When should I worry about cold hands and feet in winter?

During cold weather your blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction), which causes your blood pressure and heart rate to rise.

This means your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body.  

Your body will make sure blood flows to your vital organs such as brain, lungs, and kidneys first, which can leave your hands and feet feeling chilly.

Your hands and feet can appear pale or bluish and feel numb and tingly.

This is a normal response to the cold, but if your heart is not working as well as it should or you have poor circulation, your hands and feet may feel even colder than usual.

Other heart and circulatory conditions can also cause persistent cold hands and feet:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) 
• Low blood pressure (hypotension) 
• Peripheral artery disease that restricts blood flow to the legs and feet
• Some medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. 
• Heart failure 

Conditions not related to the heart such as thyroid problems, diabetes, anaemia and even anxiety or stress can also cause cold hands and feet.  

Raynaud’s disease is another common disorder that makes your fingers – and often toes and ears – turn white, or even blue, and go numb in the cold. 

This is because with Raynaud’s disease the small blood vessels in these parts of the body are oversensitive to changes in temperature, and as they close-up they cut off the supply of blood. The exact cause of this is unknown.  

 When they start warming up, and the blood supply begins to be restored, they can turn red and are often painful. 

If your hands or feet stay cold, even in warm surroundings, and your skin looks pale, blue or blotchy, or you feel tingling, numbness or pain, or see ulcers on your legs, speak to your GP.  

They will be able to investigate to see if you have a more serious medical condition. 

To boost your circulation and warm your hands and feet up safely this winter, try these tips: 

• Wear gloves and thick socks, especially in cold weather – but never put your hands or feet directly on a radiator or heat source as this could cause you to burn or injure your skin. 
• Do regular exercise to help the blood move around your body. 
• Eat heart-healthy foods and quit smoking if you have not already. 
• Manage stress levels, this is especially important if you have Raynaud’s disease.

What to read next...