My hands are always, always ice cold. Is something wrong with me?

Question

It is weird. Even after sitting in the sun in moderate sunshine, while the rest of my body is warm my hands will still be cold. It is awkward especially when I shake peoples hands because i feel like i am making them feel cold. It takes my hands less than a minute to freeze after getting out of bed. I am uncomfortable with touching people because i don't want them to feel cold. Is there something wrong with me? If there is, what should i do?

Answer 1

Cold hands are a sign of an overactive autonomic nervous system. More specifically, the signs of an overactive sympathetic nervous system. Our emotional and physiological self are controlled by the autonomic nervous system - a system that increases and decreases our heart rate, breathing rate, etc. One group of nerves "speeds" us up and one group of nerves "slows" us down. These groups are known as the sympathetic nerves and parasympathetic nerves. When the sympathetic nerves are fired (stimulated) the heart rate increases and blood is shunted from our hands, feet, and abdomen to our large muscle groups such as thighs and hips. Many muscles tense during this stimulation. This is a primitive reflex response which prepares us to flee from a threatening situation. (remember in high school biology the fight or flight response?) The parasympathetics, when stimulated, slows the heart rate down, causing rest, relaxation, and eventually sleep. During parasympathetic stimulation blood flows throughout the body and into the abdomenal organs (to help digestion, etc).

for more on the article...http://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/nquarrie/coldhands.html

Answer 2

probly not, could be poor circulation. My hands are just the opposite, always real warm. I can be shivering all over, but my hands will be all warm.

Answer 3

There's probably nothing wrong with you. My hands are generally cold too =P

Answer 4

maybe low blood pressure. Try having a couple of drinks and see if they warm up a bit.

Answer 5

no you are alright my hands are like that too, they will turn purple and i will be freezing but everyone else is burning up if you are small that could be a reason too.

Answer 6

poor circulation. keep your hands active ask your phamasit if there is anything that will help.

Answer 7

it's poor circulation. should happen with your feet 2.