ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of hot spring baths on human immune function by analyzing the changes of immunoglobulins and complements in serum of residents after hot spring baths in order to provide a theoretical reference for the therapeutic effect of hot spring bathing. Methods After physical examination, 421 volunteers from five hot spring areas with three types of hot springs(temperature type hot springs, metasilicic acid type hot springs, and warm mineral spring type hot springs)in Guizhou Province were selected as the subjects. Under the guidance of professionals, the volunteers took a hot spring bath with the whole body immersed for four weeks, once a day, 5 times a week and 40-50 minutes each time. Finally, 311 volunteers completed the standard bath required by this study. The transmission immunoturbidimetric method was used to determine the content of immunoglobulins reflecting mucosal anti-infective immunity(IgA), anti-pathogenic microorganisms(IgG), recent infections(IgM)and the level of important immune effect factors(C3, C4)in the serum. Paired T test was used to compare the changes of serum immunoglobulin and complement before and after the hot spring bath therapy. Results Before the hot spring baths, the content of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, and complements C3 and C4 was(12.169±2.358)g/L, (2.285±0.891)g/L, (1.430±0.660)g/L, (1.224±0.186)g/L, and(0.257±0.073)g/L, respectively. After the hot spring baths, the content of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, and complements C3 and C4 was(12.769±2.984)g/L, (2.397±0.909)g/L, (1.497±0.715)g/L, (1.242±0.169)g/L, and(0.266±0.074)g/L, respectively.Comparison of results of different types of hot springs showed that warm mineral type of hot springs and metasilicic acid type of hot springs could significantly increase the serum levels of main immunoglobulins IgG and IgA(P < 0.05), while water temperature type of hot springs could increase the serum IgA content of the population(P < 0.05), but the effect on IgG was not significant(P > 0.05). Compared with before the bath intervention, the level of complement C4 in the serum increased in the population after the intervention of metasilicic acid type of hot springs and water temperature type of hot springs(P < 0.05). Conclusion Hot spring bathing can enhance the body's humoral immune function. Given that IgG is the most important anti-pathogenic microorganism antibody in body fluids, the result suggests that metasilicic acid hot spring and warm mineral hot spring are better than pure water temperature hot spring in terms of improving the body's humoral immune function.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of hot spring baths on blood pressure, resting heart rate, cardiovascular function related indicators and physical signs in population with high-normal blood pressure. Methods Residents of typical hot spring areas in Guizhou Province were included as the subjects. According to the epidemiological survey of the research group and the physical examination results before the intervention, combined with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 217 people with high normal blood pressure were selected as the observation subjects. The intervention of hot spring baths was carried out for four weeks, once time per day, 5 times per week, for 40-50 minutes each time. After the intervention, the blood pressure, resting heart rate and serum levels of creatine kinase(CK), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase(α-HBDH)were detected, and the improvement of cardiovascular related signs(palpitation, dizziness/headache, cough/sputum and night sweats)were clinically examined. SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results Paired t-test results showed that the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate of 217 high normal blood pressure subjects were significantly lower after hot spring baths(P < 0.01). Further analysis revealed that the number of people with high normal blood pressure dropped from 217 to 128 after the hot spring baths. Before the intervention, 95 of the 217 people with high-normal blood pressure had resting heart rates between 80 and 90 beats/min, and 35 of them above 90 beats/min. After the intervention, the resting heart rates of those above people decreased to 68 and 14, respectively. Serum levels of cardiovascular related indicators showed that CK, LDH, and α-HBDH levels in people with high-normal blood pressure decreased to some extent after the intervention, and CK level was significantly lower than that before the intervention(P < 0.05). The results of clinical examination showed that hot spring baths had a significant improvement effect on palpitation, dizziness/headache, cough/expectoration, and night sweats in people with high-normal blood pressure. Conclusion The typical hot spring baths in Guizhou Province can reduce the blood pressure and resting heart rate in population with high-normal blood pressure, and improve the cardiovascular function related indicators and physical signs to a certain extent.