Cold air-provoked respiratory symptoms: the mechanisms and management.

摘要: OBJECTIVES: To describe the mechanisms and management of cold air-provoked respiratory symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: A literature review. METHODS: The review includes human epidemiological studies, animal experimental as well studies about RESULTS: Cold air is unlikely to be a causal factor initiating diseases but symptom trigger. In present review, airway responses beyond these symptoms were divided into three types. short-term are those that develop within minutes in response sudden cooling airways. Subjects with asthma or rhinitis especially prone responses. long-term repeated long-standing drying airways, usually endurance athletes. Finally, there physiological, reflex-mediated lower-airway skin upper CONCLUSIONS: vary considerably mainly depend on individual`s susceptibility ventilation level during exposure. An understanding essential for successful Keywords: asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; climate; respiratory; rhinitis; signs (Int J Circumpolar Health 2007; 66(2):91-100)