Effect of Cooling and of Smoking Tobacco upon the Blood Flow of Reactive Hyperemia of the Foot

Tobacco smoking and body cooling have been shown to decrease the "resting" blood flow to the foot. The present study was designed to determine whether either of these 2 stimuli also affects the increased blood flow that follows a period of ischemia (reactive hyperemia). Blood flows to the foot were measured in subjects with and without vascular disease by the venous occlusion, water plethysmographic method in a warm and a cool environment before and during smoking. Patients with bilaterally and unilaterally sympathectomized limbs were also studied to determine the mechanism of the observed responses.