阿拉斯加大学教授宣称，研究古人类发现，冬眠导致的体温下降可治心脏病 yzout2020-12-12 15:18:52
Hibernation could be used to treat heart conditions, scientists have claimed, as fresh evidence emerges that ancient humans may have slept for months to survive brutal winters.
Prof Kelly Drew, from the Institute of Arctic Biology at University of Alaska Fairbanks, said inducing a deep state of stasis could be helpful for those who suffer from stroke or cardiac arrest.
She is working on a new drug which will be able to allow core body temperature to cool, like turning down a thermostat, which decreases metabolism and saves energy - much like when an animal is in hibernation.
Reducing body temperature is a key part of managing patients recovering from cardiac arrest. They are cooled to 32-36C for about 24 hours then slowly rewarmed.
When cooled down, the body would usually shiver to warm up, which makes it difficult to maintain the desired temperature. This reaction could be avoided using drugs to induce a kind of human hibernation.
“We feel that this is a first step towards inducing a hibernation-like state in humans,” she said.
"This should simplify the cooling procedure and avoid the use of paralytics. Paralytics are the go-to drug now to stop shivering, but paralytics cause myopathy (muscle breakdown) and extend hospital stays."
