Robert M Gifford, N Taylor, A Carroll, J Sweeting, I T Parsons, M J Stacey, N Z M Homer, A Tsanas, D R Woods, R M Reynolds
INTRODUCTION: Measuring cortisol during military training offers insights into physiological responses to stress. We attempted precisely timed, cortisol awakening response (CAR) and pre-sleep cortisol (PSC), and diurnal slope (peak morning minus evening cortisol), during a British Army exercise. We aimed to understand cortisol dynamics and evaluate the feasibility of CAR and PSC in this environment. METHOD: Setting: high-intensity, 10-day infantry exercise. Participants: regular infantry soldiers exercising (EX, n=25) or headquarters-based (HQ, n=6)...
April 11, 2024: BMJ military health