Always having cold hands usually occurs due to decreased blood flow to the hands. Our bodies keep our hands warm primarily by regulating the blood flow that travels from the heart, down the arm, all the way to our fingertips. More blood to the hands means pink, warmer hands; less blood flow means colder and sometimes painful hands.
Causes
Blood that flows into our hands usually travels by two arteries: the radial artery and the ulnar artery (Figure 1). Cold hands are caused when blood flow is decreased to the hand. This can happen with several things, including:
Vasoconstriction
Vaso-occlusion
This happens when one or more of the blood vessels in the hand or wrist become blocked.
Diseases of blood vessels
Signs and Symptoms
- Cold hands even in mild weather
- Pain in the fingers at cold temperatures
- The need to wear gloves when handling frozen foods
- Hands turning a white, blue, or red color
- Problems healing minor wounds on fingertips
Diagnosis
Dr. Watkins will help you determine whether you have a disease and, if so, whether the cause of the disease is in the blood vessels of the hand. If it is not, Dr. Watkins will assist you in getting evaluated by other specialists (like a rheumatologist, a hematologist, or an oncologist) to determine if you might have a cold hand-related systemic disease.
Treatment Options
Treatment for cold hands or related diseases can include:
- Adding behaviors that are helpful to blood flow, such as:
- Proper hand hygiene and skin care
- Wearing the correct
- warm and protective hand gear
- Healthy temperature regulation
- Quitting smoking
- Medication
- Steroid injections
- Surgery
Consult Dr. Watkins to help you decide the best course of action.
