# Why are my hands and feet always cold? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780 "2003-04-28T21:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/1 "2003-04-28T21:39:29Z")
Lately I’ve noticed that my hands and feet are often cold. Not cool, but ice cold, even when the room I am in is real warm. It’s really strange, and I have no idea what causes it. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/2 "2003-04-28T21:43:27Z")
Poor circulation. My sister in law has it to the point that sometimes her toes would turn a shade of blue. I forget what they gave her, sorry, but maybe it helps put you on the right track. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Harrison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5ac83/32.png) [@John\_Harrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Harrison)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/3 "2003-04-28T23:11:21Z")
It could be [Raynaud’s Syndrome.](http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/raynaud.html) ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/4 "2003-04-28T23:26:26Z")
Do you smoke? Most people who smoke have poor circulation. ---
**Author:** ![Agback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Agback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agback)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/5 "2003-04-29T00:10:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Man With The Golden Gun \* > \*\*Lately I’ve noticed that my hands and feet are often cold. Not cool, but ice cold, even when the room I am in is real warm. It’s really strange, and I have no idea what causes it. > > Any ideas? \*\* Possibly hypothyroidism. How are your energy levels generally? Have you been putting on weight? Has the outer third of each of your eyebrows thinned or fallen out? On another tack, have you been dizzy or short of breath? Behaving erratically, forgetful, or confused? Getting camping pain in your calves? I’d suggest that you take this one to your doctor, just as a precaution. And if you smoke, stop. Regards, Agback ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/6 "2003-04-29T00:43:47Z")
FWIW I used to have very cold hands and feet all the time. As part of a weight loss program I started doing arobic exercises. As my fitness level improved, so did my circulation. Now I don’t get cold feet any more. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/7 "2003-04-29T01:18:45Z")
My energy levels are a bit low, and I have been putting on weight lately. And I don’t smoke. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/8 "2003-04-29T03:07:18Z")
Cold hands and feet are signs of poor circulation and/or bad blood pressure. Now, the question is, what’s causing your poor circulation and bad blood pressure? Weight gain and/or sedentary lifestyle certainly can be the sole cause(s). OTOH, other illnesses, e.g., diabetes, hypertension, cardio-pulmonary diseases/blockages, etc… could also be the cause. Time for a physical. ## Peace. Do you live in antarctica? Are you wearing wet mittens and socks? Are you keeping your limbs inside the car/bus/train? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/9 "2003-04-29T04:09:05Z")
Ask you doctor for a glucose tolerance test as well as a thyroid test? ---
**Author:** ![tonbo0422](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@tonbo0422](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonbo0422)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/10 "2003-04-29T04:35:13Z")
Hate it when the answer is “Could be ‘X’ Syndrome.” =+) ---
**Author:** ![Agback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Agback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agback)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/11 "2003-04-29T05:00:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Man With The Golden Gun \* > \*\*My energy levels are a bit low, and I have been putting on weight lately. And I don’t smoke. \*\* Hie thee to a physician. You may have nothing wrong in particular: on the other hand there are three or four things that you might have early warning signs of and that are best treated early. Regards, Agback ---
**Author:** ![lynkster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85e7bf/32.png) [@lynkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynkster)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/12 "2003-08-01T01:02:00Z")
In the same vein (no pun intended), could this also explain why sometimes I have both warm and hot hands at the same time (sometimes I even have a combination of warm and cold fingers on the same hand…)? From recollection, when this happens, my right hand is always the cold one, while my left is warm. In terms of my health, I exercise regularly (yoga and gym). Thanks, regards, Lynkster ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-my-hands-and-feet-always-cold/171780/13 "2003-08-01T01:05:14Z")
My hands and feet are always warm. I donated blood a couple of weeks ago, and my temperature was slightly below normal. (I assume my body temperature is more-or-less normal, but my hands and feet are always warm.)