Effects of Cold Stimulation on Systemic and Local Blood Circulation ( I )

Keimyung Medical Journal 1983;2(2):166-178.

국소한냉자극이 전신 및 국소혈액순환에 미치는 영향 (제1보)

박원균; 김승한; 권재수; 김연수; 배언희; 배재훈; 이명옥; 채의업

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effects of cold stimulation on systemic and local blood circulatory system. Many investigators have studied about the effects of cold stimulation on blood circulatory system. However, the experiments were performed under the different conditions and therefore slightly different results have been obtained. Particularly the author attempted to evaluate the effects of cold stress by comparing both hands during cold stimulation. The experiment was performed by examining sixty-one healthy college students, whose mean age was 21.0±0.22’ mean weight 60.6士0. 9? kg (male), 48.3土??98 kg (female). The cold stimuli were applied by immersing the left hand into the cold water of 15, 10 and 5°C for 3 minutes, and the responses were observed on left and right hands simultaneously to evaluate systemic and local effects of the cold stimulation respectively. The observations were made through determining blood pressure(B. P.), heart rate, amplitude of photoelectric capillary pulse (APCP), skin temperature, Galvanic skin resistance (GSR), subjective sensation and ECG. The obtained results were analyzed according to the degree of cold stimuli and compared with previous reports. The results are as follows： The B. P. was elevated during the cold stimulation. The increase of B. P. was remarkable at 5°C, and probably it was due to the response of pain. At the recovery period the decreased B. P. below control level as described by Kim et al16) was not observed. The heart rate at 5°C was increased, whereas those at 10 and 15° C were not changed. They were decreased slightly at the recovery period. The APCP was decreased on both hands during the immersion. However it was more prominent on left hand since there was additional direct cold effect. APCP was lowest at 10° C, which indicates the maximum constriction of vascular smooth muscle. During the recovery period, APCP was more rapidly recovered at 5°C than 10° C. It was considered that the cold induced vasodilatation was added at 5? C. The GSR was increased on both hands with greater response on left hand during the cold stimulation. At the recovery period, it was decreased on left hand, whereas it was still increasing on right hand. The skin temperature was decreased on both hands. The subjective sensation during hand immersion was mainly pain at 10 and 5°C, the intensity of pain was gradually increased during the immersion. The circulatory response to cold stimulation at 5°C was mainly due to pain, whereas at 10 and 15° C it seems to be due to both cold and some pain. Changes of the ECG findings according to the cold stimulation in this study were not significant.