Cold fingers?
Feb 23, 2004 20: 57 EST
A few weeks ago I got an interesting question from "Johnny M" asking my advice about cold hands on a winter expedition. I thought I'd share the question, and the answer from my friend Dr Gordon Giesbrecht , a world expert on hypothermia and professor at University of Manitoba. You may remember reading about the affectionately dubbed "Professor Popsicle" in an Outside mag article earlier this year.
Question from Johnny M Re: "Cold hands after a rest"
"A year or so ago, two of us did a long ski trip, 7-9 weeks, and about 750 km. When we stopped for a short break for a rest and bite to eat, our fingers are warm, and are OK during the entire rest stop, however, as soon as we started on our way again, our fingers would get very painfully cold, or FINGERS WOULD NOT GET COLD DURING THE REST STOP; that would not happen until a short time after we started moving again. It happened to both of us, and it took us a while to realize the circle of events. Temperatures were -20C to -30C. If someone has an explanation, it would be appreciated...thanks."
And the answer from Dr. Giesbrecht:
"I experience this after every break on my expeditions. The foremost mechanism here is the competition for blood flow between the fingers (just for warmth) and the newly exercising muscles of the legs and arms (for oxygen and fuel.) At the start of exercise, blood flow is diverted to the muscles. After awhile the body starts to warm up and calls for heat loss. If the exercise is not too high a level and there is some cardiac output reserve left, extra blood is now sent out to the fingers and toes to allow heat loss (this blood also warms the fingers while it is there.)"
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