You know them. Those who get cold in the autumn (or even in the summer) have icicles for fingers. Or maybe, like the undersigned, you are one of those yourself. I prefer to wear gloves when the mercury drops below 20 degrees. Winter is here now and the cold hands weather has started. We looked into what the cause is and what helps you.
Men versus women
Does the man in your life never understand your cold feet? That’s actually not that surprising. Scientific research shows that women are always colder than men. In a woman’s body, fat is more evenly distributed, causing more blood to flow to organs than to the extremities of the body. So the hands and feet.
Cause of cold hands
You can suffer from cold hands at any time of the year. The cause is therefore not always due to the temperature of your environment. In a ‘normal’ case, cold hands occur because the muscles of the blood vessels contract at low temperatures. This makes the skin white. After a certain time, the muscles relax again, causing the blood vessels to open wide. That will give you blue hands. By stepping back into a warm room, the blood vessels relax and the blood flows properly again. The skin slowly returns to normal color.
Special cases
If you suffer from cold hands very often and persistently, there may be special causes. It can be a symptom of an underactive thyroid gland. A disturbance in your hormone balance can also be the source. During your period, your body temperature drops by a few degrees. The most common reason for persistent ‘cold stealing’ is poor circulation.
What to do with cold hands?
Wearing gloves is a simple solution, but that is only useful when you are outside. Do you see yourself behind the computer wearing gloves? Holding a warm cup of tea can also do wonders, but for long-term results, look to improving your circulation. Therefore, exercise throughout the day, especially if you have an office job. Exercise stimulates blood circulation and ensures that sufficient blood flows to the extremities of your body. Massaging your hands also helps. Stiff shoulder muscles can also be the cause. By massaging your shoulders, it can flow again.
Do you have another super tip against cold hands? Share it in a comment.
