With the weather getting colder, some women feel that their hands and feet don't feel like a part of their own body. 8 or 9 out of 10 people experience cold hands and feet during winter. This is because the arterial blood flow in women is weaker than in men, resulting in less heat supply to the extremities. So is having cold hands and feet a disease?
[Is having cold hands and feet a disease?]
For most people, having cold hands and feet is not a disease, but rather a self-protection mechanism of the body when the weather gets colder. We all know that body heat is transferred through the blood circulation.
When the weather gets cold, in order to protect the internal organs from freezing, the body closes off the capillaries and allows more blood to flow to the heart, lungs, and other vital organs. As a result, the amount of blood flowing to the extremities decreases significantly, causing the hands and feet to feel cold.
However, not everyone experiences this as a normal phenomenon. For example, the following four special situations may indicate a disease:
1. Problems with blood circulation or blood vessels in the hands can cause cold hands and feet, accompanied by changes in the color of the fingers and toes;
2. Patients with Raynaud's disease may also experience cold hands and feet, accompanied by changes in the color of the fingers or toes: they turn white first, then blue, and there is also an itchy sensation;
3. Hypothyroidism can lead to low metabolism and may also cause symptoms of cold hands and feet;
4. Iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes, lupus, and other diseases can also cause cold hands and feet.
Especially for those who often have cold hands and feet even when the weather is not very cold, it is recommended to have a medical examination.
[How to relieve cold hands and feet?]
1. Dress warmly
Do not prioritize style over warmth, or you will suffer. Try to avoid wearing skirts or pants that expose the ankles when going out, wear gloves and masks, and keep yourself covered. Also, many girls like to wear leggings in winter, but it is not recommended because tight leggings can hinder blood circulation and make you feel even colder.
2. Soak your feet often
Soaking your feet can promote blood circulation, keep you warm, and relieve fatigue.
However, there are some things to pay attention to when soaking your feet:
Water temperature
The water temperature for foot soaking is generally maintained at 38-43 degrees Celsius, and the water level should be about 10 cm above the ankle joint. You can move your feet around while soaking to promote blood circulation in the feet.
Duration
The recommended duration for foot soaking is about 30 minutes, and it is better to do it before bedtime. For elderly people, a shorter duration of 20 minutes is better.
Herbs
If there are no special circumstances, it is generally not recommended to use herbal liquids for foot soaking, plain water is sufficient. Especially for women, it is not advisable to randomly add various Chinese herbal medicines, especially during menstruation. It is recommended to use ginger water for foot soaking, as ginger has the functions of dispelling cold and dampness.
Foot soaking is not suitable for everyone
People with diabetes are not recommended to soak their feet because their peripheral nerves are not sensitive enough to perceive external temperatures, which can easily lead to burns and diabetic foot.
In addition, people with heart disease, heart failure, low blood pressure, and frequent dizziness should not soak their feet in water that is too hot.
3. Exercise more
Exercising more can accelerate blood circulation and metabolism, which is also very effective in relieving cold hands and feet.
However, it is important not to overdo it and only exercise until you break a slight sweat, otherwise it may have the opposite effect.
You can choose activities such as brisk walking, yoga, jump rope, dancing, and playing sports.
4. Acupressure
You can try massaging two "warming" acupressure points.
Massage Yongquan acupressure points to warm up
Rub the Yongquan acupressure points 90 times every morning and before bedtime, then rub each toe 90 times.
Massage Zusanli acupressure points for cold tolerance
Pressing on this acupressure point daily can also have a certain effect in relieving cold hands and feet.
[Foods to relieve cold hands and feet]
In terms of diet, it is recommended to eat nutritious and warm foods, such as lamb, red dates, etc., and avoid eating raw and cold foods, ice cream, or drinking cold drinks.
In addition, here are 2 soup recipes that are very effective in relieving cold hands and feet:
1. Angelica Ginger Lamb Soup
Ingredients: 500g lamb, 10g angelica, 2 slices of ginger, 2 green onions, 1 tablespoon of white wine, a little salt.
Instructions: Wash the lamb and cut it into pieces. Heat oil in a pot, add the lamb and white wine, heat for a moment, add angelica, ginger, and green onions, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, remove the foam, simmer for 2-3 hours, and add salt before serving.
2. Ginseng Chicken Soup
Ingredients: 1 hen, 10g Korean ginseng or 20g Codonopsis pilosula, 10g cooked aconite, 3 slices of ginger, 3 green onions, a little salt.
Instructions: After slaughtering the hen, remove the feathers and internal organs, wash it, put Korean ginseng, cooked aconite, ginger, and green onions into the chicken belly, place in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 2 hours, add salt to taste before serving.
