Cold feet and prolonged sleep-onset latency in vasospastic syndrome

Lancet. 2001 Jul 14;358(9276):125-6. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05344-2.

Abstract

People with vasospastic syndrome have cold hands and feet and abnormal vasoconstriction after local cold exposure. Normally there is a circadian rhythm of distal vasodilation, with onset in the early evening, which directly influences ability to fall asleep. We gave a sleep questionnaire to 32 patients with primary vasospastic syndrome and 31 healthy controls. People with vasospasticity had significantly prolonged sleep-onset latency both at onset of night-time sleep and after nocturnal disturbance. This prolonged latency could be associated with impaired capacity for distal vasodilation.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Constriction, Pathologic
  • Female
  • Foot / blood supply*
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia / complications*
  • Hypothermia / diagnosis
  • Hypothermia / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Risk Factors
  • Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm / etiology*
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / etiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Syndrome
  • Vasodilation