A method for obtaining a value of at least one vasodilation parameter representing the cutaneous local thermal hyperemia response of a subject using a laser Doppler-based apparatus, comprising: (a) performing a baseline measurement at a first sampling site of the subject at a first temperature and obtaining a first baseline red blood cell flux (RBCF BL) of the sampling site and a first baseline mean arterial pressure (P BL) of the subject; (b) raising the temperature of the first sampling site from the first temperature to a second temperature; (c) maintaining the second temperature for an initial heating period of 2 to 14 minutes, and recording a plurality of first initial RBCFs (RBCF I, 1-n) of the first sampling site at a plurality of time points (T 1-n) to identify a first initial maximum RBCF (RBCF I, max) and recording a first initial mean arterial pressure (P I) of the subject during the initial heating period; and (d) calculating the value of the vasodilation parameter, wherein the vasodilation parameter is or is derived from a first initial maximum cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC I, max), calculated by the formula of: CVC I, max = RBCF I, max / P I, and the vasodilation parameter derived from the first CVC I, max is a first initial maximum CVC change (ΔCVC) or an initial area-under-the-curve (initial AUC), wherein the ΔCVC is calculated by the formula of: ΔCVC = CVC I, max - (RBCF BL / P BL); and for the initial AUC, the RBCF I, 1-n are plotted against T 1-n to obtain a curve having a curve function of F, and the initial AUC is calculated by the formula of: AUC = ∫ 0 t F X dX, where t is equal to or greater than the time at which the RBCF I, max is measured. (a) performing a baseline measurement at a first sampling site of the subject at a first temperature and obtaining a first baseline red blood cell flux (RBCF BL) of the sampling site and a first baseline mean arterial pressure (P BL) of the subject; (b) raising the temperature of the first sampling site from the first temperature to a second temperature; (c) maintaining the second temperature for an initial heating period of 2 to 14 minutes, and recording a plurality of first initial RBCFs (RBCF I, 1-n) of the first sampling site at a plurality of time points (T 1-n) to identify a first initial maximum RBCF (RBCF I, max) and recording a first initial mean arterial pressure (P I) of the subject during the initial heating period; and (d) calculating the value of the vasodilation parameter, wherein the vasodilation parameter is or is derived from a first initial maximum cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC I, max), calculated by the formula of: CVC I, max = RBCF I, max / P I, and the vasodilation parameter derived from the first CVC I, max is a first initial maximum CVC change (ΔCVC) or an initial area-under-the-curve (initial AUC), wherein the ΔCVC is calculated by the formula of: ΔCVC = CVC I, max - (RBCF BL / P BL); and for the initial AUC, the RBCF I, 1-n are plotted against T 1-n to obtain a curve having a curve function of F, and the initial AUC is calculated by the formula of: AUC = ∫ 0 t F X dX, where t is equal to or greater than the time at which the RBCF I, max is measured.