Many people have cold hands or feet. For some, the cold feet and hands are present all the time.
Also, these symptoms can occur more often during night-time sleep for a very simple reason – during sleep, individuals have reduced oxygen levels in body cells.
Continue reading to learn about the causes and spiritual meaning of cold feet and hands.
Causes of Cold Extremities
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition that develops when your thyroid gland doesn’t make sufficient thyroid hormone.
About 4.6% of the United States population ages 12 and older has hypothyroidism. Up to 60% of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.
The thyroid gland regulates your metabolism, therefore, a slow metabolism can produce these symptoms.
Poor Circulation
This is one of the most frequent causes of cold feet.
Poor circulation can make it substantially difficult for enough warm blood to get to the body’s extremities regularly, keeping them cooler than the rest of the body.
One main cause of decreased circulation is atherosclerosis (also referred to as hardening of the arteries), where arteries are narrowed by fatty deposits that impede blood flow in the limbs.
As a result, your feet may appear pale or white when you are lying down, or blue or purple when you are sitting.
It is a medical condition in which spasm of arteries causes episodes of reduced blood flow. It often co-occurs with certain chronic diseases that impact mortality.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, primary Raynaud’s affects about 3% of the general population.
Raynaud’s disease commonly causes your fingers and toes to feel numb and cold, usually when they are exposed to cold temperatures.
Medications
Migraine medications, beta-blockers (a class of medications that are used to treat hypertension), and some OTC cold medications have been associated with cold hands and feet.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are too high. World Health Organization estimates that diabetes was the 7th leading cause of death in 2017.
In people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, elevated blood sugar (glucose) causes narrowing of capillaries and arteries which impair blood supply to tissues leading to cold feet symptoms.
Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which your immune system malfunctions, prompting your physical body to attack its own tissues.
Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, and damage to the skin, kidneys, blood, joints, heart, and lungs.
In addition, lupus may be a contributor to cold hands and feet.
Anemia
Regular bouts of cold hands and feet may be the result of anemia, a condition in which you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to transport adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues.
If this happens, the body cannot function properly.
Good circulation ensures that your body heals well, can stay healthy, and correctly function during daily activities.
The most important aspect of a poor leg or hand circulation is to address the risk factors and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Therefore:
keep your blood pressure under control;
keep moving – avoid staying immobile for long periods of time;
avoid cigarette smoking and second-hand smoking;
avoid caffeine since it is a vasoconstrictor and can further exacerbate the effect of the cold;
keep your LDL and total cholesterol levels in the healthy range; note – LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 100 mg/dL, while the levels of HDL level should be at 60 mg/dL of blood or higher;
limit the amount of alcohol you drink;
wear graduated compression hosiery and socks which help stimulate circulation;
exercise on a regular and frequent basis;
keep your feet and extremities warm;
avoid exposure to temperature fluctuations and cold as much as possible;
consider special exercise equipment which promotes circulation, like – a leg wedge or bed wedge;
have a healthy diet to stimulate blood circulation;
if you walk indoors without shoes, wear warm socks;
before you go to bed, put a warm hot water bottle in bed.