Generality
When the mercury drops too low due to natural or artificial causes - for example during the winter and in environments where the air conditioning is too high - feeling cold in the hands and feet is a fairly common symptom. It is true, however, that some people in excellent health suffer from low temperatures more than others.
Causes
When the temperature drops
When the external temperature drops too low, the small arteries that flow close to the skin surface narrow to limit heat loss (in these cases we speak of vasoconstriction or vasospasm). This defense - in addition to making the body extremities (hands and feet) cold - also accentuates their paleness.
When practicing sports during the winter months, especially cycling, the cold sensation in the hands and feet can become particularly annoying. Also in this case the fault is the reduced blood supply, which is conveyed from the extremities to the muscles involved in the athletic gesture.
Possible causes of a pathological nature
In some cases, cold hands can be the expression of certain pathologies that excessively decrease the flow of blood to these body regions. This is the case, for example, of Raynaud's syndrome, which can be treated - coincidentally - with vasodilator drugs. Natural vasodilators are alcohol, herbal remedies based on ginko biloba leaves and hot peppers, while coffee and smoking tend to have opposite effects. When exposed to low temperatures, the extremities of a person affected by the syndrome Raynud's appear cold, bluish, sore and numb, sometimes shivering, and this disease mainly affects women between the ages of 20 and 40.
Cold hands and feet can also be an expression of impaired thyroid function (hypothyroidism); in this case they are accompanied by an "increased suffering at low temperatures, paleness, chronic weakness, weight gain and other characteristic symptoms.
The sensation of cold in the feet is typical of peripheral arterial disease, a condition in which the lumen of the arteries is significantly narrowed due to the presence of fatty plaques (see atherosclerosis). In this case cold hands and feet are typically associated with erectile dysfunction and intermittent lameness.
Cold sensation in the extremities of the body is common among patients on beta-blocker therapy.
Tips and Remedies
Some tips for those who suffer from cold hands and feet: avoid smoking and coffee, do not handle icy objects with bare hands, when in cold environments move your fingers and toes from time to time to reactivate circulation, avoid wearing socks that are too tight and protect yourself with special clothing.
For further information: All Remedies for Cold Hands and Feet "
