Ambient cold air decreased nasal mucosa blood flow measured by laser Doppler flowmeter

作者：Chu Yueng Hsiang; Lu Da Wen; Wang Hsing Won^*

来源：Rhinology, 2010, 48(2): 160-162.

DOI：10.4193/Rhin09.122

• blood flow
• nasal mucosa
• inferior turbinate
• low temperature
• human

Background: With its potentially conflicting physiological roles of both air-conditioning and body-heat recovery, the response of nasal mucosa blood flow (NMBF) to ambient cold air is not well understood.
Objective: To evaluate the NMBF in response to cold ambient air.
Methods: The NMBF was continuously measured by laser Doppler flowmetry in nine participants exposed to different air temperatures (24 degrees C and 4 degrees C).
Results: The NMBF significantly decreased at 4 degrees C compared with that at 24 degrees C (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The response to ambient cold air in the nasal microcirculation is similar to that of the body-surface blood vessels, suggesting that body-heat recovery rather than air-conditioning is the predominant function.

• 出版日期2010-6