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Please cite this paper as: Cheung and Daanen (2012). Dynamic Adaptation of the Peripheral Circulation to Cold Exposure. Microcirculation 19(1), 65–77.

Humans residing or working in cold environments exhibit a stronger cold‐induced vasodilation (CIVD) reaction in the peripheral microvasculature than those living in warm regions of the world, leading to a general assumption that thermal responses to local cold exposure can be systematically improved by natural acclimatization or specific acclimation. However, it remains unclear whether this improved tolerance is actually due to systematic acclimatization, or alternately due to the genetic pre‐disposition or self‐selection for such occupations. Longitudinal studies of repeated extremity exposure to cold demonstrate only ambiguous adaptive responses. In field studies, general cold acclimation may lead to increased sympathetic activity that results in …