Cold feet and Why hands and feet get cold - causes and treatment of cold hands and feet. Causes of cold hands and feet

Some people complain that their hands and feet are often cold. Especially many of them are women. This phenomenon does not apply to diseases, and pharmacists have not invented a universal medicine. But there is no pleasant thing in the fact that the limbs are always cold. Try to sleep if your feet are cold.

Cold extremities are a consequence. And every effect has a cause. In the case of cold extremities, the causes are many. But they can be divided into three groups.

Cold hands are common

When cold hands and feet are not a cause for concern

This is the most harmless group. Sometimes the feet or hands are cold due to natural causes. For example: shoes got wet in the autumn slush, or you had to stand for a long time at a public stop waiting for a bus, and the person simply froze.

What to do in this case? That's right - warm up freezing limbs. There are many ways:

  • massages;
  • warm baths;
  • compresses;
  • dry mustard plasters;
  • various physical exercises;
  • just stay in a warm room for a while.

The only thing that doctors do not advise is to warm frozen limbs by drinking strong drinks inside.

Wrong lifestyle as the cause of cold extremities


Cold feet create severe discomfort

It includes reasons related to lifestyle.

  • If you often get cold hands or feet, then remember: have they been subjected to frostbite. The fact is that a frostbitten limb then for a long time reminds of the incident in that it freezes and hurts.
  • Heavy smokers experience difficulties with thermoregulation of the limbs. When smoking, small blood vessels narrow, blood circulation is disturbed, which is why cold limbs are disturbing.
  • Most often, women suffer from cold in the hands and feet, whose natural thermoregulation of the body is lower than that of men. The situation may be aggravated by the fact that the fair sex pays much more attention to various diets than men. No diet fully satisfies the body's needs in terms of amino acids, vitamins, minerals. For example: the body may lack vitamins E, P, C. Their deficiency negatively affects the condition of blood vessels, including limbs.
  • A feeling of coldness in the legs is observed in lovers of many hours of sitting at the computer, especially with legs tucked in. There have been cases when a person got up from the computer and fell like a wreck. Why? Because because of the long sitting, blood circulation was disturbed, and the person simply did not feel the foot that he stepped on.
  • Cold in the extremities can annoy those who move little, preferring to lead a sedentary or, following the example of Oblomov, a recumbent lifestyle.

So, if the limbs are cold for these reasons, it is necessary to make adjustments to the lifestyle:

  1. quit smoking;
  2. do not get involved in trendy diets;
  3. take breaks while working on the computer;
  4. move more;
  5. dress warmly in the cold season.

To quickly warm chilly limbs, you can use the tools listed in the first group.

Cold extremities - an indicator of chronic diseases

In certain cases, when a person has constantly cold extremities of the hands and feet, the causes should be sought in the diseases that cause this symptom.

When cold extremities are a symptom of pathology, they pay attention to accompanying signs.

  • Diabetes mellitus provokes diabetic angiopathy (vascular damage) of the lower extremities. There is not only coldness in the feet, but numbness and tingling. Diabetic angiopathy is characterized by pain, leg cramps, and intermittent claudication. In the future, pathological changes in the skin occur, trophic ulcers form. Typical for diabetes are:
  1. chronic fatigue;
  2. constant feeling of hunger and thirst;
  3. heavy sweating;
  4. poor wound healing.
  • Cold hands and feet are a common occurrence in vegetative-vascular dystonia, in which the nervous regulation of organs and blood vessels is disturbed. With vegetative dysfunction, not only the limbs freeze, but the head is often dizzy, blood pressure jumps, the heart aches, and profuse sweat appears.
  • Another disease that is accompanied by cold feet and hands is low arterial pressure. Arterial hypotension has other signs, in addition to feeling cold in the extremities:
  1. sudden dizziness;
  2. pale skin;
  3. short-term visual impairment;
  4. unsteady gait;
  5. apathy;
  6. drowsiness;
  7. memory problems;
  8. cold sweat.
  • Fingers and toes can literally freeze with Raynaud's disease. During an attack, their blood supply is sharply disrupted. The skin first turns white, then turns blue, and after warming, the fingers swell and become purple-red. Suffer from this disease, the causes of which are not yet well understood, women from 20 to 40 years old.

Change in skin color in Raynaud's disease
  • Osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic region (destruction of spongy bone tissues) leads to impaired blood supply to various parts of the body, including the upper and lower extremities. The manifestations of osteochondrosis are so diverse that even doctors sometimes confuse it with other diseases. Most likely, it is if the following symptoms are present:
  1. pain in the neck, arms, shoulder girdle;
  2. headache;
  3. pain in the region of the heart;
  4. noise in the head and ears;
  5. dizziness;
  6. jumps in blood pressure;
  7. chronic fatigue;
  8. profuse sweat.
  • Atherosclerotic lesions of the blood vessels that feed the limbs cause a feeling of coldness in the limbs.
  • Another reason for constant cold in the limbs is pathology. thyroid gland, for example: when it produces less hormones than is necessary for the normal functioning of the body. Hypothyroidism is more common in women. It is dangerous because it has subtle symptoms characteristic of conditions associated with overwork and fatigue. Do not hesitate to visit the endocrinologist's office if the limbs are cold, and there are:
  1. constant weakness and fatigue;
  2. deterioration in performance;
  3. depression;
  4. pain in muscles and joints;
  5. a sharp weight gain;
  6. problems with heart;
  7. visual and hearing disorders;
  8. profuse sweat.
  • Lack of iron in the body (iron deficiency anemia) leads to a decrease in the level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes in the blood, which leads to a reduced supply of oxygen to tissues, a slowdown in metabolism, and ultimately to a violation of the processes of thermoregulation of the extremities. Iron deficiency anemia also has the following symptoms:
  • weakness;
  • noise in ears;
  • constant desire to lie down and sleep;
  • dizziness;
  • flashing flies in the eyes;
  • profuse sweat at night.

The structure of the blood of a person with iron deficiency anemia

It is impossible to treat diseases that cause cold in the limbs, since it is easy to confuse the symptoms of different diseases. As a result, it can turn out like this: one thing hurt, they self-medicated, and the other got sick in addition.

More:

How to restore a hand after a stroke - rehabilitation in a medical center and at home

If a person wanted visit someone, and he has already died, then they say about such a person that he came to cold feet. But not only the dead have cold extremities, a very large category of modern people suffers from the problem of "ice" hands and feet. It often happens that even in hot weather, a person's hands and feet are cold. It would seem that this is so, they themselves will warm up during sleep under warm blanket. But cold limbs bring a lot of trouble to their owner.

First, at handshake everyone asks with surprise: "Why are your hands so icy?", in addition, cold hands and feet during lovemaking can lead to sexual problems. Secondly, the syndrome of cold hands and feet does not occur from scratch, it is always the result of circulatory disorders and indicates poor functioning of the cardiovascular system. But this does not apply to children under one year of age.

Babies under 1 year old have a poorly developed mechanism, so cold feet are normal for young children, and not a sign that they are cold. In adults, cold extremities indicate vasospasm, as a result of which there is a violation of blood flow in the skin. There can be many reasons for circulatory disorders, these are a sedentary lifestyle, metabolic disorders, diseases endocrine system, malfunctions of the heart, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis and other vascular pathologies. Therefore, if you are concerned about the problem of cold hands and feet, then you should definitely undergo an examination and exclude the following diseases:

1. Vegetative-vascular dystonia. This disease is accompanied by a rapid heartbeat, headache, forgetfulness, a constant desire to sleep and goosebumps with sudden movement. With vegetative-vascular dystonia, the vessels begin to randomly contract, which leads to impaired blood circulation in the arms and legs.

2. Decreased hemoglobin in the blood or anemia. Iron deficiency in the blood leads to the fact that a person quickly wastes heat and freezes, which causes vasoconstriction. Therefore, in people suffering from anemia, the hands and feet are always cold.

3. Decreased production of thyroid hormones. Any disturbance in the functioning of the thyroid gland can lead to a deterioration in the production of hormones. Constantly cold hands and feet often signal a deficiency of certain hormones in the body.

4. Nutrient deficiency. Feet and hands are most often cold in women who exhaust themselves with strict diets. If the body does not receive daily daily allowance, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and microelements, then tissue nutrition deteriorates sharply. This can lead not only to impaired blood circulation, but also to the appearance of serious problems in the work of all organs and systems. But in most cases, cold hands and feet are the result of a lack of fat in the daily diet.
In people with underdeveloped muscles in the soles of the feet, the circulation in the legs is much weaker than in those who walk and exercise daily.


That's why they have legs there are constantly cold. Anatomically, the feet are so arranged that they have very little fatty tissue under the skin. This contributes to the fact that the legs freeze faster than other parts of the body. And if you deprive the legs and movement, then the blood flow to the legs worsens and it is impossible to keep the heat in the limbs.

Wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes, synthetic tights, socks can also aggravate cold feet syndrome. In order to “warm up” cold feet forever, you need to undergo an ultrasound examination of blood vessels, make a cardiogram, take tests for hemoglobin and hormones in the blood, and conduct complex therapy to improve blood circulation in the body. And to prevent unpleasant cooling of the limbs, try to eat well. Eat hot homemade food at least once a day. As much as possible, include in the diet products that cleanse blood vessels, improve blood composition and heart function. Every morning do gymnastics, walk more, massage active points hands and feet. This will help disperse stagnant blood and warm up cold limbs. Refuse to wear all wardrobe items that squeeze the skin of the legs and arms, thereby disrupting blood circulation.

Vasospasm can cause smoking. For many people, the problem of cold extremities resolves on its own as soon as they stop smoking and begin to lead a healthy lifestyle. A very good effect of improving blood circulation in the legs is given by foot baths and cold and hot shower for legs. To combine the useful with the pleasant, add a few drops of aromatic oils to the foot baths, and after rubbing with a towel, be sure to apply foot cream with a warming effect on the skin of the feet.

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Often, even at home, at a quite comfortable temperature, the hands and feet can be icy, an unpleasant chill runs through the body, it can shiver, but the body temperature is not increased. There are plenty of reasons for this: it is low blood pressure, or, on the contrary, a state of hypertension, as well as complications of diabetes mellitus or pathology of the nervous system. Anemia or atherosclerosis of the arteries in the extremities can lead to chills and chilliness. Whatever the cause, the sensations will not be the most pleasant, and it is important to find out and eliminate their cause in the doctor's office.

Low blood pressure and cold extremities

Often, arterial hypotension or, more simply, low pressure, when it does not exceed 100/60 mm. rt. st, leads to a pronounced coldness of the extremities with a feeling of chills. Usually, slender young women suffer from such pressure, having a hereditary low vascular tone, which leads to a slowdown in blood flow through small capillaries and a deficit in the flow of warm blood to the extremities. Due to the slowing down of metabolism at the periphery in the area of ​​the microvasculature, the temperature also decreases. Low blood pressure is usually accompanied by a feeling of weakness with drowsiness, bouts of dizziness, numbness in the limbs and tingling.

To confirm the diagnosis of arterial hypotension, you need to regularly measure the pressure, if it is stable at reduced numbers, you should consult a doctor, move more and dress warmer.

In the initial stages of hypertension, cold extremities may occur due to spasm of small arteries, which disrupts blood delivery to the extremities. Vascular spasm leads to the fact that the lumen of the arterioles narrows sharply, the flow of warm blood in them decreases, and against the background of hypertension with high pressure numbers, hands and feet can constantly feel cold. But often this condition is observed only in the initial stage. Besides discomfort, typical for hypertension will be bursting headaches and discomfort in the region of the heart, which is formed against the background of stress or exertion, as well as visual disturbances with a feeling of fog and shroud, flies before the eyes. Also, hypertension is often accompanied by tinnitus. If regular pressure measurements constantly show numbers over 130/80, you should consult a doctor, not forgetting to tell him about all the complaints. Often in the initial stage, hypertension can be brought under control.

Cold in the hands with atherosclerosis of the arteries

With atherosclerosis of small-caliber arteries, one of the symptoms may be coldness in the hands and feet. This is due to the fact that due to the formation of plaques inside the vessels, the delivery of warm arterial blood to the periphery is disrupted. Due to the presence of atherosclerosis of the arteries, the extremities can be pale and cold (especially the legs), and trophic disorders can also form in advanced stages. In addition to feeling chilly in the legs, atherosclerosis of the arteries can manifest itself as dry skin and intermittent lameness, unpleasant and painful sensations after a long walk.

With such manifestations, an examination is certainly necessary, and it should be complex with the determination of the blood lipid profile and cholesterol level, the coagulation system and the ultrasound of the vessels of the extremities. If these studies do not clarify the situation, vascular angiography can also be prescribed - this is an x-ray of the vascular bed with a preliminary injection of a contrast agent, it will clearly show areas where vascular atherosclerosis is most pronounced and patency is impaired. It is also important to fully treat pathologies so as not to lead to serious complications.

Complications of diabetes and chilly limbs

long flowing diabetes often leads to atherosclerotic vascular lesions and polyneuropathy - this is damage to the peripheral nerves of the extremities as a result of a prolonged increase in glucose levels, especially in poorly compensated diabetes. A change in the patency of blood vessels and the sensitivity of nerves against the background of hyperglycemia leads to the fact that peripheral circulation suffers, and less blood enters the limbs in diabetes, which causes them to become cold and cold. In addition to this phenomenon, diabetes mellitus is also manifested by a sensation of tingling and numbness, itching and burning in the skin on the lower extremities, as well as the formation of ulcers that heal poorly and take a long time. It is important for such a pathology to be regularly examined and keep the glucose level under control, and if you suspect polyneuropathy, contact a neurologist.


Often, a decrease in the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in the blood during the formation of anemia leads to violations of the trophism of peripheral tissues and coldness of the extremities. Most common cause anemia becomes iron deficiency, less often it can be hemolysis or deficiency of folate and vitamin B12, as well as blood loss or problems with the bone marrow. Each type has its own changes in peripheral blood and symptoms, but most often iron deficiency anemia forms a constant feeling of malaise, weakness and headaches, low blood pressure and problems with the temperature of the hands and feet. As the level of hemoglobin rises, anemia is eliminated, the temperature of the extremities can return to normal. This is usually achieved with iron deficiency by taking iron supplements and dietary changes that increase the absorption of this mineral.

Other problems and cold feet

In addition to all the above reasons, various pathologies that disrupt peripheral circulation can lead to cold extremities - Raynaud's syndrome, in which peripheral vascular tone suffers due to problems with the autonomic nervous system. If left untreated, it can progress. In addition, vegetative-vascular dystonia, an imbalance in the tone of the autonomic nervous system, as well as hormonal imbalances, menopausal changes, or adolescence can manifest themselves as constant chilliness.

Did you know that in British law, cold hands and feet of a spouse were officially considered a legal reason for divorce? How often do we encounter unreasonably cold temperatures of the hands and feet, even during the heat of summer! What is the reason that the hands and feet can be almost icy, and is there any way to deal with this?

In fact, cold hands and feet can be a manifestation of completely different conditions and be due to different reasons. Inadequate blood supply to tissues, low blood pressure, chills, and even Raynaud's phenomenon and cold urticaria are just some of the possible reasons the fact that your touch is the touch of the Snow Maiden.

The cradle of mankind is the tropics. We feel most comfortable in the warmth, and the slightest drop in ambient temperature leads to the fact that the body throws all the resources to provide vital organs and systems. And he does this at the expense of our "periphery": arms, legs, nose, ears.

Let's leave aside frostbite and chills (erythema pernio, perniosis), as extreme cases of tissue damage by low temperature and humidity. Also, we will not consider the Raynaud phenomenon, which manifests itself in the pathological narrowing of the blood vessels of the fingers and toes during hypothermia. All these cases require mandatory medical intervention. These are injuries or manifestations of quite serious diseases with pronounced symptoms (ulcers, discoloration of tissues, etc.). But what if the hands are cold without any extreme, in a hot room or on a sunny beach?

Causes of cold extremities

There are many reasons for cold hands and feet. Let's name some of the most common ones. Natural thermoregulation in the body of a woman is much weaker than that of a man. This physiology explains why cold extremities are much more common in healthy women.

It is clear that, being outside for a long time in the cold, you can get very cold, then your hands and feet will cool. To restore the temperature of the limbs and the comfortable state of the whole organism, it is necessary to warm up with clothes, go into the room, warm up with hot tea. This process is quite natural. But how to explain the presence of cold hands and feet if a person is in a warm room or in hot weather?

Mostly the beautiful half of humanity aged 18 to 58 is sick. The initial symptoms are mild, and therefore do not focus on themselves. When a certain age is reached, when the reserve mechanisms begin to be exhausted, the entire list of VVD symptoms appears.

This phenomenon may be the result of strong excitement, in which the blood vessels narrow and impede the flow of blood to the tissues. An external manifestation of this condition can be a change in skin color - it first turns white, then due to venous stasis it can acquire a bluish tint. Legs and hands get cold. When a person calms down, the blood flow is restored, the skin becomes normal color.

One of the reasons for the condition in which the hands and feet are constantly cold is the wrong low calorie food. V this group are mainly women who are trying to lose weight and are constantly exhausting themselves with a variety of diets. With such a diet, a person does not receive enough fats and carbohydrates, proteins and other trace elements. It has been proven that without getting the right amount of fat, a person will constantly freeze.

Another cause of this problem is circulatory disorders. It can be caused by wearing constricting objects - bracelets, rings, watches, gloves, etc. Also, blood circulation in the human body can be disturbed by stress, strong mental excitement. In order for everything to return to normal, it is necessary to eliminate the source of circulatory disorders.

Symptoms of cold hands and feet can signal the presence of serious diseases in the human body. These include problems of the thyroid gland, nervous system and some others. Therefore, you need to be careful about your condition and consult a doctor.

The most common causes of cold hands and feet are:

  • genetic predisposition to vasoconstriction at the slightest fluctuation in ambient temperature. This type of reaction is more typical for women, and is associated with fluctuations in estrogen, a hormone that plays a large role in thermoregulation of body temperature.
  • The manifestation of diseases, the list of which is quite large. First of all - diabetes, anemia, hypothyroidism, lupus, vitamin B12 deficiency. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, and he will also prescribe the appropriate treatment and diet.
  • Manifestation of vegetovascular or neurocirculatory dystonia. In this case, the problem is functional in nature without organic causes, and the problem is quite simply eliminated by exercise, diet, lifestyle changes, and just time.
  • Are cold hands and feet your only complaint and are you generally healthy? Least, you lack physical activity, and in this case, exercise should help you.

Treatment of serious diseases

Iron-deficiency anemia

Iron is the main component of blood hemoglobin, the main carrier of oxygen. Lack of iron leads to disruption of metabolic processes in cells, including energy ones. This is due to poor nutrition, impaired absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract, increased blood loss (nasal, uterine, etc.), with a special need for it (pregnancy, lactation, rapid growth), etc. Additional signals are pallor skin and mucous membranes, dizziness, fatigue, tinnitus, palpitations.

Vegetovascular dystonia

First of all, a clinical blood test is required. The normal level of hemoglobin in children under 6 years old is 110 g / l, in children over 6 years old and adults - 120 g / l. Important special diet- less milk, more meat, fruits and vegetables. Iron preparations are taken in combination with ascorbic acid.

In this case, there are hot flashes and colds, lack of air, dizziness, then the blood pressure rises, then drops. Irritability increases, fatigue increases. From time to time disturbed by pain in the heart, tingling in various parts of the body. Moreover, the examination does not reveal signs of violations of organs and systems. The reason for the malaise is in the disruption of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the entire body.

It often occurs against the background of many diseases, so it is important to undergo a complete examination, especially by an endocrinologist and a neurologist. Helps to cope with the disease physiotherapy, exercise therapy, psychotherapy.

Thyroid diseases

The thyroid gland is a key link in the hormonal regulation of the whole organism. With hypothyroidism (lack of thyroid hormones), metabolic processes slow down. There are lethargy and lethargy, drowsiness, excess weight. The person feels depressed. The face swells, especially the eyelids, the pulse slows down. The skin becomes dry, often flaky, thickened. The work of the mechanisms responsible for maintaining normal body temperature is disrupted. With a low level of thyroid hormones, a person often feels cold.

It is important to undergo an examination by an endocrinologist, to do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland, to pass general analysis blood and urine. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe additional X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, etc.

Diabetes

Vascular damage leads to heart attacks and strokes, blindness, kidney failure. But it all starts small, due to insufficient blood circulation, hands and feet become cold.

Early diagnosis is very important to prevent irreversible changes in the insulin-producing pancreas. A glucose tolerance test is required at the age of 45 years - once every 3 years, after 45 years - annually.

Atherosclerosis

There is a seal and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries, a narrowing of their lumen, followed by a violation of the blood supply to the organs. Hence the cold hands. With damage to the vessels of the brain, tinnitus, dizziness, memory loss, headache. Nutrition with an excess amount of animal fat, a sedentary lifestyle, psycho-emotional overstrain can lead to this disease.

Conduct ECG, ultrasound of the heart and blood vessels, rheovasography, angiography, coronary angiography, measure blood pressure, examine the level of lipids (cholesterol, etc.), blood sugar.

Osteochondrosis

Deformation and thinning of the intervertebral discs, muscle spasm lead to compression of the spinal cord, surrounding nerves and blood vessels. Blood circulation is disturbed, hands and feet become cold, there is a feeling of numbness and aches, there is a constant It's a dull pain in the back, headache, dizziness.

You need to see a neurologist. Comprehensive treatment includes physical therapy, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, traction (traction) of the spine, reflexology, drug therapy. In difficult cases, surgery is possible.

Scleroderma, Raynaud's syndrome

The fingers or toes become cold, numb, they have a tingling sensation, while they become white or even bluish in color. This happens under the influence of stress or temperature exposure and can last from several minutes to several hours. At the end of the attack, the bluish skin turns red, heat and pain appear. This is Raynaud's syndrome - one of the manifestations of scleroderma. As a result of damage to the blood vessels, many organs and tissues of the body are affected, especially the skin. The face takes on a mask-like appearance, it is difficult to open the mouth. It is believed that scleroderma stimulate viruses, poisoning, congenital predisposition. In women, this disease occurs 5 times more often than in men.

At the first symptoms, it is urgent to contact a dermatologist first of all. Spend laboratory research blood, urine, immunodiagnostics, X-ray examination of bones and joints, ultrasound internal organs, cardiodiagnostics.

Folk ways to deal with the disease

  1. Dress for the weather. This is very important rule. Moreover, it should work even if you are going to leave the house for just a minute. Be sure to wear gloves and a hat. The hat is also important in the case of your problem, oddly enough. Shoes should be true to size and should have an air cushion if possible. At home, you can also dress warmly. Sleep in warm pajamas.
  2. Forget about smoking. Everyone knows that nicotine constricts blood vessels. And in the case of your illness, this is simply unacceptable - smoking instantly causes a spasm of small capillaries.
  3. Forget hardening. Sadly, but the cool hardening shower will also have to be abandoned. All for the same reason - you need to keep your upper and lower limbs warm.
  4. Do special gymnastics. Simple exercises will help you improve blood circulation in the limbs. Namely: do the “mill” exercise, swing your arms in all directions. Such exercises must be done very actively, otherwise there will be no effect from them.
  5. Consume fish oil. Fish oil is able to increase the body's resistance to cold weather - just what you need. It is possible that the "freezing" of the limbs is due to a low content of hemoglobin in the blood. Therefore, measures should be taken to increase its concentration. To do this, include more pumpkin and pomegranate juice in your diet. Eat as many iron-rich foods as possible - then you will correct the situation.

Folk recipes

Rubbing tincture:

  1. chop two hot peppers
  2. then pour this raw material into a bottle of vodka
  3. add one tablespoon of salt and mustard powder to the mixture
  4. then close the bottle and shake it well
  5. then you should put a bottle with the remedy to infuse until it turns red
  6. rub your limbs with the resulting tincture before going to bed
  7. but do not do it too intensively - ideally, the tincture should be absorbed by itself
  8. when the skin is dry put on warm socks

Baths for expanding blood vessels:

  1. pour warm water into a basin
  2. then pour the pepper tincture into the water, the recipe of which is described above
  3. it should be 50 grams for every 5 liters of water
  4. then add one tablespoon of cinnamon and 10 drops of clove oil to the water
  5. stir all additives in water
  6. then immerse your legs in the pelvis and hold them there for a third of an hour
  7. you can repeat these procedures regularly

Medicinal tea:

  1. pour half a dessert spoon of ginger powder into a glass of boiling water
  2. then put a thin slice of lemon into the tea
  3. leave the product to infuse for a quarter of an hour and then immediately drink it while it is still warm
  4. take this drug twice a day - in the morning on an empty stomach and before going to bed
  5. you can add a spoonful of honey to the drink to improve its taste
  6. this remedy is very effective in warming up the body

Foot warmer:

  1. soak your feet in hot water
  2. then put on socks, the soles of which are pre-soaked in alcohol or vodka
  3. put warm socks on top of them - this way your feet will warm up very quickly

Coniferous baths:

  1. take two handfuls of needles
  2. pour this raw material with two liters of boiling water
  3. then put the mass on the fire and cook for five minutes
  4. after that, wait about half an hour until the product is infused
  5. then add five tablespoons of salt to it and stir everything
  6. pour the resulting preparation equally into two basins
  7. then pour hot water into one basin, cold water into the other
  8. first dip your feet in a bowl of hot water, hold them there for 20 seconds, then pour this water over your shins from a ladle, then repeat the same thing, only with cold water
  9. alternate water until hot water cools down

Cold hands in a child

Cold hands in a child may mean that he is very cold or sick. If a child's cold hands and feet are accompanied by fever, then this indicates a cold or flu. As a rule, the problem of cold hands and feet in a child goes away by itself during recovery.

Cold hands in a baby is not a cause for alarm if the baby eats and develops normally. In newborns, heat transfer is significantly different from that of adults, so even with extreme heat, the baby has cold hands. However, if the baby has ceased to be active and has lost his appetite, then cold feet and hands may be a sign of illness. In this case, you should call the pediatrician.

Cold extremities of hands and feet are treated with massage

Rubbing and massage will help to cope with the problem of cold hands and feet. Massage should be done with essential oils. The following composition for rubbing is also recommended: for a tablespoon of olive oil - three drops of black pepper and rosemary oil.

An effective means for rubbing is a tincture of red capsicum on vodka (a few pods are thrown into a bottle of vodka, shaking every day. After 2 weeks, you can use it). Massage of cold hands and feet should be done from the bottom up - massage down with effort, and lightly stroking up.

Constantly freezing feet can be saved with magnetic insoles that are placed in shoes and worn for several hours a day. You can even sleep with them by putting them in socks.

Aromatherapy for cold hands and feet

And, of course, aromatherapy offers effective ways cope with the problem of cold extremities. Essential oils of ginger, eucalyptus, black pepper, nutmeg and juniper not only stimulate blood circulation, but also activate the immune system. Add a few drops of ether to your massage or vegetable oil and massage your limbs - and you will feel a quick burst of warmth.

An excellent effective recipe is presented by the French professor Dominique Davenn. The tool is a specially selected composition essential oils with vasodilating and anti-inflammatory action. This essential mixture is suitable both for regular use for the problem of cold hands and feet, and as an emergency remedy for the initial stage of frostbite.

Mix essential oils in a dark glass bottle:

  • wintergreen 30%
  • lemongrass or litsea 25%
  • chamomile 7%
  • sandalwood 6%
  • myrrh 5%
  • sweet orange 27%
    The resulting mixture can be used in the form of local baths, after dissolving 10-15 drops of the mixture in a solubilizer (sea salt, honey, organic solubilizer). Can also be added to massage oil: 5-7 drops per 10 ml of oil (almond, peach, macadamia, etc.)

Did you know that in British law, cold hands and feet of a spouse were officially considered a legal reason for divorce? How often do we encounter unreasonably cold temperatures of the hands and feet, even during the heat of summer! What is the reason that the hands and feet can be almost icy, and is there any way to deal with this?

In fact, cold hands and feet can be a manifestation of completely different conditions and be due to different reasons. Inadequate blood supply to tissues, low blood pressure, chills, and even Raynaud's phenomenon and cold urticaria are just some of the possible reasons that your touch is the touch of the Snow Maiden.

The cradle of mankind is the tropics. We feel most comfortable in the warmth, and the slightest drop in ambient temperature leads to the fact that the body throws all the resources to provide vital organs and systems. And he does this at the expense of our "periphery": arms, legs, nose, ears.

Let's leave aside frostbite and chills (erythema pernio, perniosis), as extreme cases of tissue damage by low temperature and humidity. Also, we will not consider the Raynaud phenomenon, which manifests itself in the pathological narrowing of the blood vessels of the fingers and toes during hypothermia. All these cases require mandatory medical intervention. These are injuries or manifestations of quite serious diseases with pronounced symptoms (ulcers, discoloration of tissues, etc.). But what if the hands are cold without any extreme, in a hot room or on a sunny beach?

Causes of cold extremities

There are many reasons for cold hands and feet. Let's name some of the most common ones. Natural thermoregulation in the body of a woman is much weaker than that of a man. This physiology explains why cold extremities are much more common in healthy women.

It is clear that, being outside for a long time in the cold, you can get very cold, then your hands and feet will cool. To restore the temperature of the limbs and the comfortable state of the whole organism, it is necessary to warm up with clothes, go into the room, warm up with hot tea. This process is quite natural. But how to explain the presence of cold hands and feet if a person is in a warm room or in hot weather?

Mostly the beautiful half of humanity aged 18 to 58 is sick. The initial symptoms are mild, and therefore do not focus on themselves. When a certain age is reached, when the reserve mechanisms begin to be exhausted, the entire list of VVD symptoms appears.

This phenomenon may be the result of strong excitement, in which the blood vessels narrow and impede the flow of blood to the tissues. An external manifestation of this condition can be a change in skin color - it first turns white, then due to venous stasis it can acquire a bluish tint. Legs and hands get cold. When a person calms down, the blood flow is restored, the skin becomes normal color.

One of the reasons for the condition in which the hands and feet are constantly cold is an improper low-calorie diet. This group includes mainly women who are trying to lose weight and are constantly exhausting themselves with a variety of diets. With such a diet, a person does not receive enough fats and carbohydrates, proteins and other trace elements. It has been proven that without getting the right amount of fat, a person will constantly freeze.

Another cause of this problem is circulatory disorders. It can be caused by wearing constricting objects - bracelets, rings, watches, gloves, etc. Also, blood circulation in the human body can be disturbed by stress, strong mental excitement. In order for everything to return to normal, it is necessary to eliminate the source of circulatory disorders.

Symptoms of cold hands and feet can signal the presence of serious diseases in the human body. These include problems of the thyroid gland, nervous system and some others. Therefore, you need to be careful about your condition and consult a doctor.

The most common causes of cold hands and feet are:

  • genetic predisposition to vasoconstriction at the slightest fluctuation in ambient temperature. This type of reaction is more typical for women, and is associated with fluctuations in estrogen, a hormone that plays a large role in thermoregulation of body temperature.
  • The manifestation of diseases, the list of which is quite large. First of all - diabetes, anemia, hypothyroidism, lupus, vitamin B12 deficiency. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, and he will also prescribe the appropriate treatment and diet.
  • Manifestation of vegetovascular or neurocirculatory dystonia. In this case, the problem is functional in nature without organic causes, and the problem is quite simply eliminated by exercise, diet, lifestyle changes, and just time.
  • Are cold hands and feet your only complaint and are you generally healthy? Least, you lack physical activity, and in this case, exercise should help you.

Treatment of serious diseases

Iron-deficiency anemia

Iron is the main component of blood hemoglobin, the main carrier of oxygen. Lack of iron leads to disruption of metabolic processes in cells, including energy ones. This is due to poor nutrition, impaired absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract, increased blood loss (nasal, uterine, etc.), with a special need for it (pregnancy, lactation, rapid growth), etc. Additional signals are pallor skin and mucous membranes, dizziness, fatigue, tinnitus, palpitations.

Vegetovascular dystonia

First of all, a clinical blood test is required. The normal level of hemoglobin in children under 6 years old is 110 g / l, in children over 6 years old and adults - 120 g / l. A special diet is important - less milk, more meat, fruits and vegetables. Iron preparations are taken in combination with ascorbic acid.

In this case, there are hot flashes and colds, lack of air, dizziness, then the blood pressure rises, then drops. Irritability increases, fatigue increases. From time to time disturbed by pain in the heart, tingling in various parts of the body. Moreover, the examination does not reveal signs of violations of organs and systems. The reason for the malaise is in the disruption of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the entire body.

It often occurs against the background of many diseases, so it is important to undergo a complete examination, especially by an endocrinologist and a neurologist. Helps to cope with the disease physiotherapy, exercise therapy, psychotherapy.

Thyroid diseases

The thyroid gland is a key link in the hormonal regulation of the whole organism. With hypothyroidism (lack of thyroid hormones), metabolic processes slow down. There are lethargy and lethargy, drowsiness, excess weight. The person feels depressed. The face swells, especially the eyelids, the pulse slows down. The skin becomes dry, often flaky, thickened. The work of the mechanisms responsible for maintaining normal body temperature is disrupted. With a low level of thyroid hormones, a person often feels cold.

It is important to undergo an examination by an endocrinologist, to do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland, to pass a general blood and urine test. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe additional X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, etc.

Diabetes

Vascular damage leads to heart attacks and strokes, blindness, kidney failure. But it all starts small, due to insufficient blood circulation, hands and feet become cold.

Early diagnosis is very important to prevent irreversible changes in the insulin-producing pancreas. A glucose tolerance test is required at the age of 45 years - once every 3 years, after 45 years - annually.

Atherosclerosis

There is a seal and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries, a narrowing of their lumen, followed by a violation of the blood supply to the organs. Hence the cold hands. With damage to the vessels of the brain, tinnitus, dizziness, memory loss, and headache are noted. Nutrition with an excess amount of animal fat, a sedentary lifestyle, psycho-emotional overstrain can lead to this disease.

Conduct ECG, ultrasound of the heart and blood vessels, rheovasography, angiography, coronary angiography, measure blood pressure, examine the level of lipids (cholesterol, etc.), blood sugar.

Osteochondrosis

Deformation and thinning of the intervertebral discs, muscle spasm lead to compression of the spinal cord, surrounding nerves and blood vessels. Blood circulation is disturbed, hands and feet become cold, there is a feeling of numbness and aches, constant aching pain in the back, headache, dizziness.

You need to see a neurologist. Comprehensive treatment includes physical therapy, physiotherapy, massage, manual therapy, traction (traction) of the spine, reflexology, drug therapy. In difficult cases, surgery is possible.

Scleroderma, Raynaud's syndrome

The fingers or toes become cold, numb, they have a tingling sensation, while they become white or even bluish in color. This happens under the influence of stress or temperature exposure and can last from several minutes to several hours. At the end of the attack, the bluish skin turns red, heat and pain appear. This is Raynaud's syndrome - one of the manifestations of scleroderma. As a result of damage to the blood vessels, many organs and tissues of the body are affected, especially the skin. The face takes on a mask-like appearance, it is difficult to open the mouth. It is believed that scleroderma stimulate viruses, poisoning, congenital predisposition. In women, this disease occurs 5 times more often than in men.

At the first symptoms, it is urgent to contact a dermatologist first of all. Laboratory testing of blood, urine, immunodiagnostics, X-ray examination of bones and joints, ultrasound of internal organs, cardiodiagnostics are carried out.

Folk ways to deal with the disease

  1. Dress for the weather. This is a very important rule. Moreover, it should work even if you are going to leave the house for just a minute. Be sure to wear gloves and a hat. The hat is also important in the case of your problem, oddly enough. Shoes should be true to size and should have an air cushion if possible. At home, you can also dress warmly. Sleep in warm pajamas.
  2. Forget about smoking. Everyone knows that nicotine constricts blood vessels. And in the case of your illness, this is simply unacceptable - smoking instantly causes a spasm of small capillaries.
  3. Forget hardening. Sadly, but the cool hardening shower will also have to be abandoned. All for the same reason - you need to keep your upper and lower limbs warm.
  4. Do special gymnastics. Simple exercises will help you improve blood circulation in the limbs. Namely: do the “mill” exercise, swing your arms in all directions. Such exercises must be done very actively, otherwise there will be no effect from them.
  5. Consume fish oil. Fish oil is able to increase the body's resistance to cold weather - just what you need. It is possible that the "freezing" of the limbs is due to a low content of hemoglobin in the blood. Therefore, measures should be taken to increase its concentration. To do this, include more pumpkin and pomegranate juice in your diet. Eat as many iron-rich foods as possible - then you will correct the situation.

Folk recipes

Rubbing tincture:

  1. chop two hot peppers
  2. then pour this raw material into a bottle of vodka
  3. add one tablespoon of salt and mustard powder to the mixture
  4. then close the bottle and shake it well
  5. then you should put a bottle with the remedy to infuse until it turns red
  6. rub your limbs with the resulting tincture before going to bed
  7. but do not do it too intensively - ideally, the tincture should be absorbed by itself
  8. when the skin is dry put on warm socks

Baths for expanding blood vessels:

  1. pour warm water into a basin
  2. then pour the pepper tincture into the water, the recipe of which is described above
  3. it should be 50 grams for every 5 liters of water
  4. then add one tablespoon of cinnamon and 10 drops of clove oil to the water
  5. stir all additives in water
  6. then immerse your legs in the pelvis and hold them there for a third of an hour
  7. you can repeat these procedures regularly

Medicinal tea:

  1. pour half a dessert spoon of ginger powder into a glass of boiling water
  2. then put a thin slice of lemon into the tea
  3. leave the product to infuse for a quarter of an hour and then immediately drink it while it is still warm
  4. take this drug twice a day - in the morning on an empty stomach and before going to bed
  5. you can add a spoonful of honey to the drink to improve its taste
  6. this remedy is very effective in warming up the body

Foot warmer:

  1. soak your feet in hot water
  2. then put on socks, the soles of which are pre-soaked in alcohol or vodka
  3. put warm socks on top of them - this way your feet will warm up very quickly

Coniferous baths:

  1. take two handfuls of needles
  2. pour this raw material with two liters of boiling water
  3. then put the mass on the fire and cook for five minutes
  4. after that, wait about half an hour until the product is infused
  5. then add five tablespoons of salt to it and stir everything
  6. pour the resulting preparation equally into two basins
  7. then pour hot water into one basin, cold water into the other
  8. first dip your feet in a bowl of hot water, hold them there for 20 seconds, then pour this water over your shins from a ladle, then repeat the same thing, only with cold water
  9. alternate water until hot water cools down

Cold hands in a child

Cold hands in a child may mean that he is very cold or sick. If a child's cold hands and feet are accompanied by fever, then this indicates a cold or flu. As a rule, the problem of cold hands and feet in a child goes away by itself during recovery.

Cold hands in a baby is not a cause for alarm if the baby eats and develops normally. In newborns, heat transfer is significantly different from that of adults, so even with extreme heat, the baby has cold hands. However, if the baby has ceased to be active and has lost his appetite, then cold feet and hands may be a sign of illness. In this case, you should call the pediatrician.

Cold extremities of hands and feet are treated with massage

Rubbing and massage will help to cope with the problem of cold hands and feet. Massage should be done with essential oils. The following composition for rubbing is also recommended: for a tablespoon of olive oil - three drops of black pepper and rosemary oil.

An effective means for rubbing is a tincture of red capsicum on vodka (a few pods are thrown into a bottle of vodka, shaking every day. After 2 weeks, you can use it). Massage of cold hands and feet should be done from the bottom up - massage down with effort, and lightly stroking up.

Constantly freezing feet can be saved with magnetic insoles that are placed in shoes and worn for several hours a day. You can even sleep with them by putting them in socks.

Aromatherapy for cold hands and feet

And, of course, aromatherapy offers effective ways to deal with the problem of cold extremities. Essential oils of ginger, eucalyptus, black pepper, nutmeg and juniper not only stimulate blood circulation, but also activate the immune system. Add a few drops of ether to massage or vegetable oil and massage your limbs - and you will feel a quick burst of warmth.

An excellent effective recipe is presented by the French professor Dominique Davenn. The tool is a specially selected composition of essential oils with vasodilating and anti-inflammatory effects. This essential mixture is suitable both for regular use for the problem of cold hands and feet, and as an emergency remedy for the initial stage of frostbite.

Mix essential oils in a dark glass bottle:

  • wintergreen 30%
  • lemongrass or litsea 25%
  • chamomile 7%
  • sandalwood 6%
  • myrrh 5%
  • sweet orange 27%
    The resulting mixture can be used in the form of local baths, after dissolving 10-15 drops of the mixture in a solubilizer (sea salt, honey, organic solubilizer). Can also be added to massage oil: 5-7 drops per 10 ml of oil (almond, peach, macadamia, etc.)