Do your hands and feet often feel cold, even when it’s warm outside? Cold hands and feet can be uncomfortable and worrying, especially if you or a loved one has heart disease. Knowing what causes cold extremities and when they might signal bigger problems is important for your peace of mind and heart health.

Common Causes of Cold Hands and Feet

Cold hands and feet can happen for many reasons. They’re usually caused by issues that are easily fixable or not serious. Cold weather cools the hands and feet. When it’s cold outside, your body tries to keep your vital organs warm by narrowing the blood vessels in the body parts farthest from your heart. This reduces blood flow to your hands and feet but helps keep more heat near your heart and other important organs.

Poor circulation can also cause cold hands and feet. If your blood isn’t flowing well, it may not reach your extremities in the amount needed to keep them warm. Poor circulation can result from sitting or standing in one position for too long, wearing tight clothing, or having blood vessel problems.

Medical Conditions That Can Cause Cold Hands and Feet

There are a few medical conditions that can cause your hands and feet to feel uncharacteristically cold:

• Anemia — With this condition, you don’t have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. Without enough oxygen, your hands and feet can feel cold.
• Hypothyroidism — If your thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones, it can slow down your metabolism. Your metabolism is the process by which your body turns food into energy. When it slows down, your blood doesn’t flow as well, which can make your hands and feet feel cold.
• Raynaud’s phenomenon — This condition causes some areas of your body, like your fingers and toes, to feel numb and cold in response to stress or cold temperatures. It happens when the small arteries that supply blood to your skin tighten too much, reducing blood flow to the affected areas.

While cold hands and feet can be a harmless issue, they can sometimes point to something more serious, especially if you have heart disease or other underlying conditions.

Cold Hands and Feet and Heart Problems: What’s the Link?

For people living with heart disease, cold hands and feet can be a common annoyance. “Like many people with heart problems, my body hates the cold — especially my hands,” one MyHeartDiseaseTeam shared.

But this discomfort could also be a warning sign of a heart problem, such as poor blood flow due to cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) issues.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) develops when the arteries that supply blood to your limbs become narrowed or blocked due to plaque buildup. This can reduce blood flow to your extremities, making your hands and feet feel cold.

PAD is often a sign of widespread cardiovascular disease, which means if you have PAD, you’re at higher risk for heart attacks and strokes.

Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart isn’t pumping enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This can lead to poor circulation, as the heart has difficulty pumping enough blood to different parts of the body. When blood flow is reduced, it can cause cold hands and feet.

Heart failure can also lead to edema (fluid buildup) in the legs, ankles, and feet, which can further impair circulation and lead to cold extremities.

When To Seek Medical Attention for Cold Hands and Feet

If you often have cold hands and feet, especially if you have heart disease or are at risk for it, pay attention to your symptoms and know when to seek medical help. Here are some signs that you should contact a health care provider:

• Your hands always feel cold. If your hands and feet are persistently cold, even in warm environments, you may have poor circulation.
• There are other symptoms. Chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, ulcers, or swelling in your legs could be symptoms of heart failure or other conditions.
• Your hands and feet change color. If your fingers or toes turn white, blue, or red, it could be a sign of Raynaud’s phenomenon.
• You feel numbness or tingling. This could also be a sign of Raynaud’s.

“My hands go white,” shared one MyHeartDiseaseTeam member living with Raynaud’s. “I see a vascular doctor, and being treated with amlodipine helps.”

Improving Circulation and Heart Health

If you’re experiencing cold hands and feet due to heart problems or poor circulation, there are several lifestyle changes and treatments that can help improve your blood flow and heart health.

Lifestyle Changes

Certain lifestyle changes can keep your heart healthy and happy. Making one small change at a time can make all the difference in the long run. Here are some good places to start:

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity can reduce stress and fatigue and improve circulation by helping your heart pump more efficiently and promoting better blood flow to your extremities.
• Quit smoking. Smoking can damage your blood vessels and reduce circulation. Quitting smoking can improve blood flow and reduce your risk of PAD.
• Manage stress. High stress levels can affect your heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to poor circulation. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help reduce stress and improve circulation.
• Limit your drinking. Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and harm your heart. Limiting your alcohol intake can help keep your heart healthy and improve blood flow to your hands and feet.

Dietary Changes

Just like the lifestyle you choose, the foods you eat can have a direct effect on your heart throughout your life. You can improve your general heart health if you:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet. Eating foods that are good for your heart, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, can help improve your overall cardiovascular health and blood flow. Avoid foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats, as these can increase your risk of heart problems and poor circulation.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can help maintain good circulation by keeping your blood at the right consistency and helping your heart pump effectively.

Medical Treatments

If you have heart disease or poor circulation, your health care provider might prescribe medications to help improve your heart function or blood flow. These might include blood pressure medications, blood thinners, or medications to lower cholesterol.

In some cases, you may need surgery or procedures to improve blood flow or treat a blocked artery. Your health care provider can discuss these options with you if they’re necessary.

Talk With Your Doctor

Cold hands and feet can be caused by many factors, including environmental conditions, poor circulation, and certain medical conditions. Most of the time, these symptoms are nothing to worry about. But they can sometimes be signs of cardiovascular system disease.

Talk to your health care provider if you’re concerned about cold extremities and possible cardiovascular issues. They can help you understand what’s causing your symptoms and suggest the best course of action to improve your circulation and heart health.

Find Your Team

MyHeartDiseaseTeam is the social network for people with heart disease and their loved ones. On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, more than 61,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with heart disease.

Are you living with heart disease? Do you experience bouts of cold hands and feet? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.