Acral skin vasoreactivity and thermosensitivity to hand cooling following 5 days of intermittent whole body cold exposure

Abstract

We sought to examine whether short-term whole-body cold acclimation would modulate finger vasoreactivity and thermosensitivity to localized cooling. Fourteen men were equally assigned to either the experimental (CA) or the control (CON) group. The CA group was immersed to the chest in 14°C water for ≤120 min daily over a 5-day period, while the skin temperature of the right-hand fingers was clamped at ~35.5°C. The CON group was instructed to avoid any cold exposure during this period. Before and after the intervention, both groups performed, on two different consecutive days, a local cold provocation trial consisting of a 30-min hand immersion in 8°C water, while immersed to the chest once in 21°C (mild-hypothermic trial; 0.5°C fall in rectal temperature from individual pre-immersion values) and on the other occasion in 35.5°C (normothermic trial). In the CA group, the cold-induced reduction in finger temperature was less (mild-hypothermic trial: P = 0.05; normothermic trial: P = 0.02), and the incidence of the cold-induced vasodilation episodes was greater (in normothermic trials: P = 0.04) in the post than in the pre-acclimation trials. The right-hand thermal discomfort was also attenuated (mild-hypothermic trial: P = 0.04; normothermic trial: P = 0.01). The finger temperature responses of the CON group did not vary between testing periods. Our findings suggest that repetitive whole-body exposure to severe cold within a week, may attenuate finger vasoreactivity and thermosensitivity to localized cooling. These regional thermo-adaptions were ascribed to central neural habituation produced by the iterative, generalized cold stimulation.

Association between baseline blood pressure variability and left heart function following short‐term extreme cold exposure

“…This shift in skin temperature subsequently impacts various physiological indicators through neurohumoral regulation. Prior researches have demonstrated that alterations in skin temperature following cold exposure can be modulated through various strategies such as cold acclimatization or increased clothing insulation, thereby influencing bodily functions, particularly certain circulatory function indicators 17–19 . After cold exposure, cardiovascular responses can vary from different regions (forms) of cooling, which include whole‐body skin, restricted local exposure to facial skin, hands (cold pressor test), and the respiratory tract (cold air inhalation) 20 .…”

“…Cold exposure generally leads to notable alterations in core temperature, primarily manifesting as a decrease in skin temperature. 15,16 This shift in skin temperature subsequently impacts various physiological [17][18][19] After cold exposure, cardiovascular responses can vary from different regions (forms) of cooling, which include whole-body skin, restricted local exposure to facial skin, hands (cold pressor test), and the respiratory tract (cold air inhalation). 20 The enhanced sympathetic nerve activity caused by decreased skin temperature during cold exposure stimulates the release of catecholamines, resulting in vasoconstriction of both peripheral and visceral arteries.…”

The Effect of Five-Day Cold Adaptation on the Tone of the Arteries of the Musculoskeletal Region and the Small Intestine in Winter Sports Athletes

“…Введение. Зимние виды спорта требуют от организма включения адаптационных механизмов реакции сердечно-сосудистой системы на периодическое действие холода Исследование [1,2] показало, что сильный холод ослабил вазореактивность пальцев к прямому локальному охлаждению Адаптация к холоду ведет к активации симпатического отдела вегетативной нервной системы, что изменяет тонус артериальных сосудов Цель исследования -выявить тонус альфа-1-адре но рецеп торов артериальных сосудов «оболочки» тела (артерии кожно-мышечной области) и артериального русла «ядра» тела (артерии тонкого кишечника) при пятидневной холодовой адаптации на восемь доз фенилэфрина Методика и организация исследования. Исследование проведено на двух группах кроликов, контрольной (N1=25) и кроликов (N2=23) после пяти дней адаптации к холоду при (t=-10' C) По реакциям доза-эффект на восемь доз фенилэфрина оценивали фармакокинетические и фармакодинамические свойства а1-адренорецепторов артерий оболочки тела и ядра тела в двойных обратных координатах Лайнувера-Берка до и после адаптации к холоду Результаты исследования и их обсуждение.…”

Human performance and medical treatment during cold weather operations – synthesis of a symposium

“…Research continues to try and resolve the mechanism of this response, and to assess whether it could be trained. The latter has been addressed by Keramidas and Kölegård [ 11 ]. They investigated the effect of a 5-day whole-body cold-acclimation regimen on finger vasoreactivity and thermosensitivity to local cooling, as reflected in the finger skin temperature response to hand immersion.…”