What Deficiency Causes Cold Hands And Feet: A Scientific Investigation
By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 18, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Nayana Shetty +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nayana Shetty
Last updated: Apr 18, 2024Table of Contents
Do you often feel your hands and feet are cold? When this happens occasionally it’s fine, it may be due to the cold weather. But constantly cold hands and feet may signal an underlying health problem. It’s vital to find out why this happens and how we can deal with the issue.
In this article, we will go through the different health conditions that may cause cold hands and feet. We will also look at how one may manage the situation and when it is necessary to seek your healthcare professional’s aid.
Plus, we will answer some common queries about this topic at the end.
Did you know?
The symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia develop gradually. You may initially have low iron and feel normal, or you might have very mild symptoms that are not noticeable to you. The pale complexion and cold hands and feet might be apparent. I recommend you to get your iron levels checked in case you face the same symptoms.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD
The causes of cold hands and feet are as follows.
Anaemia means you have low hemoglobin. So, your body’s tissues end up getting less oxygen. This may result in cold hands and feet. Anaemia may occur from blood loss, iron deficiency, folic acid deficiency, or vitamin B12 deficiency.
Anaemia signs often include feelings of tiredness and weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath aside from cold hands and feet. The doctor may order laboratory tests to find out what kind of anaemia the patient has.
Management of anaemia depends on its severity and type. If it is due to iron deficiency which is the most common type, mild to moderate anaemia, is usually dealt with by improving iron content in the diet and by taking iron supplements. Diet includes things like eggs, green veggies, beans, and iron-fortified cereals. Severe cases may need hospital admission and IV iron. In either case, follow the advice provided by your healthcare professional.
In my opinion, one might consider the following actions at home to manage cold feet: putting on cozy socks, working out frequently, putting on stockings or compression socks, maintaining a balanced and healthy diet, raising your legs with a pillow while lying down, drinking water and remaining hydrated.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
Vitamin B12 helps form red blood cells and also takes care of nerve functions. A lack in vitamin B12 may cause numbness, tingling, and a cold feeling in fingers and toes.
One may feel tired or weak, exhibit an anaemic face, have a puffed-up tongue, and loss of memory due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Vegans, vegetarians, and those with nutrient absorption issues face a higher risk of this deficiency.
Boosting the intake of vitamin B12 through meat or plant-based options may help overcome the deficiency. Dietary changes and supplements must be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Peripheral vascular diseases make your blood vessels thin or work poorly, limiting blood flow to your legs and feet.
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) harms blood flow in the extremities. Plaque building up in the blood vessels makes the vessel thin, reducing blood flow. This may lead to cold feet.
The disease severity helps guide the management. You may need medicine, lifestyle changes like weight loss, regular exercise, and cessation of smoking, and angioplasty. You must consult with your healthcare provider to come up with the best possible course of action.
In my experience, a bit of cold feet is common every now and then. Cold feet that don’t go away might indicate an underlying illness. In order to stop your feet from being chilly all the time, work with your physician to manage any underlying conditions that may be the cause of your symptoms.
Dr. Smita barode, BAMS
It is a peripheral vascular disease. Raynaud’s syndrome means the blood vessels in the hands and feet shrink, often due to cold or stress. This leads to reduced blood flow to the fingers and toes causing cold hands and/or feet.
Primary raynaud’s occurs without any underlying condition. Secondary raynaud occurs due to other medical conditions like scleroderma or lupus.
Doctors diagnose Raynaud’s syndrome based on the symptoms you report. To prevent this condition, it may be useful to avoid cold places and learn to cope with stress. Medicines that may be useful include vasodilators, calcium channel blockers, or even medicines for treating erection problems all of which have to be used only under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
People suffering from diabetes do complain about having cold hands and feet.
Long-term high blood sugar harms arteries, limits blood supply, and causes slow nerve damage.
To handle cold hands and feet, trying to reduce your blood sugar levels and making sure your hands and feet are well-cloaked may help.
Hypothyroidism means your thyroid gland is less active, it produces inadequate levels of important hormones and affects the body temperature control.
Neglected hypothyroidism may trigger fatigue, joint pain, dry skin, cold extremities, and hair loss. It’s critical to diagnose and manage hypothyroidism fast to stop the progression of symptoms.
Hypothyroidism management typically involves a man-made thyroid hormone taken daily which is to be taken only when prescribed by the health care professional. Once the medicine is started, the thyroid functions are to be monitored to set the right dosage.
Smoking limits blood flow by having a narrowing effect on blood vessels. It may lead to constantly cold hands and feet.
Smoking harms the blood vessels, causing a high risk of cold hands and feet, heart problems, and poor blood circulation. Quitting smoking is a must to better blood flow and lower risks tied to cold hands and feet.
Here is a summary of all the health issues that may impact your extremities.
| Cause | Effect on Extremities |
| Anaemia | Low hemoglobin level leading to cold extremities |
| Peripheral vascular disease | Reduced blood flow due to narrowed arteries |
| Diabetes | Poor blood circulation and peripheral neuropathy |
| Hypothyroidism | Disrupted body temperature regulation |
| Raynaud’s syndrome | Reduced blood circulation in fingers and toes |
| Vitamin B12 Deficiency | Numbness, tingling, coldness in extremities |
| Smoking | Narrowing of blood vessels causing cold extremities |
Let’s cover other factors that may make your hands and feet cold. These often include age and the risk of certain health problems.
Babies lose body heat fast as they are small, have a thin layer of fat, and can’t regulate their body temperature well.
Dressing your baby with warm clothes and using good insulation matter a lot. It also may help to keep an eye on the room temperature where your baby sleeps.
Older people also find it hard to regulate their body temperature. They also get chronic health problems that hurt the blood flow and sensation in their hands and feet.
As we get older, being healthy, working out often, and getting regular doctor check-ups matter to ward off and handle aging-related conditions that cause cold hands and feet.
Wearing warm clothes and staying active may help. Visiting a healthcare professional and sticking to their advice will also help deal with the possible underlying health conditions.
Also Read: Why Do My Feet Sweat So Much: Understanding the Causes and Solutions
Here are some home remedies that may help.
Be sure to put on warm, well-lined clothes, socks, and gloves when it’s cold. You may use mittens instead of gloves as they keep heat in better
Staying active often also helps improve blood circulation and keeps hands and feet warm.
Eating food rich in vital vitamins and nutrients that boost circulation or taking supplements when you need to may help but remember to incorporate supplements only under the guidance of your doctor.
Putting on warming creams or ointments may help give short-term relief from cold hands and feet. Keep your doctor in the loop before using them.
Actively handling stress may lower cold hands and feet as stress does strain the blood circulation by the release of noradrenaline into the blood. Deep breathing, meditating, physical exercise, and other ways may help reduce stress.
You should see your healthcare provider if cold hands or feet worry you all the time. If you feel other symptoms too, like color changes in fingers or toes, breathing trouble, or hand, or leg pain you must contact your doctor.
A healthcare professional will use tests to find the cause of your cold hands and feet. These can include blood tests, imagery, or nerve testing.
After a correct diagnosis, your healthcare provider will suggest a management plan. Follow this plan and seek ongoing care as needed to manage and stop cold hands and feet from coming back.
Also Read: Tingling in Hands: Exploring Causes and Potential Remedies
Cold hands and feet can stem from different factors. This includes weather, daily habits, lack of nutrients, and underlying health issues. Knowing the root cause and making lifestyle fixes or home remedies may help handle the issue better. It’s crucial to see your healthcare provider and treat any underlying conditions for lasting control of cold hands and feet.
Vitamin B12 and D may help to improve cold hands and feet. They help keep healthy blood flow, nerve function, and general health.
Yes, vitamin B12 aids in forming red blood cells and nerve function.
Low iron levels may result in anaemia. This leads to cold hands and feet.
Low vitamin D may indirectly lead to cold hands and feet. It affects bone health and raises the risk of peripheral artery disease which may contribute to cold hands and feet.
Good ways that may help improve circulation include regular exercise, keeping a healthy weight, not smoking, staying warm, and following medical advice for health conditions that may hurt blood flow to your hands and feet.
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