Relationships of self-identified cold tolerance and cold-induced vasodilatation in the finger.
This study was conducted to investigate relationships of self-identified cold tolerance and cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) in the finger. Nine males and 34 females participated in the following 2 tests: a CIVD test and a self-reported survey. The CIVD test was conducted 30-min cold-water immersion (3.8 ± 0.3 °C) of the middle finger at an air temperature of 27.9 ± 0.1 °C. The self-reported questionnaire consisted of 28 questions about whole and local body cold and heat tolerances. By a cluster analysis on the survey results, the participants were divided into two groups: high self-identified cold tolerance (HSCT, n = 25) and low self-identified cold tolerance (LSCT, n = 18). LSCT had lower self-identified cold tolerance (P < 0.001), preferred hot thermal stimulation (P = 0.006), and wore heavier clothing during daily life (P < 0.001) than HSCT. LSCT had significantly lower maximal finger temperatures (T max) (P = 0.040), smaller amplitude (P = 0.029), and delayed onset time of CIVD (P = 0.080) when compared to HSCT. Some questions examining the self-identified cold or heat tolerance had relationships with cold tolerance index, T max, and amplitude (P < 0.1). These results indicate that self-identified cold tolerance classified through a standardized survey could be a good index to predict physiological cold tolerance.
Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Joonhee
J
Park
Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea. leex3140@snu.ac.kr.|College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea. leex3140@snu.ac.kr.
Joo-Young
JY
Lee
D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report; D012881:Skin Temperature; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Acclimatization; CIVD; Questionnaire; Self-identified cold tolerance; Thermal lifestyle