Are your hands and feet constantly cold? If so, you have probably been told that it is due to poor circulation, but what is true in this?
In reality, it is not far from reality. Your skin is maintained at a comfortable temperature through the blood vessels, which distribute oxygen-rich blood throughout your entire body.
When mercury decreases, your skin’s sensory receptors alert your brain to shrink blood vessels. This decreases the amount of blood in your skin to preserve its temperature level in the central part of your body, which is where all the organs are.
For some people, the name vasoconstriction that this process receives may be triggered by the slightest change in the outside temperature. And one study revealed that such a reaction is more common in women, in part due to changing estrogen levels, a hormone that plays a great role in regulating temperature.
A more severe sensitivity to cold is known as Raynaud’s disease, in which the limbs usually only the toes and hands but sometimes also the nose and ears can fall asleep and turn white or blue. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, treatment may vary from wearing extra gloves and socks to taking controlled medications to expand the blood vessels.
Last but not least, cold hands can be a symptom of another condition, such as hyperthyroidism, lupus or diabetes, as well as deficiencies of vitamin B12 or iron.
Your doctor can perform tests and prescribe the necessary supplements, medications or dietary changes. But if cold hands are your only symptom, try to warm them by keeping yourself hydrated and increasing your physical activity levels.