Hands and feet are constantly cold: what kind of disease could this be?

Some people's hands and feet remain cold even on warm days. They don take off their socks in the summer, they constantly rub their hands to warm them, and even lying under the covers for a while they cannot get warm. What is it: an individual feature or a symptom of an illness?

From this article, you will learn why your hands and feet are constantly cold, when you should consult a doctor, and what you can do to warm up quickly.

• Causes of cold extremities: should worry
• Hands and  feet are constantly freezing: when to contact doctor
• How to help warm your arms and feet

Causes of cold extremities: should worry

Every person is endowed with the ability to maintain a healthy body temperature, regardless of external conditions. It is quite natural that in  cold weather a person's hands and  feet freeze. The blood vessels constrict, giving off less heat to the outside. This is how our body tries to maintain a normal temperature. However, there are a number of reasons why thermoregulation is disturbed in healthy people:

• Sedentary work and sedentary lifestyle.If you have to sit at your desk for a long time, you will notice your hands and feet become cool after an hour. This is due to poor blood circulation. Being in a stationary position for a long time, make sure that your back is even, do not cross your legs and do not throw them one on top of the other. Do not sit for more than 45 minutes. Get up, do basic physical exercises, or at least walk around the room. As you move, you"accelerate" blood, hemodynamics improves, hands and feet become warmer.

• Stress or great excitement. Some people feel heat in the whole body during moments of acute anxiety, while the hands turn pale and become cold. At this point, the blood vessels in the extremities constrict and blood circulation is disrupted. This is how the nervous system reacts to the alarm that has arisen. The excitement passes and the blood circulation is restored.

• Excessive coffee consumption and years of smoking. Nicotine and caffeine cause vasospasm. Quit smoking and reduce coffee to 2 cups per day. With time you will forget about freezing limbs.

Read also: How to quit smoking on your own: help yourself

• Starvation and unbalanced diet.This group usually includes women who exhaust themselves with poor nutrition. With a low-calorie diet, the body is deficient in fat, and the person is constantly cold.

• Wear tight clothing and tight-fitting accessories

  (watches, rings, bracelets, belts). To normalize blood flow, give up uncomfortable wardrobe items and disproportionate jewelry.

Sometimes cold extremities — is an indicator of chronic disease. If you notice that even in the warmth of the feet and hands you always want to warm up, then you need to contact therapist. Persistently low hemodynamics may be a sign of a serious illness:

• Anemia.

  Iron deficiency results in low hemoglobin levels. It is he who transfers oxygen molecules, improving blood circulation. With iron deficiency, dizziness, general weakness, tachycardia are also observed.

• Buerger's disease.

  This is a pathological narrowing of the vessels of the extremities, up to complete blockage. If, in addition to cold extremities, you notice tingling in the fingers, numbness, cramps and pain in the legs, consult a doctor. Untimely therapy can lead to & nbsp; gangrene with & nbsp; subsequent amputation of the diseased limb. The etiology of this disease has not been fully elucidated. However, most often it smokers suffer.

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD).

  Characterized by vasoconstriction. Cholesterol plaques accumulate on the walls of the artery, so the lumen in the vessels becomes smaller and the hemodynamics worsens. In addition to cold hands and feet, there may be pain when walking, cracks and ulcers on the feet. In severe cases, PAD leads to gangrene.

• Raynaud's disease.

  This is a vasospasmodic disease in which the vessels of the extremities are affected. The main cause may be prolonged exposure to cold or prolonged stress. The disease has two stages. Primary Raynaud's is not only characterized by cold extremities. During the spasm, the lips and nose may turn pale. Attacks are repeated with & nbsp; different time intervals. The first stage is not a serious pathology, but it can affect the quality of life. Secondary Raynaud's disease leads to complete blockage of the artery. Against the background of the main signs, swelling of the limbs appears, they become purple-blue, blisters appear. They are filled with bloody contents. When pierced, tissue necrosis can be detected.

• Hypothyroidism.

  The thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Their low level slows down the metabolism. This condition causes a decrease in blood flow. Concomitant symptoms are: a drop in heart rate, drowsiness, swelling, bad mood.

What is the role of the thyroid gland in human life: its functions It is worth knowing that there are other diseases with such a symptom. You should see your doctor if you notice thickening or tightening of the skin on the hands and feet, cracked fingertips, fever, joint pain, or a rash against the background of cold extremities. Only a comprehensive examination will determine the true cause of your illness.

How to help yourself warm your arms and legs

If you are healthy and your limbs are cold due to external factors, you can do the following:

More walking.
Get some exercise at home or in the fitness room.
Do breathing exercises.
Go to the sauna.
Dress appropriately for the weather, avoid tight shoes and clothing.
Eat well.
Give up bad habits: coffee in large quantities, alcohol, smoking.
Drink ginger tea and hawthorn tea.
Of course, if circulatory disorders are caused by a chronic disease of internal organs and systems, then these tips will bring temporary relief. To restore disturbed blood flow, you need to drink medicines prescribed by a doctor. Only conscientious treatment will save you from the problem.

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