Influence of Bathing in A White Sulfur and Sodium Bicarbonate Hot Spring on Pulmonary Function in Normal Subjects

Abstract

The short period effect of hot spring on pulmonary function of normal subjects is unclear. We attempt to investigate the pulmonary function changes during bathing in white sulfur springs (WSS), sodium bicarbonate hot spring (SBH) or tap water (TW). Fifty healthy people were enrolled and tested in 3 different types of water of WSS, SBH and TW for 20 minutes. Spirometry was used to evaluate the pulmonary function at the 0, 5, 10 15 and 20 minutes after the start of each bath. Among these three groups, the % predict value of forced expiratory capacity (FVC%), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%) and forced expiratory flow from 25% to 75% of the vital capacity (FEF(subscript 25-75%)) were not significantly different during WSS, SBH and TW at the 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after the start of bathing. In WSS group, a significant increased FEV1% was found during WSS bathing at 10 minutes (89.43±11.50) of bathing compared to baseline (87.33±11.87) (p=0.023). FVC% at 10min (79.6±12.4; p=0.04) and at 20 min (80.0±13.1; p=0.03) were significant higher than baseline at 0 min (77.7±12.3). There was a significant increased %FEF(subscript 25-75%) at 10 min (109.7±20.4; p=0.040) and 20 min (110.9±23.2; p=0.037) compared with baseline (106.3±20.8) in SBH, and at 20 minutes (108.0±22.7; p=0.014) compared with baseline (105.2±21.9) in TW. These indicted that hot water aerosol inhalation to improve FEF(subscript 25-75%) reflected more patency in the small airway. FEF(subscript 25-75%) was not improved in WSS reflected aerosol of hot spring with H2S might to harmful for aerosol of hot spring with H2S. However, bath in hot spring improved FEV1 and FVC which reflected improved the respiratory effort. We concluded under good ventilation environment, white sulfur springs bathing in short period was not harmful but even beneficial to the pulmonary function.