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24th May 2021
When feeling cold, you may notice that your feet and hands are much colder than the rest of your body. Your feet and hands usually get colder because when your body prioritizes keeping your vital organs such as lungs and heart warm during lower temperatures. This contributes to a reduction of blood flow to your extremities. Here are some helpful tips on how to keep your hands and feet warm:
Try resisting your temptation to purchase inexpensive dollar store gloves or a fashionable pair that puts form before function. Choose a product that will truly keep your hands warm. Liners are good for everyday use since they are never too bulky and give you flexibility. Choose gloves made from wool, as they will help your body regulate temperature properly and keep your hands warm.
You can add some spices to your winter drinks and meals, which will help you increase your warmth. Certain spices have been shown to increase body temperature.
Regular exercise is not only helpful for effective weight management during cold weather, but it also boosts your metabolism and can increase your body temperature, keeping you warm. Any type of exercise can actually increase your blood flow, thus raising your body temperature.
Sleeping with socks will help keep warmth in your feet which is beneficial for your sleep during winter. Even the healthiest person might need some assistance on a cold winter night. Socks can do the trick. Heating cold feet leads to vasodilation, meaning the blood vessels in the feet and hands open, which allows the distribution of heat throughout the body to prepare for sleep.
In order to keep your extremities warm, you need to improve blood circulation, which is possible to do by eating heart-friendly foods. Just try adding more foods such as olive oil, bananas, dark chocolate, Brussels sprouts, nuts, fruits, veggies, and fatty fish to your diet.
These foods can do wonders for your circulation and promote adequate blood flow, as well as temperature regulation.
It’s a good idea to sip on warm drinks such as tea during the day, since it can help provide lingering surges in body temperature and more efficiently distribute heat. Even holding a warm cup can help keep fingers from getting cold, especially when you’re outdoors.
Indoors, you can use a space heater or just sit in front of a roaring fire. But outdoors, tech gadgets like heat gloves or heat socks with rechargeable batteries can be extremely helpful at keeping your feet and hands warm.
Even if after using these tips your feet and hands are still cold, it’s important to seek medical attention. Constant cold feet might be the result of peripheral artery disease caused by diabetes. Visit a podiatrist and primary care physician to get checked for nerve damage and blood sugar levels.
Cold extremities could also stem from Raynaud’s disease - a rare disorder that’s characterized by an overreaction of blood vessels, causing fingers and toes to turn white and possibly then blue as vessels constrict. You may also have tingling, throbbing, or a burning sensation.
Cold hands and feet might also indicate more serious health issues like scleroderma, lupus, or thyroid problem. If you also experience hair loss, fatigue, constipation, and swollen extremities, visit your healthcare provider to assess your health.
