Application of heat- and steam-generating sheets to the lumbar or abdominal region affects autonomic nerve activity

• Published in: Autonomic neuroscience Vol. 126; pp. 68 - 71
• Main Authors: Nagashima, Yoshinao, Oda, Hideshi, Igaki, Michihito, Suzuki, Megumi, Suzuki, Atsushi, Yada, Yukihiro, Tsuchiya, Shuichi, Suzuki, Toshiyuki, Ohishi, Sachiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 30-06-2006
• Subjects: A heat- and steam-generating sheet; Abdomen - physiology; Abdomen - radiation effects; Adult; Autonomic Pathways - radiation effects; Body Temperature Regulation - radiation effects; Electroencephalography - methods; Electrogastrography; Female; Heart Rate - radiation effects; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Hot Temperature; Humans; Lumbosacral Region - physiology; Lumbosacral Region - radiation effects; Middle Aged; Near infra-red spectroscopy; Oscillometry; Pupillary light reflex; R-R interval variability; Spectral analysis; Time Factors; Near infra-red spectroscopy; R-R interval variability; Electrogastrography; Pupillary light reflex; A heat- and steam-generating sheet; Spectral analysis; Oscillometry
• ISSN: 1566-0702; 1872-7484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2006.02.002

Effects of applying a heat- and steam-generating (HSG) sheet on peripheral hemodynamics and autonomic nerve activity were examined. An HSG sheet was applied to the lumbar or abdominal region. Measurements included skin temperature at the lumbar and abdominal regions and the fingertip, total hemoglobin, tissue oxygen saturation ratio (StO
2), pupillary light reflex, changes in ECG R-R interval blood pressure and percutaneous electrogastrography (EGG). A heat-generating sheet without steam was used as the control. Based on the present findings, application of the HSG sheet to the lumbar or abdominal region may improve peripheral hemodynamics and inhibit sympathetic nerve activity, resulting in parasympathetic nerve activity dominance.