title: Sustained increases in blood pressure elicited by prolonged face cooling in humans.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that increases in blood pressure are sustained throughout 15 min of face cooling. Two independent trials were carried out. In the Face-Cooling Trial, 10 healthy adults underwent 15 min of face cooling where a 2.5-liter bag of ice water (0 ± 0°C) was placed over their cheeks, eyes, and forehead. The Sham Trial was identical except that the temperature of the water was 34 ± 1°C. Primary dependent variables were forehead temperature, mean arterial pressure, and forearm vascular resistance. The square root of the mean of successive differences in R-R interval (RMSSD) provided an index of cardiac parasympathetic activity. In the Face Cooling Trial, forehead temperature fell from 34.1 ± 0.9°C at baseline to 12.9 ± 3.3°C at the end of face cooling (P < 0.01). Mean arterial pressure increased from 83 ± 9 mmHg at baseline to 106 ± 13 mmHg at the end of face cooling (P < 0.01). RMSSD increased from 61 ± 40 ms at baseline to 165 ± 97 ms during the first 2 min of face cooling (P ≤ 0.05), but returned to baseline levels thereafter (65 ± 49 ms, P ≥ 0.46). Forearm vascular resistance increased from 18.3 ± 4.4 mmHg·ml-1·100 g tissue-1·min at baseline to 26.6 ± 4.0 mmHg·ml-1·100 g tissue-1·min at the end of face cooling (P < 0.01). There were no changes in the Sham Trial. These data indicate that increases in blood pressure are sustained throughout 15 min of face cooling, and face cooling elicits differential time-dependent parasympathetic and likely sympathetic activation.
authors: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
authors: Zachary J
authors: ZJ
authors: Schlader
authors: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
authors: Gregory L
authors: GL
authors: Coleman
authors: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
authors: James R
authors: JR
authors: Sackett
authors: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York.
authors: Suman
authors: S
authors: Sarker
authors: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York blairjoh@buffalo.edu.
authors: Blair D
authors: BD
authors: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005145:Face / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: diving reflex; parasympathetic activation; sympathetic activation; trigeminal nerve