ABSTRACT
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
describe research evidence from studies examining the effects of environmental extremes (e.g. heat, cold, high altitude, air pollution and spaceflight) on the immune response to exercise.
demonstrate an understanding of the possible mechanisms by which environmental extremes have been hypothesised to alter the immune response to exercise.
provide a case both for and against a possible role for immune dysregulation in exertional heat illness aetiology.
critically discuss whether the commonly held belief that cold exposure increases the incidence of the common cold is credible and, if so, whether cold-induced depression of the immune function is responsible.
demonstrate an understanding of the effects of high altitude on the incidence of infection and immune function.
describe the effect of air pollution on immune function during exercise.
describe the effect of space travel on infection and immune function.
demonstrate an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of laboratory and field studies investigating the effects of environmental extremes on the incidence of infection and immune function.
