Effects of Hot Spring Bathing on Nasal Obstruction —Investigation using rhinomanometry— / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

<B>Background:</B> Nasal obstruction is an annoying condition. In this study, we evaluated the effects of hot spring bathing at 41 to 42°C using a rhinomanometer.<br><B>Methods:</B> Ten healthy adult volunteers (10 men, mean age of 27.8±4.4 years) were asked to bathe in a hot spring for 10 minutes. Using a rhinomanometer (HI-801), nasal resistance was measured before and after bathing by active anterior rhinomanometry. Total nasal resistance was calculated using Ohm’s law formula with right and left nasal resistance values (1/T=1/R+1/L, T: bilateral resistance, R: right resistance, L: left resistance). Resistance at ΔP=100 Pa was used for evaluation.<br><B>Results:</B> Right and left nasal resistance values were significantly decreased after bathing in subjects with a pre-bathing nasal resistance of greater than 0.75 Pa/cm<SUP>3</SUP>/s (inspiratory, <I>P</I>=0.0117; expiratory, <I>P</I>=0.0277; Wilcoxon <I>t</I>-test). No significant change was observed in subjects with a pre-bathing nasal resistance of below 0.75 Pa/cm<SUP>3</SUP>/s.Post-bathing total nasal resistance was significantly decreased in subjects with a pre-bathing nasal resistance of greater than 0.5 Pa/cm<SUP>3</SUP>/s (<I>P</I>=0.0115; Wilcoxon <I>t</I>-test).<br><B>Conclusion:</B> This study showed that nasal obstruction can be improved by hot spring bathing, which may contribute to the reasons why cold symptoms are relieved by hot spring bathing.