home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK01101}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Causes of "Vibration" Disease}
- $Subject{vibration Raynaud's Ill Defined Symptoms symptom circulatory
- circulation pneumatic hammer vibrating tool tools artery spasm spasms arteries
- hand hands finger fingers}
- $Volume{N-4,G-4}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Causes of "Vibration" Disease
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: Sometime ago it seemed as if you were inviting your audience to
- submit unusual diseases for you to research. If you are still interested, I
- would like to offer one. It is called simply "vibration". My father was a
- sufferer.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: An interesting challenge, and worth the effort. Actually I found
- most of the information listed under the title "pneumatic hammer", for
- vibration is a condition that occurs in individuals who used vibrating tools.
- After a period of time, these patients, when exposed to cold, would lose the
- circulation in the hand that was nearest to the working end of the tool. In
- fact, the situation is very much like Raynaud's Disease, from which it must be
- distinguished. Raynaud is more common in women than men in about a 5 to 1
- ratio, and results in spasm of the arteries of the fingers, reducing their
- circulating blood. There are no specific changes in the arteries in
- vibration, or any special diagnostic tests. It is a diagnosis made by history
- and examination. Relief from the attack is obtained by vigorous rubbing of
- the hands and immersing them in warm water. Patients are frequently advised
- to change their occupation. Perhaps of some interest to you, it was described
- in the President's Monthly Report of The Stonecutter's Journal in 1917.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-