IMPACT OF VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES ON PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABLE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

IMPACT OF VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURES ON PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABLE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Titto Cherian¹ & Dr. George Abraham²

tittocherian@gmail.com, profgeorgeabraham@gmail.com

¹PhD Scholar, JJT University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, INDIA

²Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of various environmental temperatures on physiological variable among undergraduate students. Fifteen young boys (n = 15) students were selected as subjects and the age ranged between 17 and 21 years. Heart rate was selected as criterion variable and that was collected at three different temperatures (i.e. 24.7^oC, 34.1^oC, 27.3^oC) in morning, afternoon and evening respectively from each subject. The collected data was statistically analysed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe’s test was applied as a post hoc test to determine the significant differences between the mean. The result of the study showed that the heart rate was better (p ≤ 0.05) in evening time i.e. 27.3^oC rather than the morning and afternoon environmental temperature.

Key Words: Environmental temperature, undergraduates, heart rate.

Introduction

Exercise in hot climate or hot environment causes a magnification of normal response to physical work, and increase in core, and skin temperature, metabolic heat production sweat rate, pulse rate and systolic blood pressure. That response assists the body in shedding excess heat by convection, radiation, conduction, and evaporation (David, 1986).  This greater ratio helps to increase heat loss in moderate heat stress.  But in cold or extreme heat, the larger area may provide too little protection from the ambient temperature. When the environmental temperature rises above the skin temperature, (normally around 34oC) the circulatory adjustments are not sufficient for heat dissipation by convection and negative gradient between the skin and environment (Benjamin, 1967). The atmospheric or environment temperature, physiological factors are very important for achieving the physical performance. Body temperature is usually at its lowest (about 36.1oC) in the early morning hours and at its highest (about 37.4oC) in the late afternoon or early evening. The temperature regulation during exercises in hot climate involves vasodilatation and seating as a function of anterior hypothalamus of the brain (Karpovich, 1973).

Heart rate is the rhythmical dilation of an artery produced by the increased volume of blood through the vessel by the contraction of the heart (Evelyn, 1989). It is actually the frequency of pressure waves (one minute) propagated along the peripheral arteries (Astrand and Keare, 1970). The rhythmic expansion and contraction of the arteries corresponding each beat of the heart is referred to as the pulse in the medical field, means the pulse is the rate at which the human heart beats, indicating the health of the heart. The normal heart beats for humans, while resting, ranges between 60 to 80 beats per minute, whereas while exercising, it may rise to as high as 150 - 200 beats per minute. In well-conditioned athletes, the pulse rate can also be as low as 60. Immense variations are observed in the heart rate when the individual indulges in different activities (Bosco & Gustafson, 1992).

Methodology

The aim of the study was to find out the impact of various environmental temperatures on physiological variable among the undergraduate students fifteen young boys’ students (n = 15) studying in Bachelor of Physical Education, Department of Physical Education, Christ College Irinjalakkuda, Kerala, India were selected as subjects for this study.  They were between 17 to 21 years of age group.  The variable selected for this study was heart rate and it was measured by using a heart rate monitor. It was collected at three different temperatures (i.e. 24.7^oC, 34.1^oC, 27.3^oC) in morning, afternoon and evening such as 6 am, 1 pm and 5.45 pm respectively from each subject of this study. The obtained data from the variable were statistically analysed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).  Whenever the F ratio was found to be significant, Scheffe’s test was applied as a post hoc test to determine the mean differences.  The level of confidence was fixed at 0.05 levels.

Results

Table – I

Analysis of Variance of the Environmental Temperature of Morning, Afternoon and Evening of Heart Rate

Mean			SOV	Sum of Squares	df	Mean Squares	F Ratio
Morning	Afternoon	Evening
72.07	71.20	70.0	Between	32.31	2	16.16	11.06*
			Within	61.33	42	1.46

     * Significant F = (2, 42) (0.05) = 3.22,    p £ 0.05

From the table-I, the mean values of the heart rate of morning, afternoon and evening are 72.07, 71.20 and 70.0 respectively.  The obtained F ratio of 11.06 is greater than the table value of 3.22 required for significant at 0.05 level of confidence.

The results of the study indicate that there is a significant difference between the mean of morning, afternoon and evening environmental temperature on heart rate. To determine which of the mean had a significant difference, Scheffe’s test was applied as a pot-hoc test and the results are presented in table-II.

Table – II

Scheffe’s Test for the Difference between the Mean of Environmental Temperature of Morning, Afternoon and Evening on Heart Rate

Mean			Mean Difference	Confidence Interval (C.I)
Morning	Afternoon	Evening
72.07	71.20		0.87	1.12
72.07		70.0	2.07*
	71.20	70.0	1.20*

       * Significant,   p £ 0.05

Table-II shows the mean difference in heart rate between morning and evening and afternoon and evening are 2.07 and 1.20 respectively. These values are higher than the required confidence interval value 1.12, which shows significant difference at the 0.05 level of confidence. However the mean difference in heart rate between morning and afternoon is 0.87. This value is lesser than the confidence interval value of 1.12, which shows there was no significant difference at 0.05 levels. The mean values of heart rate of different atmospheric temperature such as morning, afternoon and evening are graphically presented in figure 1.

Figure 1: The mean values of heart rate at different temperatures in a day such as morning 6 am (24.7^o), afternoon 1 pm (34.1^o) and evening 5.45 pm (27.3^o)

Conclusion

Heart rate at different temperature variations in a day such as morning 6 am (24.7^o), afternoon 1 pm (34.1^o) and evening 5.45 pm (27.3^o) respectively. The result of the study showed that there was a significant difference between the heart rate of morning and evening and afternoon and evening atmospheric temperature. However there was no significant difference between morning and afternoon atmospheric temperature. It is concluded that there was a difference in heart rate due to different atmospheric temperature of undergraduate boys’ students. 

References

1.      Benjamin Ricci. (1967). Physiological Basis of Human Performance, Lea & Febiger Publisherrs, p. 157.

2.      David, F. Tver. (1986). Encyclodpedic Dictionary of Sports Medicine, Chapman and Hall Ltd.  (Great Britain),  pp.86-87

3.      Karpovich & Sinning. (1973). Physiology of Muscular Activity, Saunder’s Co., London, p.64.

4.       Astrand., & Keare Rodahe. (1970). Textbook of work physiology, New York: Mc Graw Hills Book Co.

5.      James, S. Bosco., & William, F. Gustafson. (1992). Measurement and Evaluation in Physical Education Fitness and Sports, Englewood Cliffs: New Jersey, Prentice Hall, Inc, 21.

6.      Pearce, Evelyn C. (1989). Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses, New York: Oxford University Press.