Physiological responses of men working in 25.5 degrees C water, breathing air or helium tri-mix

Abstract

Fourteen scuba divers in swim trunks did ergometer work while breathing air at 3 m in 25.5 degrees C water. They were stressed by work and cold. Exercise produced increases in heart rate, minute ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO2), and catecholamine excretion. Cold lowered rectal temperature (Tre) despite exercise, and contributed to the increase in VO2 and catecholamine excretion. Immersion, cutaneous vasoconstriction, work, and scuba breathing contributed to a brisk diuresis, probably by centralizing blood volume and thus stimulating central vascular volume receptors. Similar exercise in 25.5 degrees C water, breathing helium tri-mix (gas density less than air), produced higher VE but lower VO2 when compared to air breathing. Tri-mix scuba breathing resulted in a smaller diuresis, perhaps because its lower density leads to lesser atrial distension during work. The fall in Tre during work in 25.5 degrees C water was identical whether air or helium tri-mix was respired, since helium does not accentuate respiratory convective heat transfer.