Symptoms
It is therefore largely normal for hands to cool down. However, permanently cold hands and feet can be more than just a normal bodily function. Especially when both need a particularly long time to warm up again or when it becomes excessively painful to get warm with cold hands, it is possible to find out whether the cause is a vascular disease, for example.
With some diseases, individual fingers also change their color to whitish, bluish and reddish (tricolor phenomenon). This indicates that the blood circulation of this finger is disturbed and occurs, for example, in Raynaud’s syndrome, in which small vessels cramp. If low blood pressure is the cause, those affected also report dizziness, paleness, a fast pulse, headaches or tiredness.
Cold hands can also be the result of vascular calcification (arteriosclerosis), as the inner space of the blood vessels is narrowed. It is often noticeable in the hands and feet of diabetics and there are typical signs of a reduced blood supply with cold, paleness and possibly even pain. If fingers turn blue, this indicates that the tissue is not receiving enough oxygen; if an undersupply lasts too long, nerve, muscle and connective tissue structures can also be permanently damaged.
Depending on how old a patient is, what previous illnesses he has or in which situations the complaints occur, it is possible to further narrow down diagnostically whether and in which system of the body a disease is present. A classic fever is characterized by severe freezing, usually in the form of the chills that are common in almost every case. In the central nervous system, i.e. our brain, the infection causes an increase in the so-called target value of our body core temperature.
This is normally about 37 degrees. If the value has risen, as happens with fever, our current body temperature is lower and the body has the feeling that it is too cold. It freezes.
To compensate for this problem, vessels that are furthest from the center of the body are contracted in favor of the internal organs to maintain their function and prevent them from cooling down. As a result of this reaction, fever often leads to cold hands and feet, with a hot trunk and head. Thick socks, sufficient clothing and warm drinks are recommended.
Once the fever has reached its peak, one is in the sweating stage. In this phase, cold hands have usually already disappeared.You should change to light, loose and not too warm clothing and a thin blanket. Cold feet also have a wide range of causes.
Cold hands often have causes that also apply to feet. Cold, wet or insufficiently warm footwear or even shoes that are too tight are sometimes responsible for your cold feet. Therefore, make sure you have a suitable pair of shoes and thick socks, especially on cold days.
A circulatory disorder of the legs and feet, the so-called peripheral arterial occlusive disease, in which sufferers usually suffer all year round regardless of the ambient temperature, can also be responsible for cold feet. But also the Raynaud’s syndrome mentioned above can make itself felt with cold feet. Diabetes, commonly known as diabetes, often causes numbness and a feeling of cold in the feet with warm skin.
Diabetics often suffer from very high blood sugar levels. When the sugar is broken down, a highly toxic breakdown product is produced which is deposited in the nerves and contributes to their destruction. As a diabetic, you should therefore make every effort to adjust your blood sugar level!
Because nerves that have already been damaged cannot be repaired. Consult a doctor or a clinic immediately if your feet or legs suddenly become cold, pale and painful! This can be a so-called embolism, a vascular occlusion caused by a blood clot.
If left untreated, this can lead to the loss of the affected leg section. If, in addition to the pain, discoloration and cold feeling, the feet become swollen, this may be a deep vein thrombosis. A blood clot has formed within the vascular system, obstructing the blood flow and causing the feet to cool down. Here too, you should consult a physician immediately to initiate diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible!
