Cold hands can be easy to deal with due to a cold environment.You may have another health concern if your hands are cold frequently.Learn how to diagnose a potential problem if you have cold hands.
Step 1: You should get checked for anemia.
Cold hands are caused by anemia, one of the underlying conditions.Anemia is a condition in which you don't have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the rest of your body.The symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, a rapid heart rate, difficulty catching your breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, and cold hands and feet.Most anemias can be treated with a blood test or a series of blood tests.Your doctor will check your levels.Call your doctor right away if you have cold hands and any of the other symptoms listed for anemia.
Step 2: Find out if you have diabetes.
Blood sugar is not well regulated in diabetes.In people with diabetes, the blood sugar can be very high or very low.Unusually cold hands are a sign of low blood sugar.Symptoms of diabetes include urinating often, feeling very thirsty or hungry, fatigue, slow healing cuts, blurry vision, unexplained weight loss, or pain or numbness in the hands.If you haven't been diagnosed with diabetes but have some of the symptoms, you should consult with your doctor.If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you should immediately contact your physician.
Step 3: Do you know if you have frostnip?
There is a feeling of pins and needles on the cold and reddened skin of frostnip.It is possible that there is numbness as well.The stage is cold.The second stage is called frostbite.Areas that are pale may begin to feel warm.Getting out of the cold and warm is what frostnip is treated with.There is no permanent damage to the skin.There is an indication of damage.Re-warming the skin may cause blisters.If you suspect that you have frostbite, get medical attention immediately.
Step 4: Get tested for Buerger's Disease.
It is also known as Buerger's Disease.It is a rare disease in which the arteries and veins in the arms, legs, hands, and feet are swollen and can become blocked with tiny blood clot.The symptoms include pain in the hands and feet when using them.White or pale blue can be seen on your fingers and toes.It takes a long time to get warmed up after being exposed to cold.It's usually associated with smoking or using tobacco products.
Step 5: The test is for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
The joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs are all affected by the disease.There is a rash on the nose and cheeks in many cases of the disease.When exposed to cold temperature or during periods of stress, people may have joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, along with fingers and toes that are cold and turn blue.Shortness of breath, dry eyes, and fatigue are some of the symptoms.Diagnostic tests include blood work, urinalysis, imaging studies, and biopsies of involved organs or tissues.
Step 6: Do you have Raynaud's disease?
Women are more likely to be affected by Raynaud's disease than men because it causes the hands and feet to feel cold.Small blood vessels in the hands and feet go into spasm when exposed to cold or stress.There is no single test for Raynaud's disease.All other possible disorders have been excluded, leaving Raynaud's disease as the diagnosis.Raynaud's phenomenon may include patient education, measures to maintain body temperature, pharmacological therapy with calcium channel blockers, and behavior therapies.Calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine or amlodipine can be prescribed by your doctor.There are a number of side effects associated with the calcium channel blockers.
Step 7: The test is for Scleroderma.
There is a rare disorder of skin and tissue.Nearly everyone with the disorder has the skin of the fingers and toes affected.Cold temperatures or stress can cause numbness and coldness in the fingers and toes.Other symptoms include areas of skin getting hard and tight, heartburn, difficulty absorbing vitamins and minerals, and heart, lung and kidneys disorders.There is no single test that can be used to diagnose sclerooderma.
Step 8: The hands may be discolored.
Hand discoloration is one of the symptoms of cold hands.Your hands can be white, white-purple, red, purple, blue, orwhite-yellow.The hands are hard or waxy.
Step 9: Any strange sensations in the hand should be monitored.
You may feel sensations in addition to the cold in your hands if there is something else going on with your cold hands.Other body parts may also experience these sensations, like the legs, feet, toes, face, or earlobes.
Step 10: Check for blisters.
Cold hands can be caused by sores on the hands.You should look for blisters on your hands or fingers.They could become swollen or painful.There are blisters on the feet.
Step 11: Look for a rash.
Cold hands can cause a rash, bumps, or lump.The areas may bleed, itch, or burn.
Step 12: Be on the lookout for bodily changes.
Cold hands can point to an underlying issue.Excess hunger and thirst along with changes in weight are possible.fatigue may be a symptom.Symptoms of an underlying condition may include frequent urination, joint and muscle pain, depression, and blurred vision.
Step 13: See your doctor.
If your hands are cold without any known reason, see your doctor as soon as possible.If any of the conditions listed here are a problem for you, ask.Let your physician know if you have any symptoms.Make sure you have your thyroid checked as well.Hypothyroidism can make your entire body cold, not just your hands, so it may be worth a check just in case.
Step 14: You should know when to go to the emergency room.
You should go to the ER if you have cold hands.If you think you have frostbite, go to the hospital.If you have white or hard areas on your hands, you should go to the emergency room.If your hands were cold and wet, you should go to the ER.Go to the emergency room if you have pain in your hands.
Step 15: Treatment depends on the underlying condition.
Cold hands can be related to a lot of different problems.Smoking cessation, taking medications to dilate the blood vessels, and managing your diabetes are some of the treatments that will be offered.The underlying condition will be treated by your doctor.Your doctor can prescribe medication to help the underlying condition or come up with lifestyle changes.