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You can often hear that people with cold fingers always have a warm heart. However, this romantic statement has a medical explanation. Therefore, this state of the body should not be ignored, since cold fingers can be a sign of certain disorders and diseases.
Causes of cold fingers
In the cold season, every person’s fingers become cold. However, if the fingers are cold at any time of the year, then this is a sure sign of disturbances in the body. Probably, this is how the body gives signals about some problems inside. In most cases, this problem manifests itself in women, whose thermoregulation is weaker compared to men. There is a statistic that 9 out of 10 females surveyed have cold fingers.
It often manifests itself between the ages of 15 and 45. Young girls can easily become hypothermic by dressing lightly. Also, smokers often have cold fingers. However, one cannot ignore such a symptom and assume that the problem is minor.
The reasons why the fingers become cold may be hidden diseases. As a rule, as a result of impaired blood circulation and its viscosity, the fingers and toes begin to quickly become cold and even numb. Causes can also be diseases of the thyroid gland, nervous system and vascular sclerosis.
With a huge number of causes of cold fingers and toes, the following diseases are the main ones:
- Iron deficiency anemia.
- Diseases of the thyroid gland.
- Diabetes.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Raynaud’s syndrome, scleroderma.
Iron deficiency anemia is caused by a deficiency of iron in the hemoglobin of the blood. This leads to a failure in the transport of oxygen in the blood, disturbances in metabolic processes in cells. Additional signals are pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, fatigue and dizziness, palpitations and tinnitus. Such disorders can be caused by malnutrition and poor absorption of iron in the intestine. In order to establish the level of hemoglobin in the blood and make a diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a clinical blood test. It is worth noting that the norm of hemoglobin in the blood in children under the age of 6 years is from 110 g / l, and in children over the age of 6 years and adults – from 120 g / l. Only after a comprehensive examination, the doctor makes an accurate diagnosis and prescribes treatment methods.
Problems in the functioning of the thyroid gland affect the hormonal functioning of the body. If there is a lack of thyroid hormones in the body, then the result is a slowdown in metabolic processes. In addition to feeling cold fingers, reaction inhibition, drowsiness and lethargy appear. The patient has a feeling of depression, the face swells, excess weight appears. There is also constant dryness and flaking of the skin. Feeling cold can be present all the time, even in warm weather. With these symptoms, it is necessary to undergo an examination by an endocrinologist with a mandatory ultrasound of the thyroid gland, as well as a general urine and blood test, a blood test for hormones. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a CT scan.
Cold hands and feet in diabetes become a result of impaired blood circulation. As a result of complications, diabetes leads to strokes, kidney failure and blindness. Therefore, it is important not to ignore the condition in which constantly cold fingers and toes and their numbness. It is necessary to diagnose in the early stages of the disease in order to stop the dysfunction of the pancreas responsible for insulin production in time. In addition, a glucose tolerance test should be taken annually after the age of 45.
Atherosclerosis leads to a loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries and disturbances in the blood supply to all organs. This can happen with an unhealthy diet with a lot of fatty foods, stress and an inactive lifestyle, and also be a genetically determined factor. Additional symptoms of the disease can be headache, memory impairment, dizziness and tinnitus. For the timely detection and treatment of the disease, it is necessary to undergo an ECG, measure blood pressure, do an ultrasound of the heart and blood vessels, take a blood test for a lipid profile, sugar.
With osteochondrosis, fingers and toes can also constantly freeze and go numb. Additional symptoms can be constant aching back pain, headaches and dizziness. Osteochondrosis occurs as a result of changes in the structure of the intervertebral discs, which leads to compression of the nerve roots and blood vessels. As a result, there is a violation of blood circulation. If there are suspicions of osteochondrosis, then you should contact a neurologist who will prescribe a comprehensive examination and treatment.
With scleroderma, the fingers and toes may become cold, numb, and tingly. The skin becomes bluish for a while. When the attack passes, the skin becomes red and there is heat and pain. Damage to blood vessels affects the functioning of many organs and tissues in the body. It is worth noting that women are prone to this disease 5 times more often than men. To accurately determine the diagnosis, it is necessary to contact a rheumatologist who will refer you for a comprehensive examination and treatment.
These main reasons for having cold fingers can start out harmlessly and unnoticed, but can have serious consequences if ignored.
Symptoms of cold fingers
In the absence of external stimuli, cold fingertips are a manifestation of pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination of the body to accurately determine the cause of the disease. Negative symptoms in which you should definitely consult a doctor are:
- There is numbness of the fingers without external stimuli.
- Paleness and bluish tint of the skin even at high air temperature.
- Constant tingling sensation on fingertips.
- There is difficulty in moving, difficulty with speech.
- The presence of dizziness, pain in the hands, fatigue and general weakness.
With an unreasonable loss of sensitivity in the fingers, the problem most likely lies in the pathology of the nerve endings and blood vessels.
Additional symptoms may include:
- Cold feet.
- Rough tight skin.
- The appearance of blisters and open sores.
- Tingling or numbness in the hands.
Symptoms manifest differently at different stages. Conventionally, the stages can be divided into three stages. At the first stage, there is an increase in the tone of the walls of blood vessels, which leads to short-term spasms of the fingers on the hands. In the second stage, the hands may swell or turn blue, accompanied by severe pain. The third stage occurs after 3-4 years with signs of skin necrosis at the fingertips. As a result of poor circulation, wounds on the hands take a long time to heal and ulcers can form.
Complications and consequences
Cold fingers and toes can lead to certain consequences and complications. As a result of prolonged numbness and the progression of this condition, the muscles may atrophy, and the sensitivity of tissues in the hands may be impaired. If these signs are ignored and the disease is not treated, then with constant numbness of the hands, there may be irreversible consequences, chronic pain in the hands, lack of sensitivity in them. Therefore, it is extremely important to consult a doctor in time for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
disease prevention
To prevent the disease, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle. First of all, you need to move a lot, which will lead to good blood circulation in the vessels. It is also useful to improve thermoregulation by alternating high and low temperatures. For this, contrast baths and showers are suitable.
An additional benefit is the use of oily fish containing fatty acids, which helps prevent atherosclerosis and improve blood circulation. It is also helpful to drink plenty of fluids to increase the volume of blood in the vessels. In the cold season, it is recommended to drink a decoction of wild rose or hot tea with honey before going outside.
To prevent the disease, it is recommended to do moderate physical activity and exercise.
Thus, cold fingers and toes are not always a sign of changing weather conditions. Most often, this means the presence of diseases in the body that need to be diagnosed and eliminated in a timely manner. With accurate diagnosis, the development of a latent disease of the body can be avoided.