Your Cold Hands Might Be a Warning Sign
Geraldine Hickey thought she was a ghost...
As the Australian comedian recounted on a talk show earlier this year:
The first time I got it... I looked at my hands and was just like "I'm a ghost wearing red fingerless gloves. Like, "What is this?"
Hickey's fingertips had turned white. And she described feeling tingling, numbness, and pain. Upon visiting her doctor, she learned that she had experienced a Raynaud's attack.
Also called Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's phenomenon, it's when the blood vessels in your hands and feet narrow in response to cold temperatures and/or stress.
Normally in the cold, blood vessels near the skin's surface squeeze tighter to prioritize blood flow to the deeper vessels and organs. But if you have Raynaud's, your surface blood vessels have a more exaggerated response, like staying narrowed for longer than normal.
The same goes for stress, which puts your body into "fight or flight" mode. Your body constricts surface blood vessels to prioritize ones around your organs and muscles so you can flee a predator.
A Raynaud's attack can be biphasic, meaning two color changes occur, or triphasic, which involves three color changes. For instance, your fingertips might start feeling numb and turn...
- White (which was what Geraldine described) due to lack of blood flow,
- Or blueish-purplish due to the lack of fresh oxygenated blood going to the affected area,
- Then bright red from all the blood rushing back, which can cause tingling and pain.
Because of the blood-vessel constriction, you'll likely feel strong tingling, numbness, and pain. You also might see livedo reticularis, which is where your skin looks like it has a purplish webbing.
Raynaud's may also be classified in two ways: primary (the most common form) or secondary (less common but more serious in terms of damage dealt to the blood vessels). The only way to tell the difference is by your doctor examining the tiny blood vessels around the base of your nails using a special magnifying tool.
Primary Raynaud's has no known cause. It's typically associated with women, who are three to four times more likely than men to suffer from Raynaud's. Having high estrogen levels (or taking estrogen-only hormone-replacement therapy) is associated with the condition. It usually starts when you're in your teens and 20s and can last into old age.
Genetics could play a role, too... Having a family member with the condition puts you at higher risk. Also, a study published last year of more than 5,000 people found Raynaud's sufferers to have a few genetic traits in common. They included genetic variations related to a protein for constricting blood vessels, another protein for dilating blood vessels, and a genetic disposition to having low blood sugar.
Secondary Raynaud's occurs due to having another disease or from your environment. Examples of health conditions include autoimmune diseases, problems with blood clotting and thyroid hormones, diabetes, and too much plaque buildup and a hardening of the arteries. Certain medications or having a job where you're often in cold temperatures or even using vibrating machines like jackhammers also raise your risk of developing Raynaud's.
With secondary Raynaud's, you're more likely to have severe attacks, and your livedo reticularis usually doesn't go away with rewarming the skin. Worst-case scenario, the lack of blood flow for too long can lead to open wounds and even gangrene and amputation.
And Raynaud's sufferers can't catch a break, even when it's warm...
One study published in Lancet Rheumatology found that Raynaud's flare-ups aren't limited to just colder weather. Symptoms can worsen during warmer temperatures, too.
The international study involved mostly Caucasian, middle-aged women who had systemic scleroderma. (Compared with localized scleroderma, systemic scleroderma is a more severe, all-over-the-body form of the autoimmune disease scleroderma, where too much collagen production leads to tight, hardened, inflamed skin and organ damage.)
The study involved 2,243 participants noting the severity of their symptoms along with the temperature every three months for nine years. Participants felt their best around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. But from there, symptoms worsened again as the temperature rose.
The researchers suggested indoor air conditioning on full blast could account for the more severe symptoms. (Interestingly, a 2021 U.S. study of survey responses and Twitter mentions found that 38% of Americans were unhappy with the temperature in their office. And among them, 64% were women.)
Another similar-sized study from the same month suggested that the lower the humidity, the better...
Involving nearly 2,000 systemic scleroderma sufferers, researchers found that Raynaud's symptoms were the worst at low temperatures (no surprise there), as well as during high humidity.
As for protecting your body from the cold, keeping your core – where all of your vital organs are – warm saves your body from having to constrict surface blood vessels like I mentioned earlier.
Mittens keep your fingers warmer than gloves. Also, consider buying disposable heat packs – some are made to fit comfortably in your shoes. These heat packs work their magic when exposed to air, so if you only need one for a short time period, seal it in an airtight sandwich bag for use again later.
Aside from combatting the cold, changing your diet can help...
- Up your fruit and veggie intake while avoiding sugar: Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants that prevent and fight inflammation, while too much sugar can lead to low-grade, chronic inflammation. And inflammation of your blood vessels and nerves can lead to Raynaud's.
- Stay hydrated: It'll improve your circulation and blood flow. Ease up on the caffeine, though, since it constricts blood vessels.
Finally, get in some heart-pumping exercise. Moving your whole body improves circulation. Plus, exercising can lower levels of hormones that contribute to stress. I find that regular meditation (with lots of deep belly breaths) and yoga are incredible for stress reduction, too.
If lifestyle changes don't work, don't worry... Your doctor may prescribe oral and/or topical medications that help keep your blood vessels dilated. Surgery is another option.
What are some of your favorite tips for combatting the cold? Share them with us by e-mailing feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com. For even more health and wellness tips, check out my flagship newsletter, Retirement Millionaire.
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Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
November 19, 2024