Cold hands and feet can be a result of iron deficiency anemia. People with anemia have poor blood circulation throughout their bodies because they don't have enough red blood cells to provide oxygen to their tissue.
Specifically, vitamin B3 has been shown to reduce inflammation and increase circulation. People who always have cold hands and feet may want to consider a vitamin B supplement to improve blood flow and heart health.
Usually, having cold hands is just one of the ways the body tries to control its temperature and shouldn't be cause for concern. However, persistently cold hands — particularly with skin color changes — could be a warning sign of nerve damage, blood flow problems, or tissue damage in the hands or fingers.
Under normal circumstances, cold hands and feet are not a worry. But just keep in mind that it's due to a reduced blood supply reaching the extremities. Over time, this can result in brittle nails, dry or cracked skin, discoloured skin, and a feeling of tingling or numbness in the areas.
Poor circulation is one of the most common causes of cold feet. When the temperature outside drops, your body works to keep your core warm. As a result, your blood vessels in your extremities constrict to limit circulation to the core part of your body.
Also, when your blood pressure is low, your body will often move blood away from your extremities (your hands and feet) and send it to protect our vital organs. This can leave our hands and feet feeling cold.
People with heart failure may find that they often feel cold in their arms, hands, feet, and legs (the extremities). This happens because the body is circulating most of the available blood to the brain and other vital organs to compensate for the failing heart's inability to pump enough blood to the entire body.
Diabetic neuropathy — cold or numb hands or feet — is a common sign of poor circulation in diabetes. However, according to United Kingdom-based Global Diabetes Community, you should alert your doctor if you experience these symptoms, as well: Pain when walking, particularly in calves, thighs, and buttocks.
People with hypothyroidism often report having cold hands or feet, although they may feel that their whole body is cold. These symptoms are not exclusive to hypothyroidism, however. Circulation problems or anemia can also cause people to feel chilly.
Some symptoms occur when the body tries to increase blood pressure that is low. For example, when arterioles constrict, blood flow to the skin, feet, and hands decreases. These areas may become cold and turn blue.
However, experiencing the sensation of cold feet that don't feel cold to the touch may be a sign of a nerve problem. For example, peripheral neuropathy can cause this symptom. Peripheral neuropathy occurs as a result of nerve damage caused by injury or an underlying medical disorder.
A magnesium deficiency can cause your muscles to tense up which, in turn, causes the diameter of your arteries to decrease, thus decreasing blood flow, resulting in cold hands and feet. Increasing your magnesium intake can help the blood vessels dilate, allowing blood to flow to the fingers and toes.
Several studies have shown that magnesium citrate has a higher bioavailability. On the other hand, a meta‐analysis has shown that inorganic formulations, such as magnesium oxide, exhibited a greater increase in circulating magnesium levels than organic formulations.
Lack of vitamin B12 and iron deficiency can cause anemia and lead you to feel cold. Good sources of B12 are chicken, eggs and fish, and people with iron deficiency may want to seek out poultry, pork, fish, peas, soybeans, chickpeas and dark green leafy vegetables.
High Cholesterol Can Cause Cold Hands
Eating an excess of foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol, including meat, eggs, dairy products, and even coconut oil, can raise your cholesterol levels, which can lead to coronary heart disease — and one symptom is numbness and coldness in the extremities.
Cold hands usually mean that not enough blood is going to your hands. Your body protects vital organs like your heart, brain, and lungs by making more blood flow to them and away from your hands. If your hands get cold often—or turn red, purple, blue, and start to feel numb—it may be a sign of poor circulation.
Plaque buildup, blood clots or narrowed blood vessels can lead to poor circulation. When obstacles or narrow paths slow down blood flow, it's difficult for your body to send blood to every part of your body in an efficient way. Exercise and healthy food can help.
Poor circulation
This is one of the most common causes of cold feet. Poor circulation can make it difficult for enough warm blood to get to your feet regularly, keeping them cooler than the rest of your body.
The Estrogen Connection
Some studies suggest that estrogen levels are responsible for cold hands and feet in women. This may be one of the main reasons that women typically suffer from this problem more commonly than their male counterparts.