Cold Feet and Hands

Coldness in the feet and hands during the winter is a common phenomenon and is not related to any major disease and syndrome. However, it has been observed that many people face this problem continuously, regardless of the climate, while others get cold feet at night only. Though most of the time we do not give much attention to such a cold feet syndrome, it can be an indicator of several conditions, ranging from poor blood circulation, anemia to thyroid problems.

Coldness in the Feet and Hands

Causes
There can be several causes of cold hands and feet, which are more commonly found in young girls than in men. An association has been suspected between blood circulation problems and cold hands due to the observation, that certain conditions can affect the circulation of blood to the extremities of the body. This is particularly true for the people suffering from Raynaud's syndrome, where even the slightest changes in temperature can affect circulation of blood to the outer extremities of the body, by constricting the blood vessels. Both cold and emotional stress can trigger this condition and it can change the color of the affected areas, especially the fingertips. The fingers and their tips can turn either white or blue, due to poor blood circulation and the resulting insufficient supply of oxygen.

Moreover, anemia caused by iron deficiency can also cause cold hands and feet and this may be the reason behind its prevalence among women. It has been observed that most of the women suffer from iron deficiency, which can cause anemia and adversely affect the thyroid hormone metabolism. This in turn can affect the generation of body heat. Therefore, most of the time, the physicians look for anemia, if you complain about coldness in your feet and hands. This condition can be also observed among the patients of coronary heart disease, which further points to the possible link between poor circulation and cold feet.

Though adequate evidences are not there to prove the connection between this condition and parasites, many people believe it. Parasites can cause malabsorption syndrome, by stealing the nutrients that should have nourished our body cells and this may be a possible cause for coldness in the hands and feet. However, cold hands and feet is more common among the people having an under functioning thyroid gland. An over growth of candida, a type yeast, can also produce cold hands and feet in some individuals, along with other symptoms. Another common cause for cold feet symptoms can be chronic allergies; both food and environmental allergies.

Treatment
The treatment solely depends on the underlying causes. Most of the time, this condition does not cause any major problem or inconvenience and hence does not require medical treatment. But, if your hands and feet remain cold continuously, then it is better to discuss the situation with a physician to find out the root causes. If cold hands and feet are associated with Raynaud's disease or syndrome, then proper treatment may require drugs, like calcium channel blockers, angiotensin II inhibitors, etc. Similarly, different medications and supplements would be required for hypothyroidism and anemia as well.

In the meantime, you should take sufficient care to control the specific factors that trigger the condition. So, avoid exposure to excessive cold and protect your hands and feet by wearing gloves and socks, especially during the winter. Also, avoid smoking and cut down caffeine intake, which can impair blood circulation by constricting the blood vessels and causing feet and hands to become cold.