pressure in both sexes in order to determine if these differences will exist. The exposure to passive heating in 15 healthy adults did not show statistical significance concerning the effects of heating (continuous and intermittent), time (pre- and post-trial), and interaction (heating × time) on brachial and central diastolic blood pressure nor brachial and central systolic blood pressure (P > 0.05). However, Females experienced a greater reduction in blood pressure during passive heating than males (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the results did not support the theory that passive heating would cause a sudden drop in blood pressure; however, a greater drop in blood pressure during passive heating was observed in females compared to males.