Fort Rucker

Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a serious condition affecting about 500 military personnel and over 100 soldiers annually, often leading to lasting organ damage or even death. This research aims to improve understanding of biomarkers related to EHS risk, recovery, and return-to-duty decisions by comparing soldiers who complete high-risk events like ruck marches and timed runs with those who have collapsed from EHS in previous data. The study focuses on identifying specific biomarkers that can guide better prevention, treatment, and recovery strategies for EHS. The study is observational and involves monitoring physiological responses during high-risk events without any treatment intervention. Researchers will collect various measurements including core temperature during and after exercise, heart rate during training, and blood markers for kidney, liver, and muscle function every six hours for up to 36 hours. These data will help distinguish normal responses to heat stress from pathological ones and identify biomarkers indicating successful completion of high-risk exercises. Participants will be military personnel currently in training and will undergo pre-event, post-event, and follow-up assessments. The study includes continuous monitoring of vital signs and periodic blood tests to track organ function and recovery over time. Researchers will analyze these measurements to understand the impact of heat stress and to identify markers that support safe return to duty. The study duration includes immediate monitoring during training and up to 36 hours post-exercise to capture recovery patterns.