Aromatherapy alleviates endothelial dysfunction of medical staff after night-shift work: preliminary observations.
Night-shift work causes mental stress and lifestyle changes, and is recognized as a risk of cardiovascular diseases associated with impaired endothelial function. Aromatherapy is becoming popular as a complementary therapy that is beneficial for mental relaxation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aromatherapy on the endothelial function of medical staff after night-shift work. This study consisted of 19 healthy medical personnel (19 men, mean age 32 ± 7 years), including 11 physicians and 8 technicians. Aromatherapy was performed for 30 min by inhalation of the essential oil of lavender. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was measured three times in each subject: on a regular workday, and after night-shift work before and immediately after aromatherapy. A control study was performed to assess the effect of a 30-min rest without aromatherapy. The mean value of sleep time during night-shift work was 3.3 ± 1.3 h. FMD after night-shift work was lower than on a regular workday (10.4 ± 1.8 vs. 12.5 ± 1.7%, P<0.001), which improved after aromatherapy (11.8 ± 2.5%, P=0.02 vs. before aromatherapy). FMD was stable in the control study (10.1 ± 1.9 vs. 10.1 ± 2.2%, P=0.9). This study demonstrated that night-shift work impaired endothelial function in medical staff, an effect that was alleviated by short-term aromatherapy.
Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Osaka Ekisaikai Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
Kenei
K
Shimada
Shota
S
Fukuda
Kumiko
K
Maeda
Toshihiro
T
Kawasaki
Yasushi
Y
Kono
Satoshi
S
Jissho
Haruyuki
H
Taguchi
Minoru
M
Yoshiyama
Junichi
J
Yoshikawa
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D019341:Aromatherapy; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D027523:Lavandula; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C045718:lavender oil