PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSES AND THERMAL SENSATIONS OF THE ELDERLY IN COLDAND HOT ENVIRONMENTS

1. 10 elderly and 10 college-aged females served as subjects in cold a nd heat environments. The subjects changed into the standard clothing (0.63 clo), and stayed in the neutral environment (25 degrees C) for 2 3 min, thereafter they were exposed to the cold (10 degrees C) or hot (35 degrees C) environment for 49 min. 2. Then they returned to the ne utral environment, and stayed there for 47 min. Oral temperature, skin temperatures at 10 sites, blood pressure and thermal sensation were m easured during the experiments. 3. In the cold environment, the elderl y could not reduce heat loss by vasoconstriction as did young people, and their blood pressures increased more rapidly than in young people. In the hot environment, the elderly could not promote heat loss by va sodilation as did young people. Moreover, there is a delayed sensitivi ty to cold for the elderly. Therefore, in the houses of the elderly, i t is important to have heating and cooling systems which also includes the areas where the people do not stay for a long-period of time (e.g . toilet, passageways).