Effect of breathing dry warm air on respiratory water loss at rest and during exercise

Abstract

The changes in respiratory water loss with time, expressed as the mass of water vapour lost per liter BTPS of ventilation (M H 2O ) and expired temperature (T e), used to calculate the relative humidity (ERH), were investigated in ten normal while breathing warm dry air by mouth ( P i H 2 O = 0 kPa; T i = 30° C ); (i) at rest for a period of 35 min; (ii) during 15 min light muscular exercise (50 W); (iii) at increasing work load from 50 to 100 W between the 5th and 10th min of he exercise. The data collected were compared to those obtained in room air conditions ( P i = H 2 O = 0.68–1.3 kPa ) and under conditions with slightly heated inspired air ( T i = 28–30° C ). At rest, when breathing dry warm air M H 2O and ERH fell during the first 15 min, while they recovered their initial values during the last 20 min. In contrast no differences in M H 2O or ERH were ovserved when breathing ambient warm air. At constant and moderate work load for 15 min, the respiratory water loss fell significantly (compared to the 5th min) at the 10th and the 15th min when breathing warm dry air. The added hyperpnea which was obtained by increasing work load from 50 to 100 W between the 5th and 10th min of exercise did not further reduced M H 2O and ERh. The transient fall in M H 2O and ERH, which lasted at least 15 min either at rest or during muscular exercise, suggested that the mechanism underlying humidification of expired gas is overwhelmed by thermal stress, suggested that the mechanism underlying humidification of expired gas is overwhelmed by thermal stress. Since the upper airways mucosa is unable to saturate expired gas, this also suggested that the mucosa is dehydrated and probably hyperosmotic. The progressive recovey in M H 2O and ERh after 15 min of warm dry air breathing at rest, suggest operation of a slow adaptive mechanism.