Change in sympathetic activity, cardiovascular functions and plasma hormone concentrations due to cold water immersion in men

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not repeated short-term cold water immersions can induce a change in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and, consequently, in cardiovascular functions in healthy young athletes. Changes in some plasma hormone concentrations were also followed. A single cold water immersion (head-out, at 14 degrees C, for 1 h) increased sympathetic nervous system activity, as evidenced by a four-fold increase (P < 0.05) in plasma noradrenaline concentration. Plasma adrenaline and dopamine concentrations were not increased significantly. Plasma renin-angiotensin activity was reduced by half (P < 0.05) during immersion but plasma aldosterone concentration was unchanged. Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system during immersion did not induce significant changes in heart rate, but induced peripheral vasoconstriction (as judged from a decrease in skin temperature) and a small increase (by 10%) in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. No clear change in reactivity of the sympathetic nervous system was observed due to repeated cold water immersions (three times a week, for 6 weeks). Neither the plasma renin-angiotensin activity, aldosterone concentration nor cardiovascular parameters were significantly influenced by repeated cold water immersions. A lowered diastolic pressure and an increase in peripheral vasoconstriction were observed after cold acclimation, however. Evidently, the repeated cold stimuli were not sufficient to induce significant adaptational changes in sympathetic activity and hormone production.

Plasma catecholamines, serotonin and their metabolites and beta-endorphin of winter swimmers during one winter. Possible correlations to psychological traits

“…The difference between the first (autumn) and third (spring) measurements was on average 6 mmHg, which is in accordance with the drop in catechol values and can be regarded as a sign of adaptation to repeated cold exposure or the research protocol. Diastolic pressure did not change in our material, but in a long distance cold water (10-14 o C) swimming experiment diastolic pressure was lowered on the fourth day (11). Some winter swimmers have reported that swimming without any medication, has lowered their elevated blood pressure.…”

Human Physiology in an Aquatic Environment

“…While acclimatization has some cardiorespiratory effects it does not appear to have a major effect on thermal status, which is also the case for plasma renin-angiotensin activity and aldosterone concentrations (181). Chronic HOWI in 10 • C to 4 • C water for three months resulted in decreased catecholamine response to cold HOWI (174).…”

“…These data suggest that in addition to physiological responses to WI per se, cold WI specifically, increases SNA (357). HOWI for one hour in 14 • C water increased SNA, as indicated by a fourfold increase in plasma NE, but not epinephrine or dopamine (180,181).…”

Body surface temperature adaptations after ice-cold water immersion in regular winter swimmers

“…Ice-cold water also has an effect in the positive response of the immune system (12)(13)(14)(15)31). exposure of the human body to various temperatures (cold and warm) is not limited only to immuno-endocrine response, in that changes on the body surface may also be observed.…”

“…Various forms of thermal stimulation with the use of a cold temperature are differentiated in the academic literature. that most often applied and described is cryostimulation -local or general (cryochamber) with the use of nitrogen vapour or carbon dioxide at temperatures of from -60°c to -160°c at up to three minutes in length (2,4,8,9,12,(22)(23)(24)(25)28). In the stimulation defined as cold water immersion (cwM) water at a temperature of from 8°c to 15°c is used.…”