The increase in temperature due to climate change poses significant health risks for both the general population and athletes, particularly those with low thermoregulatory capacity, who may experience increased stress responses that could lead to vascular complications like atherosclerosis. To mitigate these effects, athletes have adopted heat acclimatization protocols, which could also benefit the general population. In our study, ten physically active subjects (6 males, 4 females) underwent a heat training protocol twice a week for eight weeks, involving 30 minutes of constant-power exercise at 36°C. Subjects were tested incrementally and had blood samples taken to evaluate physical fitness and atherosclerosis risk. Results showed improvements in body composition, cardiovascular function, thermoregulatory capacity and metabolic response to heat as well as an improvement in the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
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