Thermal regulation and comfort during a mild-cold exposure in young Japanese women complaining of unusual coldness

Abstract

We examined body core and skin temperatures and thermal comfort in young Japanese women suffering from unusual coldness (C, n = 6). They were selected by interview asking whether they often felt severe coldness even in an air-conditioned environment (20-26 degrees C) and compared with women not suffering from coldness (N, n = 6). Experiments were conducted twice for each subject: 120-min exposure at 23.5 degrees C or 29.5 degrees C after a 40-min baseline at 29.5 degrees C. Mean skin temperature decreased (P < 0.05) from 33.6 +/- 0.1 degrees C (mean +/- SE) to 31.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C and from 33.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C to 31.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C in C and N during the 23.5 degrees C exposure. Fingertip temperature in C decreased more than in N (P < 0.05; from 35.2 +/- 0.1 degrees C to 23.6 +/- 0.2 degrees C and from 35.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C to 25.6 +/- 0.6 degrees C). Those temperatures during the 29.5 degrees C exposure remained at the baseline levels. Rectal temperature during the 23.5 degrees C exposure was maintained at the baseline level in both groups (from 36.9 +/- 0.2 degrees C to 36.8 +/- 0.1 degrees C and 37.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C to 37.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C in C and N). The rating scores of cold discomfort for both the body and extremities were greater (P < 0.05) in C than in N. Thus the augmented thermal sensitivity of the body to cold and activated vasoconstriction of the extremities during cold exposure could be the mechanism for the severe coldness felt in C.

Vinegar Intake Enhances Flow-Mediated VasodilatationviaUpregulation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity

“…[23][24][25] It is well demonstrated that postmenopausal status is associated with significantly reduced arterial NO activity 24) and thus leads to an increase in local vascular resistance and to impairment of endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilatation, 25) factors which contribute to excessive sensitivity to cold. 26) This vasomotor instability of excessive sensitivity to cold was determined by a 10-question interview, 27) which contained typical complaints of those suffering from unusual coldness.…”

Ice-Water Hand Immersion Causes a Reflex Decrease in Skin Temperature in the Contralateral Hand

“…Young females may have the lower baseline level of skin blood flow to the fingertip in association with higher skin vasoconstrictor activity and/or lower arterial blood pressure. Since the gender difference in fingertip skin temperature becomes more evident in the cold than in a temperate condition [13], this difference may be explained by a sex-related modulation of the thermoregulatory response in skin blood flow during cold exposure as reported previously [14]. To test this hypothesis, we attempted to determine the effect of gender on the contralateral vasoconstrictor response during the ice-water immersion of one hand by comparing the changes in fingertip skin temperature between young males and females.…”

Effects of α-Glucosylhesperidin on the Peripheral Body Temperature and Autonomic Nervous System

“…[1][2][3] Autonomic thermoregulation and thermal comfort in response to cold stimuli differ even among healthy individuals, depending on such factors as age, gender, and body composition. [4][5][6][7] Many Japanese women are troubled by a feeling of coldness; in fact, it has been reported that half of all adult women suffer from this problem. 8) Many tend to feel cold, especially at the beginning of winter, but the problem seems to disappear with the arrival of spring.…”