Cold Fingers and Toes
No matter what the weather is, some of us always seem to suffer from chronically cold fingers and toes. However, the cause may be as simple as being in a cold environment or your body's natural response to maintain its normal temperature. Beyond making people jump at your touch, icy extremities could signal a problem with your blood circulation, or the blood vessels in your fingers and toes. We’ve dug into the common causes for cold digits and when they might be cause for concern.
Common Causes of Cold Fingers and Toes
• Dehydration
If you’re adequately hydrated, water will trap heat and release it slowly, keeping your body temperature in a comfortable zone. With less water, your body is more sensitive to extreme temperatures. Water warms you up another way as well. It helps power your metabolism, and a sluggish metabolism translates into less overall body heat. Aim for the requisite eight glasses a day …show more content…
In Raynaud's disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas. Women are more likely than men to have Raynaud's disease. Treatment of Raynaud's disease depends on its severity and whether you have other health conditions. For most people, Raynaud's disease isn't disabling, but can affect quality of life.
• Scleroderma
Limited scleroderma is a progressive disorder. It is classified as a systemic disease because its effects can be widespread throughout the body. the fingers of both hands are very sensitive to cold, and they remain cold and blue-colored after exposure to low temperatures. This occurs in nearly all cases of scleroderma, both limited and diffuse. It is caused by abnormal changes in small blood vessels. These changes cause the vessels to narrow, and blood flow is temporarily interrupted, usually in the fingers.
• Thyroid
No matter what the weather is, some of us always seem to suffer from chronically cold fingers and toes. However, the cause may be as simple as being in a cold environment or your body's natural response to maintain its normal temperature. Beyond making people jump at your touch, icy extremities could signal a problem with your blood circulation, or the blood vessels in your fingers and toes. We’ve dug into the common causes for cold digits and when they might be cause for concern.
Common Causes of Cold Fingers and Toes
• Dehydration
If you’re adequately hydrated, water will trap heat and release it slowly, keeping your body temperature in a comfortable zone. With less water, your body is more sensitive to extreme temperatures. Water warms you up another way as well. It helps power your metabolism, and a sluggish metabolism translates into less overall body heat. Aim for the requisite eight glasses a day …show more content…
In Raynaud's disease, smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas. Women are more likely than men to have Raynaud's disease. Treatment of Raynaud's disease depends on its severity and whether you have other health conditions. For most people, Raynaud's disease isn't disabling, but can affect quality of life.
• Scleroderma
Limited scleroderma is a progressive disorder. It is classified as a systemic disease because its effects can be widespread throughout the body. the fingers of both hands are very sensitive to cold, and they remain cold and blue-colored after exposure to low temperatures. This occurs in nearly all cases of scleroderma, both limited and diffuse. It is caused by abnormal changes in small blood vessels. These changes cause the vessels to narrow, and blood flow is temporarily interrupted, usually in the fingers.
• Thyroid