Circulation – Poor
Question: Why am I getting cold hands and feet? Any treatments?
Answer: Some people wear mittens and heavy socks all year round, even in warm
weather, indoors and out. Their hands and feet are always cold. A number of things cause this, such as:
- Poor circulation due to coronary heart disease
- Raynaud's disease (disorder that affects the flow of blood to the
fingers and sometimes to the toes)
- Frostbite
- Working with vibrating equipment (like a jackhammer)
- A side effect of taking certain medications
- An underlying disease affecting blood flow in the tiny blood
vessels of the skin. (Women smokers may be prone to this last condition.)
- Stress
Self-Care
Tips:
- Stay indoors where it's warm.
- Wear gloves and wool socks.
- Do not wear footwear that is tight-fitting.
- Wiggle your toes. It may help keep them warm as a result of
increased blood flow.
- Avoid handling cold objects. Use ice tongs to pick up ice cubes,
for instance.
- Don't smoke. It impairs circulation.
- Avoid caffeine. It constricts blood vessels.
- With fingers outstretched, swing your arms in large circles, like a
baseball pitcher warming up for a game. This may increase blood flow to
the fingers. (Skip this tip if you have bursitis or back problems.)
Practice a relaxation
technique, such as biofeedback.
Home Page
Newsletters
FAQs
H-SCAN Physical Age Test
Our Results
|