Table 1 Characteristics of the first draft of the Hie questionnaire

Screening item

  1. Hie (yes or no)

Yes: 655

Empirically used items

  2. Severity of Hie

  3. Frequency of Hie

  4. Disability in daily living caused by Hie

Newly selected items

  5. Hie with numbness^b

  6. Hie with pricking feeling^b

  7. Hie with breezed feeling

  8. Hie with shivery feeling

  9. Hie with pain^b

  10. Hie with swelling^b

  11. History of hyperperspiration^a

  12. Heat tolerance

  13. Sensitivity to cold

  14. Hie-like sensation in an airplane cabin

  15. Reluctance to use tap water (cold water)^b

  16. Reluctance to use air conditioning in summer

  17. Use of gloves or socks for Hie protection

  18. Use of additional layers of clothing for Hie protection

  19. Requirement of foot bathing for Hie protection^b

  20. Use of an electric blanket or a foot warmer while sleeping

  21. Requirement of heating devices in winter

  22. Dislike of skiing or skating because of the cold^b

  23. Practising Seiza (sitting on one’s heels) or Agura (sitting cross-legged)^a

  24. Feeling good when sleeping with legs raised^a

  25. Relief from Hie after playing sports^a

  26. Relief from Hie after performing relaxing exercises (e.g. yoga, stretching)^a

  27. Dislike of cold drinks and foods^b

  28. Dislike of vegetables^a

  29. Reaction to room temperature (inner) different from others^b

  30. Reaction to air temperature (outer) different from others^a

  31. Use of a personal heater at one’s work place^b