Raynaud's Phenomenon Twice As Severe In Smokers
Unregistered User
If this is not your name, click here.
Contact Us | Order Now | Journals | Bookstore | Register a colleague
 
  SEARCH  
News
Bookstore
Medline
The Web
Meetings & Congresses
Complete Doctor's Guide
 


 EXPLORE :
 news  All News
 webcasts All Webcasts
 All cases All Cases
 Meetings All Meetings & Congresses
 Medical All Medical Resources

top





New drugs / indications

English Dictionary

Medical Dictionary

Thesaurus



Warning | Privacy | Awards



 Favourite Journals 

Click here to choose your favourite journals


 Favourite Sites 

Click here to choose your favourite sites


 Languages 



  




Raynaud's Phenomenon Twice As Severe In Smokers

LONDON, UK -- April 19, 2000 -- Workers who frequently use pneumatic and oscillating tools, such as pneumatic drills, chainsaws, metal grinders, and chipping hammers, often suffer from vibration white finger, otherwise known as occupational Raynaud's phenomenon. This means that their blood vessels become overly sensitised to cold and constrict while their blood pressure falls. Symptoms are painful and disabling. A report in Occupational and Environmental Medicine shows that smoking seems to perpetuate circulatory problems and that it delays recovery when the tools are no longer being used.

The research team assessed the vascular responses of 600 shipyard metal workers in specially simulated cold conditions. All the workers had, or continued to use, pneumatic tools. Two years later, 199 of those who had been most severely affected and who were no longer using pneumatic tools, were reassessed. Smokers were twice as likely to have severe symptoms of vasoconstriction as non-smokers. The smokers were also younger and had worked for a shorter time than the non-smokers, suggesting that their symptoms may have forced them to give up work, say the authors. Circulatory test results had improved in 53 workers who had given up smoking between the tests, but their symptoms had not.

E-mail this page
to a friend or colleague!
To print,
use this version




Any question regarding a medical diagnosis, treatment, referral, drug availability or pricing should be directed to either a licensed physician or to the product's manufacturer.

If you have any technical questions or other concerns about this site, feel free to contact us at webmaster@docguide.com.

All contents Copyright (c) 1995- Doctor's Guide Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.


Employment opportunities | Partnering opportunities