Effects of Air-Conditioner with an Enveloping-Airflow Mode of Heating on Sense of Fatigue and Comfort:Its Effects on Autonomic Nervous System Regulation and Peripheral Blood Flow Enhancement
10.1625/jcam.7.1
- VernacularTitle:つつみ込む気流制御エアコンの暖房使用時における抗疲労・快適性への有用性の検討 ～自律神経調節作用および末梢血流改善効果等について～
- Author:
Masahito NISHITANI
;
Yukishige SHIRAICHI
;
Masaki OHTSUKA
;
Sayaka AOYAGI
;
Tomohiro SUGINO
;
Yoshitaka KAJIMOTO
;
Osami KAJIMOTO
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
enveloping airflow;
air conditioner;
sense of fatigue;
sense of comfort;
health maintenance
- From:Japanese Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
2010;7(1):1-9
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Objective Enveloping airflow, as opposed to direct airflow, warms the room by gently circulating the airflow along the floor, wall, and ceiling, thereby uniformly warming the entire room. The objective of our study was to determine the effects of air-conditioned heating by enveloping-airflow on sense of fatigue and comfort in healthy volunteers.
Design Eight healthy women, who often felt discomfort in an air-conditioned heating environment, participated in a randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial. Subjects rested for 30 minutes in a room air-conditioned either by enveloping airflow or by direct airflow, and then performed fatigue-inducing tasks for 2 hours.
Methods We evaluated the sense of fatigue by visual analogue scale (VAS), peripheral blood flow by laser-Doppler flowmetry, and sympathetic nerve activity by urinary vanillylmandelic acid level.
Result Air conditioning by enveloping-airflow, as compared to direct airflow, enhanced peripheral blood flow and attenuated sympathetic nerve hyperactivity caused by performing fatigue-inducing tasks. Moreover, it helped to maintain subjective levels of motivation and comfort, as well as to alleviate sense of fatigue and cold.
Conclusion Air-conditioned heating by enveloping-airflow is effective for attenuating sense of fatigue and discomfort as well as health maintenance.
