1Professor and Head, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab.
2Assistant Professor, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab.
3Intern, Department of Medicine, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab.
4Consultant (Diet and Nutrition), Kishori Ram Hospital and Diabetes Care Centre, Bathinda, Punjab
5MBBS Student, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, Punjab.
*Email id: cooldoctor5@yahoo.co.in
Online published on 15 January, 2013.
The influence of temperature changes on risk factors like hypertension is often disregarded despite extensive literature on the phenomenon. Previous studies have documented the correlation between temperature and blood pressure (BP) in various countries among adults, the elderly and children. The suggested aetiology is that cold increases sympathetic tone, evidenced by elevated BP and plasma and urinary noradrenaline concentrations. The lower BP in warm temperatures is attributed to cutaneous vasodilatation and loss of water and salt from sweating.
This study was carried out to quantify the response of hypertensives and normotensive controls to cold with a standard cold stimulus for the purpose of comparison.
The Cold Pressor Test as prescribed by Hines was employed for this study.
We found that hypertensives have a higher vascular reactivity to cold immersion and this phenomenon persists and most of the commonly used anti-hypertensive agents are unable to block this rise.
We conclude that hypertensives have a higher vascular reactivity to cold immersion and this phenomenon persists and most of the commonly used anti-hypertensive agents are unable to block this rise. Hence, the dosages have to be increased or additional medication is required.
Hypertension, Punjab, Cold Pressor Test, Seasonal variation, Autonomic response
