HRM  treatment is associated with clinical improvement in diseases of the skin , respiratory , circulatory , digestive and nervous system among others .
The scientific literature of the last decade has shown that a number of non-musculoskeletal disorders are treated with different kinds of  HRM .
Health resort medicine ( HRM ; in German : Kurortmedizin ) is a field of medicine with long-lasting tradition in several European countries .
A number of systematic review s have shown the effectiveness of HRM  in musculoskeletal conditions .
Review s focusing on the effectiveness of HRM in non-musculoskeletal disorders are rare .
This systematic review aims to provide an overview about all types of health resort treatments applied in non-musculoskeletal conditions , to summarize evidence for its effectiveness and to assess the quality of published studies .
Effects of Inhalation of Thermal Water on Exhaled Breath Condensate in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Background : Inhalation of thermal water ( TW ) is traditionally used as part of the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) , but its benefit and mechanisms are controversial . We previously observed a reduced proportion of neutrophils in induced sputum after treatment with TW . Objectives : The aim of this study was to determine whether inhalation of TW in COPD patients is associated with biochemical changes of airway lining fluid , including a reduction in the neutrophil chemoattractant leukotriene B4 ( LTB4 ) . Methods : Thirteen COPD patients were r and omly assigned to receive a 2-week course of TW and normal saline inhalation in a cross-over , single-blind study design . Exhaled breath condensate ( EBC ) was collected before and after treatments . LTB4 concentrations in EBC were determined by  ELISA  , and EBC pH was measured before and after argon deaeration . Results : No significant differences in LTB4 concentrations in EBC were detected with either treatment . A significant decrease in pH of non-deaerated EBC was observed after a st and ard course of TW ( median 7.45 , interquartile range 6.93–7.66 , vs. median 6.99 , interquartile range 6.57–7.19 ; p = 0.05 ) , which disappeared after argon deaeration . Conclusions : There is no evidence that TW treatment affects LTB4 concentration in EBC . The results of EBC pH measurements suggest that TW inhalation induces an imbalance of volatile components of the buffer system in airway lining fluid
HRM  treatment is associated with clinical improvement in diseases of the skin , respiratory , circulatory , digestive and nervous system among others .
The scientific literature of the last decade has shown that a number of non-musculoskeletal disorders are treated with different kinds of  HRM .
Health resort medicine ( HRM ; in German : Kurortmedizin ) is a field of medicine with long-lasting tradition in several European countries .
A number of systematic review s have shown the effectiveness of HRM  in musculoskeletal conditions .
Review s focusing on the effectiveness of HRM in non-musculoskeletal disorders are rare .
This systematic review aims to provide an overview about all types of health resort treatments applied in non-musculoskeletal conditions , to summarize evidence for its effectiveness and to assess the quality of published studies .