Cold hands are when your hands strangely feel cold for no reason, especially when the weather is warm or mild. You may also have cold hands when your hands take a long time to warm up after being exposed to the cold. It may be as a result of a disease or condition that restricts blood flow to the hands.
Having cold hands can be considered normal. You may have cold hands when you spend time outdoors in cold weather. An air-conditioned space indoors can cause your hands to feel cold temporarily. Removing items from a refrigerator or freezer, or immersing your hands in cold water can also make them feel cold.
If your hands feel cold even during warm or mild weather, or they take a long time to warm up after being exposed to the cold, you may have a disease or condition that restricts blood flow to the hands. Blood flows from the heart to the hands through the ulnar artery and the radial artery. Exposure to cold temperatures causes the muscles around these arteries to tighten or constrict. This is a normal response, so that the body can conserve heat and protect the vital organs, such as the heart and lungs, from damage.
However, sometimes blood vessels will constrict suddenly, even when there is no apparent cause. This constriction or vasospasm causes the hands to feel cold. The skin of the fingers and hands also might change color from pink to blue or white. When blood flow resumes, your hands might appear red and feel hot.
Frequent or extended vasospasms can result in skin sores (ulcers) or tissue damage.
Causes of Cold Hands
The primary cause of cold hands is exposure to cold temperatures or handling cold objects. However, these are not the only causes, some diseases or conditions can cause your hands to feel cold. Symptoms may range from mild or moderate to severe. If your symptoms are mild or occur occasionally, you might ignore them. If symptoms become more frequent or severe, your condition may require treatment.
Some health issues that are associated with cold hands include;