Current:Home > ScamsAre your hands always cold? Some answers why -AssetScope
Are your hands always cold? Some answers why
View
Date:2025-04-15 22:24:07
It’s completely healthy for your hands to feel cold from time to time. Whether you’re walking around outside during the chilly winter months, or sitting in a cool, air-conditioned room in the summer, cold hands are often a response to a temperature change in your environment.
Experiencing cold hands is usually not a cause for concern. However, if you notice that your hands are feeling cold all of the time, cold hands may indicate the presence of an underlying medical condition.
Do cold hands mean you are sick?
When your hands are cold, the vessels that supply blood to your hands and fingers constrict. “If you're in cold, frigid temperatures,” or if you find yourself handling cold items, such as foods from a kitchen freezer, “one would expect that your hands will feel cold,” says Dr. Ernestine A. Wright, an internal medicine physician and a primary care physician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
For most people, cold hands shouldn’t set off alarm bells. Often, they’re just a temporary result of being in a cold space. However, there are a few signs that may indicate your cold hands are the result of a more serious health condition.
If your cold hands are persisting despite being indoors and the rest of your body being warm, speak with a physician, says Wright.
Additionally, if your cold hands are accompanied by any symptoms of pain or ulceration of the fingertips, it is necessary that you consult a physician, says Dr. Hisham Awan, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
The more you know:Dry skin a problem for you in the winter? These dermatologists have you covered.
Why are my hands always cold?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, medical conditions that can cause cold hands include:
- Raynaud’s syndrome
- Hyperthyroidism
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Lupus
- Scleroderma
Raynaud’s syndrome is one of the most common causes of cold hands, according to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. It is a disorder that causes the blood vessels that flow through the hands to spasm, Awan says. As blood flow becomes more restricted, hands will become cold.
Raynaud’s syndrome can be triggered by cold temperatures, stress and habitual activities that involve using your hands, such as playing an instrument or typing on a computer, Wright says.
In case you missed:What are sound baths and why do some people swear by them?
How to warm up cold hands
If you struggle with chronically cold hands, there are a few general measures you can take to manage your symptoms.
First, you should always try to minimize exposure to cold temperatures. If you know you will be in a cold environment, no matter if it’s bracing the outside weather, or simply picking up cold foods at a supermarket, wear protective gloves or mittens, says Wright.
To warm your hands up, place “your hands in warm water for about five to 15 minutes” until the cold feeling has dissipated, Wright says.
It’s important to note that treatment will vary according to the root cause of your symptoms. Consult your primary care physician to determine the right course of treatment for you.
veryGood! (726)
Related
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Groundhog Day’s biggest star is Phil, but the holiday’s deep roots extend well beyond Punxsutawney
- Police in Northern California arrest boy, 14, in non-fatal shooting of fellow high school student
- Over 50% of Americans would take a 20% pay cut for 'work-life balance. But can they retire?
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Powerball winning numbers for January 29 drawing: Jackpot rises to $188 million
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mulls running for president as Libertarian as he struggles with ballot access
- See full Super Bowl replays on this free, limited-time streaming channel: How to watch
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Colorado police chief on leave pending criminal case after reported rapes during party at his house
Ranking
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- National Security Council's John Kirby on how the U.S. might respond to deadly attack in Jordan
- Will Cristiano Ronaldo play against Lionel Messi? Here's the latest injury update
- 'The Crown' star Dominic West 'spent two days in bed' over negative reviews
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- At least 19 dead and 18 injured after bus collides with truck in northern Mexico
- Gisele Bündchen Mourns Death of Mom Vania Nonnenmacher in Moving Tribute
- 2024 Grammys Preview: Five big questions ahead of Sunday’s award show
Recommendation
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
Spring a leak? Google will find it through a new partnership aimed at saving water in New Mexico
Bill to make proving ownership of Georgia marshland less burdensome advanced by state House panel
SpaceX launches Northrop Grumman cargo ship to space station
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
Argentinian court overturns Milei’s labor rules, in a blow to his reform plans
US Asians and Pacific Islanders worry over economy, health care costs, AP-NORC/AAPI data poll shows
ChatGPT violated European privacy laws, Italy tells chatbot maker OpenAI