Hand skin temperature: A usability for health care services

This study was focused on the applicability of hand skin temperature measurements for evaluation of the individual health. Quantitative estimation of skin temperature related to cold-induced vasomotor reactions has a potential diagnostic value for health assessment and it is usable in personalized health care services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of hand skin temperature after the local cooling in persons with different susceptibility to cold (n=74, 32 men, 42 women, age range 17-23 years). Skin temperature of distal parts of the arms was measured during the local cold test and throughout re-warming period. Additionally blood pressure and heart rate were monitored and cold tolerance was estimated. The dynamics of hand skin temperature was shown to correlate with the susceptibility to cold. High susceptibility to cold characterized by the aggravated cold-induced vasoconstriction appeared as non-re-warming by the end of 15 minutes examination. In contrast to temperature measurements the monitoring of blood pressure and heart rate after the local cooling did not show significant dynamics. The results of thermography corresponded well with cardiovascular reactivity. So, the diagnostics of the aggravated cold-induced vasoconstriction can be used for detection of premorbid slate of the organism in addition to conventional methods. Thus, skin vasomotor reactions were found to be closely related to the autonomic regulation both under physiological and pathological conditions. It might be promising for individual self-diagnostics of the health problems and also for monitoring of the physiological state in humans either under extreme conditions or sport training