What Researchers Did
Researchers studied how eight healthy people reacted to cold water immersion in a hyperbaric chamber at two different pressures, 1 and 6 ATA.
What They Found
Core body temperature dropped faster during the 6-ATA trial (2.1 +/- 0.5 degrees C/h) compared to the 1-ATA trial (1.3 +/- 0.5 degrees C/h). Despite this faster cooling, subjects produced less heat and perceived the cold less intensely at 6 ATA.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted by Canadian authors and provides insights into diving physiology, which is relevant for diver safety in Canada's cold waters.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are based on a small sample of healthy individuals, which may limit their applicability to a wider population.