Cold Hands & Feet

Signs & Symptoms

• Fingers or toes turn pale white or blue, then red, in response to cold temperatures.
• Pain when the fingers or toes turn white.
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.

Causes

Often the cause is unknown and not serious. Cold hands and feet can be a symptom of these conditions:

• Poor circulation. This is often due to a buildup of fatty plaque in your arteries, which can restrict blood flow to your hands and feet.
• Raynaud’s disease. This is a disorder that affects the flow of blood to the fingers and sometimes to the toes.
• Hypothroidism, which makes your metabolism slow down and can cause you to feel cold, even in a warm place.
• Any underlying disease that affects the blood flow in the tiny blood vessels of the skin. Women who smoke may be more prone to this.
• Frostbite
• Stress and anxiety
• A side effect of taking certain medicines

Treatment

Emergency care is needed for frostbite. If a medical condition causes cold hands and/or feet, treatment for the condition is needed.

Self-Care / Prevention

• Avoid tobacco products. If you use them, try to quit.
• Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine.
• Don’t handle cold objects with bare hands. Use ice tongs to pick up ice cubes, etc.
• Set your indoor thermostat at 65ºF or higher.
• Wear mittens and warm socks to keep hands and feet warm.
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting footwear.
• Wiggle your toes. It may help keep them warm by increasing blood flow.
• Stretch your fingers straight out. 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.
• Manage stress and anxiety.