b-intense MED Bedienungsanleitung Seite 45

EN
Medical mode of action
Infrared radiation (IR radiation) is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The most important natural source of IR radiation is the sun. About
54 % of the solar radiation reaching the earth's surface is IR radiation. In addition, the human skin is increasingly exposed to artificial IR sources
in the cosmetic and wellness sector, but also in the medical field. The application of electromagnetic radiation for heat application is widely
spread.
Infrared rays are absorbed by the uppermost skin layers and converted into heat. IR exposure is therefore perceived as heat. Due to the thermal
stress on the skin, the body reacts with heat defense reactions which are triggered gradually. The physiological response to heat depends on
the tissue temperature, the duration and extent of the temperature increase and the size of the irradiated area.
The human organism is able to keep its core body temperature relatively constant regardless of fluctuations in ambient temperature. This is due
to an efficient thermoregulation system, which acts as a negative feedback system to counteract deviations in the actual temperature value by
more than ±0.1 % of the setpoint. When heated, there is an increase in skin circulation and sweat secretion. As the vessels dilate, more blood
can pass from the body core to the skin surface, the blood cools the skin and dissipates the heat. Deeper skin layers are not heated directly
by infrared radiation, but by heat conduction. Because of subsequent evaporation at the skin surface the increased production of sweat has a
cooling effect on the skin and is therefore an important thermoregulatory mechanism. In addition, sweat also contributes to the maintenance
of optimal skin hydration.
Contraindications, warnings and precautions
Although every heat application bears the potential risk of damaging the skin, infrared radiation offers the advantage of contactless heat
transfer, thus natural defense reactions remain largely unaffected.
Usually, unpleasant sensations or slight pain in the irradiated area, already clearly felt prior to burns, lead to behavioral changes (we move
away from the source of radiation), so we are protected by our own natural averting reactions.
A coordinated response to heat stress of the entire cardiovascular system including skin circulation is necessary to respond appropriately to
challenges to homeostasis. Patients diagnosed with circulatory problems, cardiac conduction disorders including those with a pacemaker, ma-
lignant disease, epilepsy, and coagulation disorders have to be closely supervised and only treated after medical advice was sought.
Cancer patients and patients with comorbid cardiac diseases have been found to be vulnerable to the short-term effects of extreme temperature.
Impairments in the thermoregulatory responses to heat stress are found in patients with cardiovascular disease, such as congestive heart
failure, or in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The susceptibility to heat-related illness is also increased during use of certain medications (e. g. diuretics, antihistamines, antiepileptic drugs
etc.), for patients with Sjögren's syndrome and skin diseases (e. g. ichthyosis, anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia), as in these cases sweating and
thus the cooling effect on the skin is impaired.
Special caution is required with diseases that lead to increased metabolic activity and thus increased heat generation (status epilepticus,
malignant hyperthermia).
Elderly people react particularly sensitively to higher temperatures. This also applies to children. The chance of overheating is particularly high
for small children due to the large body surface area to body mass ratio.
In case of reduced or missing pain sensation, e. g. also under the influence of alcohol and drugs, tranquilizers and pain medication, thermal
damage cannot be excluded.
In areas with extensive scars too little heat may be dissipated due to the reduced vascular supply. Special caution is also required with diseases
that lead to increased metabolic activity and thus increased heat generation (status epilepticus, malignant hyperthermia). Therefore, scars in
exposed areas should be covered.
Since the DNA repair mechanism may be impaired, we advise against infrared application for 24 hours after sunbathing or solarium.
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