Why do my hands and feet get cold in winter?

Many people are prone to cold hands and feet in winter, which makes them feel cold even if they lie down for a long time at night. The main reason for this symptom is closely related to the body's blood circulation. It may also be caused by insufficient qi and blood in the human body. Therefore, as long as we understand the root cause of this problem, we can solve this problem thoroughly.

Why do my hands and feet get cold in winter?

1. Poor peripheral circulation

Having cold hands and feet in winter is a normal physiological phenomenon, because the lower temperature will cause blood vessels to constrict and the blood return ability to weaken, resulting in poor blood circulation in the hands and feet, especially the fingertips and toes, and poor peripheral nerve circulation.

Under normal circumstances, wearing more clothes, eating warm food, and moving more can promote blood circulation and alleviate the problem of cold hands and feet. However, for people with weak vascular return capacity and poor peripheral circulation, it is more difficult to warm up the limbs in this way.

2. Yang deficiency constitution

Most people with cold hands and feet have a yang deficiency constitution. If your hands and feet still feel cold after adding warm clothes, you should pay attention to whether you have what Chinese medicine calls "yang deficiency" constitution. "Yang deficiency" is also called deficiency-cold. As the name suggests, it refers to the lack of Yang Qi in the human body, mostly spleen and kidney Yang deficiency.

Yang energy is the basis of life, and warming the body is one of its important functions. If the Yang Energy is insufficient and cannot reach the extremities of the limbs and torso such as the hands and feet, symptoms such as chills and cold hands and feet will occur. Therefore, an important way to relieve cold hands and feet is to regulate the body and replenish "yang energy".

3. Deficiency of Qi and blood, weak spleen yang, and stagnation of liver qi

In addition to yang deficiency, depending on the symptoms, Chinese medicine believes that cold hands and feet may also be caused by some deficiency or excess syndromes.

Experts say that in terms of deficiency, deficiency of both Qi and blood, weak spleen yang, and deficiency of spleen and kidney yang can all cause cold hands and feet, and this can occur regardless of seasonal changes or moods. As for the solid aspect, it is possible that the cold evil is felt, leading to blood stasis and liver qi stagnation. The former refers to cold limbs and bluish purple color when catching a cold, and even pain in severe cases. The latter refers to the usual unstable mood, cold hands and feet when depressed, and the symptoms may disappear after the mood calms down.

4. Hormonal changes caused by menstruation and childbirth

Among people with cold hands and feet, women account for the majority. This is because hormonal changes affect the nervous system, causing subcutaneous blood vessels to constrict and blood flow to decrease, thus causing cold symptoms.

5. Disease factors

People who are under too much mental stress, are overly sensitive, worry too much, and are often restless are also at high risk of cold hands and feet syndrome.

6. Not wearing enough

Of course, cold hands and feet are not entirely caused by physical constitution or disease. Many women who love beauty still wear short skirts and shorts even in the cold winter. If they wear less, they will naturally feel cold. Therefore, if women who wear less clothes have cold hands and feet, they should first reflect on whether they are wearing too little!