Posted by Phil Winterbourne on August 13, 1997 at 10:41:14:
In Reply to: Re: Cold Comfort (WAS 'WH - Frostbite') posted by Ian from Patience on August 08, 1997 at 15:08:12:
I may be talking complete nonsence here, but...
The reason not smoking helps to avoid frostbite is that smoking thickens the blood (particularli of physically active people).
When your body becomes cold it trys to preserve its self by drawing a good deal of blood to the core of the body to keep the primary organs (brain, heart, etc.) working. This leads to a reduction in the circulation to the extremities, this makes them more likley to get frost bite. The thicker blood of smokers flows les well in this situation of reduced circulation making frost bite more likley.
I believe that tyhe thicker blood of smokers is due to the body trying to make up for the less efficient oxygen distribution of smokers by producing more red cells in the blood. This is a situation made worse at high altitude where the body produces even more red cells to counterbalance the reduced amount of oxygen in the air.
There is a really nasty thing - pullmonary Odeamia (sp) whic can affect high altitude climbers caused by the same thickening of the blood - this is basically blood clots in the brain. The only treatment is to return to low altitude (and probably to be given oxygen?).
If you think I'm talking nonsece let me know.
Phil