It is normal for cold hands to appear when we are away from home during the winter or in a room where the air conditioning is on maximum. But when that frigid feeling seems to stretch out over time, something else could be at play.
Constantly cold hands or fingertips can mean blood is not flowing to your hands as well as it should, which could be a sign of an underlying health problem. Having a blockage in the arteries that prevents blood from reaching a certain point in the body can cause a cold hand. Being exposed to cold can also cause vasospasm, or narrowing of the blood vessels, which ultimately decreases blood flow to the hands.
Reasons for cold hands
If your fingers get cold when the temperature is normal, there could be an underlying health problem. Cold fingers can be an indication of a number of problems, including Raynaud's syndrome, hypothyroidism, vitamin deficiencies, anemia, arterial disease, or even an autoimmune condition.
Raynaud's syndrome
Hands that become painfully cold, pale, or numb in response to cold temperatures could be a sign of Raynaud's disease.
The condition causes blood vessels in the hands and fingers to constrict when a person is cold or stressed, reduces blood flow. Raynaud's attacks usually occur when a person experiences a rapid change in temperature, such as entering a building with excessive air conditioning or going into the refrigerated section of the supermarket. The feeling of cold or discomfort begins in one finger and spreads to other fingers of both hands.
A person can get Raynaud's on its own, but it can also be a secondary condition caused by other health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, atherosclerosis, or pulmonary hypertension. Exposure to workplace chemicals such as vinyl chloride or frequent engagement in repetitive hand motions such as typing on the computer, playing a musical instrument or using a vibrating tool they can also cause secondary Raynaud's disease.
Treatment of primary Raynaud's usually involves avoiding triggers that cause cold and discomfort, and rewarming hands when they get too cold. Rewarming can begin to relieve symptoms in 15 to 20 minutes. For severe symptoms that cause pain, oral medications or creams, including calcium channel blockers and vasodilators, may help.
Diabetes
Many adults with diabetes are affected by neuropathy, or nerve damage that can cause uncomfortable sensations in the hands and feet. people with neuropathy They often describe the sensation as numbness, tingling, or painful burning in the hands. Sometimes the condition can also cause a stinging sensation.
A person with diabetes is more likely to develop neuropathy if blood sugar is not well controlled. Managing diabetes and following healthy lifestyle habits, such as achieving a healthy weight and blood pressure, exercising regularly, and taking diabetes medications as prescribed, can help slow or stop the progression of neuropathy.
Nerve damage that has already occurred cannot be reversed. But the pain of neuropathy can be controlled with a combination of medication and physical and occupational therapy to help improve hand strength and function.
Anemia
If cold hands or feet are combined with extreme fatigue or weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, and dizziness or lightheadedness, you could have anemia. A condition that occurs when the blood has shortage of healthy red blood cells, anemia is most often caused by a lack of iron in the diet.
Treating the problem and the underlying symptoms is as simple as getting an adequate supply of iron. Eating more iron-rich foods can help, but sometimes iron supplements or intravenous iron therapy may be necessary to replenish a person's iron stores and ensure they get enough of the mineral to prevent anemia from coming back.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs between the forearm and the palm of the hand, becomes pinched at the wrist. The median nerve provides sensation to the side of the palm of the hands and fingers. When squeezed through the rigid passageway known as the carpal tunnel, it causes painful symptoms.
Carpal tunnel symptoms come on slowly and gradually get worse. Early symptoms include numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers. Many people with this syndrome experience Raynaud's syndrome and increased sensitivity to cold. Symptoms can usually be relieved with a wrist splint and anti-inflammatories.
underactive thyroid
El hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland, is another common cause of cold hands. The condition occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormones, which can slow down the body's metabolic functions. That can make a person more sensitive to cold temperatures and cause other symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, dry skin, thinning hair, and even mood swings.
Although the problem can start to wreak havoc on the body if left untreated, hypothyroidism is easy to tackle. In most cases, simply taking synthetic thyroid hormone as a daily pill can reverse a person's symptoms and help them feel better again.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency
Vitamin B-12 is an essential vitamin found naturally in many foods, including eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and dairy products. It is necessary for the proper formation of red blood cells and neurological function. Many people, especially vegetarians and vegans, don't get enough of it.
A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can cause neurological symptoms such as coldness, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet. Other symptoms of a B-12 deficiency include anemia, fatigue, weakness, difficulty maintaining balance, depression, or a sore mouth.
To detect a vitamin B-12 deficiency, a doctor will need to take a blood sample. The most common treatment is vitamin B-12 injections, because many people have trouble absorbing vitamin B-12 through the digestive tract. But a high dose of an oral vitamin B-12 supplement can also be effective.
Certain medications
If cold hands seem to have set in after starting a new medication, the medication could be to blame. The pills contraceptives, over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, blockers beta, drugs for migraine, medicines for high blood pressure and certain medicines chemotherapy they have the potential to trigger secondary Raynaud's syndrome.
In some cases, it is possible to change the medicine or adjust the dose, which could alleviate the problem. But if that's not an option, avoiding triggers and rewarming your hands when they get cold can help manage discomfort.
Treatments for cold hands
Constantly cold hands are usually caused by an underlying health problem, and treating the problem is often the first step in helping your hands feel better. But we can also take steps to minimize discomfort and control shivering when it occurs. Some tips on how to fix cold hands include:
- Protect hands from the cold. Wear gloves or mittens before going out into cold weather or touching cold objects, such as food from the freezer or a cold steering wheel. When it's really cold, we'll try the hand warmers.
- Stay away from triggers. Some people with Raynaud's syndrome find that cold hands flare up in response to stress. But simple stress management techniques like practicing yoga, meditating, or even listening to music can help.
- heat up quickly. When the hands are cold and uncomfortable, we will do what we can to warm them. We will go indoors if we are outside and soak our hands in warm water if possible; if warm water is not available, we will place our hands under the armpits to warm up.