The effect of facial cold stimulation on airway conductance in healthy man

Josenhans, W. T.; Melville, G.N.; Ulmer, W. T.

doi:10.1139/y69-080

Cited by 39 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…The results of the present study are consistent with the findings that application of ice packs on the face of either healthy or asthmatic persons induces a slight bronchoconstriction [7][8][9]. Similar cooling of other parts of the body seems not to have a bronchoconstrictive effect [9].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Consistently, nasopharyngeal anaesthesia has been found to inhibit the bronchoconstriction induced by cold ambient air [6]. In addition, a small bronchoconstriction can be induced by cooling the skin of the face by ice packs [7][8][9]. Such studies, however, are highly experimental, and it is difficult to estimate the significance of the results in physiological conditions.…”

Section: Facial Cooling But Not Nasal Breathing Of Cold Air Inducesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Facial cooling, but not nasal breathing of cold air, induces bronchoconstriction: a study in asthmatic and healthy subjects

Koskela

Tukiainen²

1995

Eur Respir J

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Reflex-mediated bronchoconstriction in cold climates may be more important than it has previously been thought. This issue has seldom been studied using physiological methods. We wanted to investigate, using physiological methods, what triggers the bronchoconstriction occurring at cold ambient temperature during resting nasal ventilation: cooling of the skin of the face or cooling of the nasal cavity. Three experiments were carried out in 15 stable asthmatics and 10 healthy volunteers: 1) a whole-body exposure to subfreezing temperature in an environmental chamber, during which the subjects breathed cold air through the nose; 2) a similar exposure to subfreezing temperature except that the subjects now breathed warm air through the mouth from outside the chamber; and 3) nasal breathing of subfreezing air from a heat exchanger whilst the subjects sat at room temperature. Spirometric values and facial skin temperature were measured both during and after the exposures. Maximal decrements (means +/- standard errors) of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in experiments 1, 2 and 3 were: 5.8 +/- 0.8, 5.1 +/- 0.7 and 2.1 +/- 0.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). Only the two experiments in the environmental chamber induced significant bronchoconstriction. All responses were of similar magnitude in the asthmatic and the healthy subjects. The cooling of the skin of the face seems to be the trigger for the bronchoconstriction during resting nasal ventilation at cold ambient temperature both in asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Facial Cooling But Not Nasal Breathing Of Cold Air Inducesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Facial cooling, but not nasal breathing of cold air, induces bronchoconstriction: a study in asthmatic and healthy subjects

Koskela

Tukiainen²

1995

Eur Respir J

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“…It has been known for decades that cooling of the facial skin by ice packs triggers slight bronchoconstriction in humans (84,85 o C ambient air combined with wind provokes an immediate 3-10 % fall in FEV 1 , in healthy subjects as well as in subjects with asthma and COPD (16,20,86). Thus, this response can be considered a physiological response to a physiological stimulus.…”

Section: Cold Air-provoked Lower-airway Reflex Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cold air-provoked respiratory symptoms: the mechanisms and management

Koskela

2007

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

185

137

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Objectives. To describe the mechanisms and management of cold air-provoked respiratory symptoms. Study design. A literature review. Methods. The review includes human epidemiological studies, human and animal experimental studies, as well as human studies about management of the cold air-provoked respiratory symptoms. Results. Cold air is unlikely to be a causal factor initiating respiratory diseases but a symptom trigger. In the present review, the airway responses beyond these symptoms were divided into three types. The short-term responses are those that develop within minutes in response to sudden cooling of the airways. Subjects with asthma or rhinitis are especially prone to these responses. The long-term responses are those that develop in response to repeated and longstanding cooling and drying of the airways, usually in endurance athletes. Finally, there are the physiological, reflex-mediated lower-airway responses to cooling of the skin or upper airways. Conclusions. The mechanisms beyond cold air-provoked respiratory symptoms vary considerably and mainly depend on the individual's susceptibility and the ventilation level during the cold exposure. An understanding of these mechanisms is essential for successful management of the symptoms. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2007; 66(2) [91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100]

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“…Stimulation of thermally sensitive receptors of facial skin (Josenhans et al, 1968;Berk et al, 1987;Koskela and Tukiainen, 1995) or other parts of the body (Koskela et al, 1994;McDonald et al, 1997;Skowronski et al, 1998) can induce reflex airway narrowing. During exercise in a cold environment, skin and airway temperature processes may be operational (Berk et al, 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%