| Keywords |
Cold water immersion ; Stress hormone ; Immune function ; T cell ; B cell |
| Abstract |
This study evaluated the effects of cold water exposure on the hormonal responses and immune functionwhich is acclimated to the cold environment due to prolonged habitual intermittent cold water immersion. Nine breath-hold divers and nine active general women (control group) were participated in the study as subjects. All subjectswere performed blood sampling before and after exercise in cold water immersion. After prolonged intermittent coldimmersion blood concentration of catecholamine increased in both groups, particularly blood of concentration norepi-nephrine significantly increased (p<.05). Also, blood of concentration cortisol and the number of T cell showed asignificant decrease (p<.05) after prolonged intermittent cold immersion in breath-hold divers group. The number ofB cell in the breath-hold divers group significantly were higher (p<.05) than those in control group, whereas the oppositewas found in the number of T cell. No difference occurred in the number of B cells, NK cells, and in the ratio ofTh/Ts cells in both groups before and after prolonged cold water immersion. In conclusion, these results indicate apositive effect of cold stress on human immune function in female breath-hold divers. |