Cold-induced vasodilatation response of finger skin blood vessels in older men observed by using a modified local cold tolerance test.

The time of onset and magnitude of cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) in six older men (62-70 years) were compared with those of seven younger men (20-29 years) by using a modified local cold tolerance test. This test consisted of a 10-min immersion of the left middle finger in cold water at 10 degrees C, and was substituted for a conventional test (30-min immersion in ice water at 0 degrees C). Vasodilatation occurred significantly later in the older group, and the magnitude of their response was significantly lower during the immersion. No vasodilatation occurred in two of the older men. As the finger skin temperature before the test was not significantly different between the two age groups, the difference of CIVD response in the two age groups was thought to reflect the age-related changes of peripheral vascular reactivity to a local cold stimulus. Considering the fact that no subjects complained a great deal of cold pain during the immersion, our modified local cold tolerance test seems to be a useful method for detecting the age-related degradation of local cold tolerance and peripheral vascular reactivity in older workers.