Why are hands and feet cold – causes and treatment of chilliness of hands and feet

As a rule, we pay little attention to the “chilliness” of the legs and arms. As a last resort, we put on warmer boots outside and warm socks in the apartment. And few people think about why even at night in bed the legs remain “ice” – and until they get warm, sleep does not come.

Why are the limbs freezing, and what symptoms can be considered alarming?

The content of the article:

1. Causes of forever freezing hands and feet
2. Don’t miss the disease!
3. How to warm chilly limbs?

The main reasons for ever-freezing hands and feet – which of us is more likely to have cold hands and feet?

When feet and hands are freezing from drafts in the apartment, hypothermia or wet shoes – this is normal. The problem is solved quickly, and does not require close study.

Video: Why are hands and feet freezing, and what to do?

But if the limbs remain cold even in a warm room, and you are so used to it that you do not even pay attention, you should still pay attention to the problem – and find the cause.

• Sedentary lifestyle, sitting with legs tucked under oneself… Impaired blood circulation is one of the most common causes of chilliness in the legs.
• Frostbite of the extremities once suffered. As a rule, after such an incident, the legs may be constantly freezing for a long time.
• Constant diets. Yes, yes, and they can also cause freezing limbs – mockery of the body does not pass without a trace.
• Blood loss.
• Taking medications. Certain medications can cause chilly legs. For example, anaprilin and other beta-blockers. Or ergot preparations prescribed for diseases of the gynecological sphere.
• Violation of diet, sleep and rest.
• Physical inactivity.
• Smoking.

Cold limbs, as a symptom of the disease:

1. Diabetes. With this disease, large and small vessels suffer, which quickly become prone to thrombosis and fragility. Cold feet can be a harbinger of a diabetic foot.
2. Anemia. As you know, with low hemoglobin, there is a significant deterioration in the transport of oxygen to the tissues, which, in turn, reduces the intensity of metabolic processes and heat generation.
3. Raynaud’s disease. It occurs with vascular neurosis and often causes intense spasms of small arteries. As a result – poor tolerance of the patient’s limbs to low temperatures.
4. Obliterating endarteritis. This disease is characteristic mainly of smokers. The obstructed blood flow as a result of thrombosis or narrowing of the lumen of the arteries “responds” to freezing limbs and pain in the legs when walking.
5. Venous congestion. Another reason for the chilliness of the legs. In addition to the constant desire to warm the legs, it also causes swelling and pain at night. Complication – inflammation of the veins or thrombosis.
6. VSD. Only the lazy one has not heard of vegetative-vascular dystonia. This is one of the most common causes of cold extremities in our time, most typical for young people 20-30 years old.
7. Hypotension or hypertension. One of the major factors. If the pressure is too high, the vessels spasm, resulting in impaired blood flow. With hypotension, blood flow mainly suffers in the limbs.

Other causes: cold limbs as a sign of non-vascular disease

• Age-related changes. As you know, the immune system is weakened after 50 years. In addition to hormonal changes, a person is faced with a decrease in the volume of muscle mass, with impaired blood circulation and heat exchange, a slowdown in metabolism, etc. The body’s capacity for habitual self-regulation is significantly reduced.
• Hypothyroidism Or a decrease in the performance of the thyroid gland. In this state, all metabolic processes in the body, including heat exchange, begin to slow down. From the accompanying symptoms: problems with memory and perception, a constant feeling of cold, severe fatigue, pallor, hair loss and brittle nails.
• Atopic dermatitis. If this disease was transferred in childhood, then allergic manifestations will be constant companions along with autonomic dysfunctions.
• Acute allergies. In particular, Quincke’s edema or urticaria.
• Candidiasis. In this case, the growth of fungi can cause vascular spasms. The mechanism itself is similar to an allergic reaction.
• Heart failure. It is often accompanied by cold extremities and even blue discoloration.
• Worms and other parasites. When these parasites release toxins, vasospasm occurs, as a result of which a cooling of the extremities can also be observed.
• Peripheral nerve diseases (lower back, sciatic nerve, etc.) proceed with a feeling of numbness and chilliness of the arms and legs.

Cooling of the extremities is also observed …

1. With infectious toxic shock or sepsis.
2. With severe dehydration.
3. With herniated intervertebral discs.
4. After a stroke.
5. With electrolyte imbalance.
6. Obesity.
7. Pregnancy.

When to see a doctor with constantly cold hands and feet – do not miss the disease!

If cold extremities are not a one-time phenomenon (or associated with specific reasons), but a constant one, you should listen to your body. Under such a seemingly innocent symptom, one of the above-described diseases may be hidden.

You should consult a doctor if, in addition to the chilliness of your arms and legs, you periodically or constantly note …

• Dizziness and fatigue.
• Noise in ears.
• Rapid heartbeat, pain in the heart.
• Apparent pallor of the skin.
• Pressure drops and headaches.
• Hot and cold flashes.
• Increased irritability.
• Numbness and tingling in various parts of the body.
• Sharp weight gain (decrease).
• Lethargy and depression.
• Constant swelling of the face.
• Decreased memory.
• Feeling of aches and aching pains.
• And etc.

Remember that self-medication is unacceptable! Only an examination by a specialist will help to accurately identify the cause and select the necessary treatment.

Trying to find the cause yourself can aggravate the problem (a disease detected at an early stage is much easier to treat).

How to warm chilly limbs if there is no disease, but legs and arms are cold – 8 best ways

If the problem of regular freezing of the limbs is familiar to you, then first of all, contact a specialist and find out the reason…

And you can warm your hands and feet at home in the following ways:

1. Massage with essential oil. Oils with ginger, cinnamon or black pepper extract are recommended (these components contribute to vasodilation). Massage should be carried out until the legs are completely warmed.
2. Sea salt bath. Also add a couple of tablespoons of milk and 2-3 drops of rosemary oil. After the bath, massage your feet with the cream and put on cotton socks.
3. In cotton socks, after the bath, put dry mustard plasters on your feet. You can use a light warming ointment.
4. Do the bike exercise. In the supine position, lift your legs up and pedal for 5-6 minutes. Then massage your feet – 2 minutes of massage each.
5. Contrasting baths. A great way to warm your feet and harden your body. The procedure should become regular. It increases the tone of blood vessels and helps people suffering from “chilliness” well. It is recommended to carry out the procedure 20-30 minutes before bedtime. In one basin, the water is 30-35 degrees, in the other – 12-15 degrees. Dip your feet in warm water for 3-5 minutes, then in cold water for 10 seconds, then again in warm water, etc. Repeat 5-6 times. Then dry your feet and put on your socks. Remember the contraindications (one of them is varicose veins).
6. Ground red pepper. It should be wrapped in socks and worn until the feet are warmed. It does not cause skin burns when dry, and slight skin irritation is insignificant.
7. Alcohol compress. After the bath, we put on cotton socks, moisten their lower part with vodka, and put on wool socks on top. The warming effect is fast enough.
8. Nuts or balls. We squeeze them strongly in chilled palms and roll them with rotational movements for 2-4 minutes. Next, we lower the nuts to the floor and roll them with our feet for 4-5 minutes.

And a few more recommendations:

• Watch your diet, your diet should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
• Lean on kiwi, blackberry and oranges: vitamin C helps to regulate blood clotting. Seeds and nuts help to strengthen the walls of the capillaries. Prunes, yolks, and homemade apples are a source of iron.
• Eat less and more often. After a meal, your body expends energy to digest food, so your body temperature drops slightly immediately after a meal.
• Exercise and quit bad habits: It is important to strengthen the blood vessels.
• Replace coffee with hot tea infused with herbs and berries. Tea with ginger is extremely useful for blood vessels and as a warming agent from the inside.
• Choose the right shoes. Legs should not sweat, hypothermia. Also, they should not be cramped in their shoes: tight shoes sharply impair blood circulation in the legs.
• Swap out tight jeans for looser clothing. Tight things on the lower half of the body slows down blood circulation in the legs (as well as tight turtleneck sleeves in the hands).
• Stretch your legs and arms constantly if you have a sedentary job. Squats, walking, light gymnastics – exercises will help “disperse the blood” and speed up its passage through the vessels.
• If possible, visit the Russian bath more often.

What is not recommended:

1. Substitute frozen feet and hands under hot water.
2. Warm up with alcohol (approx. – it does not warm, but only temporarily expands blood vessels, and the release of heat greatly increases).
3. Cross your legs. Give up this habit categorically. Blood circulation in this position is disrupted after 10 minutes.

Video: Remedy for chilly hands and feet at home

The Colady.ru website provides reference information. Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible only under the supervision of a conscientious doctor. If you experience alarming symptoms, consult a specialist!