초록
Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effect of cold stress on heart rate variability and peripheral blood flow by Doppler ultrasound in healthy subjects. Methods: We classified the subjects by their Yin or Yang tendency using a Yin-Yang questionnaire. Cold stress was taken on the left hand of subjects for 10 seconds. Heart rate variability and peripheral blood flow were measured on the right radial artery before and after cold stress. Results: The Yang tendency group showed a significant decrease of heart rate after cold stress which was not seen in the Yin tendency group. The Yang tendency group showed a decrease of LF, total power, and increase of HF after cold stress, while the Yin tendency group showed the opposite. However, there were no statistically significant differences of heart rate variability analysis between the results of the two groups before and after cold stress. Recovery time of blood flow velocity by ultrasound Doppler was significantly different between the Yin and Yang tendency groups after cold stress. Conclusion: These results suggest that people with Yin or Yang tendency may show different responses in the autonomic nervous system. Further modified studies may include the responses to various manipulation techniques in acupuncture treatment and the individual responses according to pattern identification in traditional Korean medicine.