Final answer:
Decreased cell metabolism from cold therapy can reduce the workload on the heart after cardiac arrest by lowering the body's demand for oxygen, thereby conserving energy and protecting cells and tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Decreased cell metabolism is a benefit of cold therapy because it reduces the metabolic rate of the body's cells. This metabolic slowdown can be beneficial in certain medical situations. For example, some emergency department physicians use controlled hypothermia to reduce damage to the heart in patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest, by inducing coma and lowering the body temperature to about 91 degrees Fahrenheit. This reduced metabolic rate means that the patient's organs require less blood to function, thereby reducing the workload on the heart.
In the broader sense, a decreased basal metabolic rate helps to conserve energy in the body during times of stress or when resources are low. Additionally, with reduced cellular activity, there is diminished demand for oxygen, which helps sustain tissue viability in situations of compromised blood flow or oxygen delivery. Cold therapy takes advantage of these physiological responses to protect the body's cells and tissues in a variety of clinical settings.