The symptoms of body vibration can range from acute, short-term effects to chronic, long-term conditions. Here's a breakdown:
Acute Symptoms of Vibration Exposure
These symptoms appear shortly after exposure to vibration:
- Weakness: A general feeling of reduced physical strength.
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or exhausted.
- Decreased Judgment: Impaired decision-making abilities.
Chronic Vibration Injury (Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome)
Prolonged exposure to vibration, especially affecting the hands and arms, can lead to more severe and lasting problems known as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). This includes:
- Muscle Weakness: Persistent reduction in muscle strength.
- Permanent Nerve Damage: Irreversible damage to the nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain.
- Vascular Complications (Raynaud's phenomenon): Problems with blood vessels, causing fingers to turn white and become painful in response to cold or stress. This is also known as vibration white finger.
| Symptom | Description | Acute/Chronic |
|---|---|---|
| Weakness | Feeling of reduced physical strength | Acute |
| Fatigue | Feeling unusually tired or exhausted | Acute |
| Decreased Judgment | Impaired decision-making | Acute |
| Muscle Weakness | Persistent reduction in muscle strength | Chronic |
| Permanent Nerve Damage | Irreversible damage to nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain | Chronic |
| Raynaud's Phenomenon | Blood vessel problems causing fingers to turn white and painful in cold/stress | Chronic |
Therefore, it's vital to minimize vibration exposure through engineering controls, proper tool selection, and personal protective equipment to prevent both acute and chronic health issues.
