Effects of sodium salicylate on physiological responses to work in heat

The hypothesis was tested that men given sodium salicylate would work in the heat at a lower level of temperature regulation. Healthy young volunteers were exposed to a standardized workload consisting of a 100-min walk at 3.5 mph on a level treadmill. Two ambient conditions were studied: a) simulated desert (120 F D.B., 80 F W.B.) and b) simulated jungle (92 F D.B., 87 F W.B.). Rectal temperature (Tr), skin temperature (Ts), sweat rate ( SR ), and pulse rate ( PR ) were measured in the subjects during work in the heat under three drug regimens: no drug (control), 0.6 g (low dose), and 7.8 g (high dose). It was found that sodium salicylate had no effect on Ts or PR compared with control; this finding applied to both doses in both hot environments. There was, however, a higher Tr and SR in men who received the high dose of the drug in the tropic environment and an increased SR in the desert climate. There was no decrease in Tr in the desert environment during salicylate administration. The results of this investigation do not confirm the original hypothesis; to the contrary, they suggest that high doses of sodium salicylate potentiates the hyperthermia of unacclimatized men working in the heat. body temperature regulation; exercise; simulated desert environment; simulated jungle environment; hyperthermia; rectal temperature, skin temperature, sweat rate, and pulse rate in hot environments; antipyretics Submitted on August 26, 1963