What Causes Hands And Feet To Get Cold?

[khaarina]

I'm curious about this because I've noticed recently that my right hand is often much colder than my left hand, so much so that I can fold my hands together and warm my right hand with my left hand. My hands and feet have been cold for as long as I can remember, but I never noticed a difference from one hand to the other until the past few days. It happens a lot when I am using the computer for a long time. I am right handed so that is the hand I have on the mouse. Could that have something to do with it?

[Batik]

My temperature isn't so bad right now, but when it was, my right hand was always colder too. I'm right-handed, and I assumed it was because my right hand got more exposed while my left hand was more likely to be somewhere warmer.

[Chaos]

In my case, it's my left hand and foot that tend to be colder although I've noticed it can go either way.

If it happens when I'm using the computer etc I always check my posture, stretch, change positions etc to see if I can change the symptoms by changing my body mechanics. If I can, then I figure it was something related to a nerve or vessel being effected by how I was sitting. Most of the time though, it doesn't seem to be influenced by what I'm doing, in which case I figure it's related to the dysautonomia.

[E Soskis]

Autonomic dysfunction strikes again! This time, it is the parasympathetic nervous system - sounds like Raynaud's phenomena - in my case, not only does my right hand feel cold, my fingers (especially my index) will turn very white and lose all feeling - the winter season is a killer on my hands and feet - even when I keep them bundled up and wear gloves - my co-worker bought me a camping "hand warmer" - nice little packet that when activated, will remain warm for a few hours and keep my hands from freezing to death!

[Leigh8]

I have this same issue! When I am using the computer at work, my right hand goes almost numb with cold. My left is usually cold too, but not as cold as the right. I have to constantly rub my hands together, sit on them, etc. to warm them. Not fun. Brrrr!!!!

[davecom]

I have this same thing and I've noticed despite giving me goosebumps everywhere else, midodrine actually helps! It's weird how the right hand is so cold and the left hand is not buy I'm a little relieved to see others have this - I was afraid it was my aortic coarctation and not my dysautonomia!

[ramakentesh]

Cold feet and hands can be peripheral vasospasm caused by POTS, as an attempt to vasoconstrict to improve blood flow to the brain, it could be pooling it could be the opposite, or it could just be raynauds

[margiebee]

Even before I was diagnosed people would always tell me how cold my hands were, but my feet were always super warm. I never put 2 and 2 together at the time but I suppose this makes sense with my blood pooling. My hands and even my face are generally pretty cold to the touch, unless its hot out then they burn up.

[Canadiangirl73]

I get this too. I now have Raynaud's, didn't pre-dysautonomia. I even get it in warm settings, like in the bath tub. My fingers will be white from knuckle to nails and I can clearly see a line: normal colored skin, white skin and grey nails. Explanation I was given as t why it happens in warm environments is that I get excessive pooling in some parts of my body, so my body shunts blood from extremities to send it where it is vital. Not dangerous I've been told, but unsightly!