Khaberni - When the air becomes colder, it is natural to experience coldness in your hands and feet - however, if they remain continuously cold, it could be a sign of something more serious.
In this report for The Independent, Dr. Sam Faroozi, a consultant for interventional cardiology at Harley Street Clinic, explains why hands and feet are particularly prone to coldness, and identifies the main warning signs that it might be time to visit a doctor.
The autonomic nervous system
Faroozi explains, "The circulation in the hands and feet is regulated by the autonomic nervous system." Its function is to dilate arteries to encourage blood flow in warm weather.
Conversely, in cold weather, this system constricts the small blood vessels in extremities, such as hands and feet, to restrict blood flow, thereby maintaining body temperature.
Abnormally cold extremities
These conditions include "Raynaud's phenomenon," which is an exaggerated response of the autonomic nervous system.
Faroozi states, "Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition where this constriction is excessively exaggerated in response to cold environments." Not only does it involve poor blood circulation, but in some cases, circulation may entirely stop, causing fingertips to turn white or blue, which can be extremely painful."
There are also other conditions associated with this.
Faroozi explains, "Conditions usually associated with Raynaud's syndrome include scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, which are autoimmune diseases."
Additionally, patients may also experience Raynaud's phenomenon as a result of an injury to a limb.
Nerve injury
Faroozi says, "Patients with a nerve injury in their arms may experience very strange involuntary responses, ranging from complete constriction of the blood vessels followed by severe dilation.
This results in the limbs turning blue and white, then to a light pink color, and it can be extremely painful."
Side effects of medications
Furthermore, some medications can trigger the onset of Raynaud's syndrome.
The cardiologist explains, "Beta blockers, a type of heart medication, have been linked to Raynaud's syndrome."
Warning signs
In extremely cold weather, we all suffer from numbness in our fingertips, but if you notice a severe color change that takes a long time to correct, it is advised to consult a doctor.
For most of us, everything returns to normal after a minute or two, but it may take much longer for patients with Raynaud's.
Faroozi adds, "If you notice a permanent color change, or changes in the appearance of your fingertips or nails, this is not normal."
Pain is also a warning sign
"Initially, you may feel a burning pain accompanied by numbness, then it may turn into a very painful throbbing pain," says Faroozi.
Therefore, the doctor advises monitoring any changes, "It could be very helpful to take pictures of any changes with your smartphone," Faroozi recommends.
The doctor may prescribe medications to dilate the arteries for a patient with Raynaud's, and in some severe cases, surgery to destroy the sympathetic nerve may be the solution.
