A descriptive study of hot aches: a previously unreported winter climbing phenomenon

Background: Hot aches, also known as the screaming barfies in North America, are a recognised phenomenon amongst winter climbers, assumed to be triggered by the re-perfusion of cold peripheries which then rapidly progresses to a systemic vasodilatory syndrome. Symptoms experienced in the hands include pain, numbness and throbbing followed by systemic symptoms such as nausea, irritability, dizziness and in extreme cases, a transient loss of vision and hearing. Despite being well known amongst the winter climbing community there are no publications in the scientific literature characterising the hot aches.
Results: This is a descriptive epidemiological study of UK winter climbers, and their experience of hot aches. We found that hot aches are experienced by 96% of these climbers. They generally last 1-5min and 75% rate them as being 3-4 (out of 5) on a pain scale. The most common local symptoms are pain (87%), throbbing (70%) and tingling (52%). The most common systemic symptoms are nausea (44%), irritability (32%) and dizziness (20%). 20% of climbers experience hotaches in locations other than their hands.
Conclusions: The hot aches are a highly predictable and consistent experience for almost all winter climbers. This study has characterised, for the first time, a recognised but previously unreported phenomenon that occurs in extreme winter climbers. The short and long term consequences of which are currently unknown, and warrant further investigation.