Influence of heat applications on mental and physical health
It's getting warmer. Hot days will no longer be a rarity. Solutions are being sought as to how we can deal with the heat. To find solutions, we first need to understand how heat affects our bodies mentally and physically.
Factsheet
- Schools involved School of Health Professions
- Institute(s) Physiotherapy
- Strategic thematic field Thematic field "Humane Digital Transformation"
- Funding organisation Others
- Duration (planned) 01.01.2022 - 31.12.2026
- Head of project Dr. Kay Hanusch
- Project staff Jill Vögelin
- Partner Universität Zürich
- Keywords qhantitativ sensory testing, QST, Whole body hyperthermia, Heat, Warm detection treshold, WDT, heat pain threshold, HPT, pain pressure threshold, PPT, pinprick, winde-up ratio
Situation
There is increasing evidence that heat influences our mental and physical well-being (Fischer 2023). Particularly striking is the frequent occurrence of aggression, depression and sensitivity to pain in connection with changes in circadian body temperature. What is exciting in this context is that the perception of temperature, pain and stress are processed in the same central areas of the brain (Egle 2016). Researchers have used this close connection in innovative approaches to treat stress-induced pain disorders (chronic widespread pain) and depression (Hanusch 2012, 2019, Knobel 2022). This raises the question: is there also a connection between thermal sensory and nociceptive perception?
Course of action
Effects of heat applications (whole-body hyperthermia) on thermal sensory and thermal or mechanical nociceptive perception in healthy subjects and in patients with depressive illness or pain disorders.
