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[Acute myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction at Kusatsu-spa]
1Department of Medicine, Kusatsu Branch Hospital, Gunma University School of Medicine.
Insights
Hot spring bathing may trigger acute myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction, especially within three hours of bathing. Nighttime bathing can exacerbate these risks due to physiological changes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Environmental Health
Context:
- Investigates the potential link between hot spring bathing and cardiovascular/cerebrovascular events.
- Analyzes patient data from January 1989 to June 1995.
Purpose:
- To determine if hot spring bathing is associated with the onset of acute myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction.
- To explore the physiological mechanisms linking hot spring bathing to these serious health events.
Summary:
- A study of 31 acute myocardial infarction and 40 cerebral infarction patients found a significant number had bathed in hot springs within 24 hours of symptom onset.
- Of these, many experienced symptoms within 3 hours of bathing, suggesting a direct link.
- Nighttime bathing was also associated with morning symptom onset, potentially due to altered blood pressure and viscosity.
Impact:
- Highlights potential health risks associated with hot spring bathing, particularly for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular or cerebrovascular conditions.
- Suggests further research into the physiological effects of hot spring bathing on blood pressure, heart rate, and blood viscosity.
- Informs public health recommendations regarding safe hot spring usage.
Abstract:
From January 1989 to June 1995, 31 patients were admitted to our hospital with acute myocardial infarction (15 were tourists and 16 were Kusatsu residents) and 40 were admitted with cerebral infarction (15 tourists and 25 Kusatsu residents). We examined the possibility that hot hot-spring bathing was related to the occurrence of their illness. Fifteen patients with acute myocardial infarction (9 tourists and 6 Kusatsu residents) and 27 patients with cerebral infarction (11 tourists and 16 Kusatsu residents) had a hot hot-spring bath within 24 hours before the onset of symptoms. In 12 of the 15 with acute myocardial infarction (6 tourists and 6 Kusatsu residents) and in 15 of the 27 with cerebral infarction (9 tourists and 6 Kusatsu residents), symptoms began within 3 hours after they began bathing. In 2 of the remaining 3 patients with acute myocardial infarction and in 8 of the remaining 12 patients with cerebral infarction, bathing at night was followed by the onset of symptoms the next morning (more than 3 hour later). Acute myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction within 3 hours after hot hot-spring bathing may be attributable to transient change in blood pressure, heart rate, blood viscosity, fibrinolytic activity, and platelet function. We described previously that hot hot-spring bathing at night can accentuate the nocturnal decrease in blood pressure and can make the early morning increase in blood viscosity more abrupt. These phenomena may account for the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction early in the morning.