How can we ignite metabolism without overheating our engines? Due to necessary training intensity in bootcamps, lowering the risk of heat stroke is particularly challenging for athletes working out in the summer heat. Subsequently pH fitness is an even greater consideration when building a training schedule when temperature rises.

Left untreated, heat stroke may progress to coma, and death may result due to kidney failure, malfunction of the lungs, acute heart failure, or direct heat induced damage to the brain. This is of particular concern to althletes because heat stroke risk rises as metabolic pH drops during exercise. Acidification of body pH can lead to acidosis... cellular response to stress is altered contributing to overtraining syndrome. Acid toxicity inhibits the ability of the hypothalamus to cool the body ultimately affecting the role of the pineal gland [the tiny cone shaped gland that has recently been found to be an important link between the nervous and endocrine systems. This gland is linked to the CNS via the sympathetic nervous system.] Studies which have provided an in vitro model for the study of mechanism of injury in exertional heat stress conclude:

"Heat stroke mortality is worsened in the presence of acidosis. Using cell culture as an in vitro model of exertional heat stress, we have shown that physiologic acidosis (pH 6.8) significantly increases cell death from hyperthermia. We have further demonstrated that acidosis augments the heat response of the human HSP70 3′ untranslated region."

In addition, metabolic acidosis has been shown to inhibit the heat control mechanism in the hypothalamus, and is a potential causative factor in heat stroke.*

Returning body pH chemistry to normal requires that the correct intracellular and extracellular balance of electrolytes be restored. Electrolytes are electrically charged ions that our cells need in order to carry electrical impulses between cells that maintain muscle and nerve control. Since physical exertion generally causes a drop in body pH anyway, in the summer heat, the imbalance of electrolytes can be as potentially damaging as the loss of electrolytes. Hydration will restore the supply of electrolytes, however by itself cannot restore the balance of electrolytes necessary for optimal cellular and organ function.

Body'Fit pH Fitness™ exercise (short form... pHx™) is a cool down routine that presents a superior solution for body temperature control. Designed to ignite metabolism in deep organs as well as equalize VO2max in all muscles without overheating the body, this unique sequence disperses heat by opening up blood vessels in both deep organ and cutaneous blood vessels. The dynamic 24-exercise series also helps reset the temperature regulating mechanisms in the central and sympathetic nervous systems, by restoring acid base equilibrium to the body., and fast, within 5 to 15 minutes. In the hot weather, Body'Fit pHx adds a definite spark to metabolic rate, while reducing risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke to get more out of exercise without injury or immune stress.

*Metabolic acidosis inhibits hypothalamic warm-sensitive receptors: a potential causative factor in heat stroke
The anterior hypothalamusis regarded as the primary site for thermoreception in the mammalian brain. Peripheral thermal afferents synapse on temperature-sensitive neurons and the hypothalamus contains a high concentration of warm-sensitive neurons, which are proposed to activate heat-loss responses while inhibiting heat-production. Accordingly, localized warming of the hypothalmus decreases core temperature, whereas localized cooling increases core temperature. [Body'Fit pHx opens up deep body blood vessels warming the hypothalumus, thereby cooling the body. Conversly acidic workouts constrict deep body deep vessels, cooling the hypothalamus, thereby overheating the body.]
Core body temperature is maintained constant around a "set point" by the neural control and integration of various physiological reflexes (autonomic, endocrine, cardiorespiratory, and motor which is primarly regulated by the pineal gland), and behavioral responses. Because of the number of organ systems utilized to maintain body temperature, and the variety of autonomic and behavioral functions that are regulated by the hypothalamus, it is not surprising that thermosensitive neurons in the hypothalamus are sensitive to multiple types of stimuli, including hyperosmolarity, hyperglycemia, and cellular acidosis.
The primary effect of hypercapnic acidosis is to reduce activity of warm-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus. This finding supports the new hypothesis that inhibition of warm-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus during cellular acidosis may disrupt normal heat loss mechanisms. This, in turn, could contribute to thermoregulatory dysfunction that causes core hyperthermia during respiratory acidosis.
Molecular CO2 or hypercapnia per se is not the critical stimulus, however. The authors have shown that the inhibitory effect of hypercapnic acidosis on warm-sensitive neurons occurs by a mechanism that is dependent on extracellular pH (pHe). This conclusion was based on their findings that the inhibitory effect of hypercapnic acidosis (PCO2, pHe, unchanged HCO3–) on firing rate was mimicked by isocapnic acidosis (unchanged PCO2, pHe, HCO3–) but not isohydric hypercapnia (PCO2, unchanged pHe, HCO3–). All three acid-base manipulations would have likely caused a significant decrease in intracellular pH (pHi). Thus it seems likely that decreased pHe is the critical stimulus causing inhibition of neuronal activity. [Body'Fit pHx maintain intracellular and extracelluar pH at normal levels regardless of speed, intensity, and duration of performance.]
Given the importance of pH in the inhibitory mechanism reported, metabolic acidosis (i.e., isocapnic acidosis: unchanged PCO2, pHe, HCO3–, pHi) may be an important factor contributing to the occurrence of heat stroke. Metabolic acidosis is a well-known predictor of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and it has been attributed to the failure of multiple organ systems [Body'Fit pHx opens up circulation in deep organs and bones as well as cutaneous blood vessels]. The present study supports the hypothesis that metabolic acidosis in and of itself can induce central hyperthermia by inhibition of heat loss mechanisms that are controlled by the hypothalamus, resulting in heat stroke.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

After prolonged exposure to hot conditions, the following symptoms of heat exhaustion may develop:

1. Profuse Sweating
2. Fatigue
3. Muscle cramps
4. Nausea and vomiting
5. Faintness and unsteadiness
6. Headache
If exposure to heat continues, the body temperature rises and heatstroke may develop, causing symptoms such as:

1. Cessation of sweating
2. Body temperature of 105 degree Fahrenheit or higher
3. Rapid and shallow breathing
4. Rapid heartbeat
5. Elevated or lowered blood pressure
6. Confusion and disorientation
7. Seizure
8. Fainting, which may be the first sign in older adults