Een koude douche....

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

In de kategorie "hoe gek kun je het bedenken" wil ik U

de door Shevchuk voorgestelde "wondertherapie" zeker niet onthouden:

2 keer per dag 3 minuten koud douchen vermindert de inspanningsintolerantie.

 

 

Alles overziend, luidt de beste therapie waarschijnlijk:

2 keer per dag 3 minuten onder de koude douche kruipen

en daarna een kop koffie (klik hier) en een stuk pure chocola (klik hier).

 

En het is nog een stuk goedkoper dan die dure gedragstherapie ook!

 

 


 

 

Possible use of repeated cold stress for reducing fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome: a hypothesis

Behavioral and Brain Functions 2007, 3:55

Nikolai A Shevchuk

 

 

Background

 

Physiological fatigue can be defined as a reduction in the force output and/or energy-generating capacity of skeletal muscle after exertion, which may manifest itself as an inability to continue exercise or usual activities at the same intensity. A typical example of a fatigue-related disorder is chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a disabling condition of unknown etiology and with uncertain therapeutic options. Recent advances in elucidating pathophysiology of this disorder revealed hypofunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and that fatigue in CFS patients appears to be associated with reduced motor neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS) and to a smaller extent with increased fatigability of skeletal muscle. There is also some limited evidence that CFS patients may have excessive serotonergic activity in the brain and low opioid tone.

 

 

Presentation of the hypothesis

 

This work hypothesizes that repeated cold stress may reduce fatigue in CFS because brief exposure to cold may transiently reverse some physiological changes associated with this illness. For example, exposure to cold can activate components of the reticular activating system such as raphe nuclei and locus ceruleus, which can result in activation of behavior and increased capacity of the CNS to recruit motoneurons. Cold stress has also been shown to reduce the level of serotonin in most regions of the brain (except brainstem), which would be consistent with reduced fatigue according to animal models of exercise-related fatigue. Finally, exposure to cold increases metabolic rate and transiently activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as evidenced by a temporary increase in the plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, beta-endorphin and a modest increase in cortisol. The increased opioid tone and high metabolic rate could diminish fatigue by reducing muscle pain and accelerating recovery of fatigued muscle, respectively.

 

 

Testing the hypothesis

 

To test the hypothesis, a treatment is proposed that consists of adapted cold showers (20 degrees Celsius, 3 minutes, preceded by a 5-minute gradual adaptation to make the procedure more comfortable) used twice daily.

 

 

Implications of the hypothesis

 

If testing supports the proposed hypothesis, this could advance our understanding of the mechanisms of fatigue in CFS.

 

 

 

doi:10.1186/1744-9081-3-55

 

Published: 24 October 2007

 


 

Samenvatting:

http://www.behavioralandbrainfunctions.com/content/3/1/55

 

Uitgebreid studierapport:

http://www.behavioralandbrainfunctions.com/content/pdf/1744-9081-3-55.pdf