Is there a long term treatment for cold hands?

Question

I am subscribed to an email list which has men over 50 cycling at -20oC in Canada .... I've followed all their 'loose layers' tips and I'm 30, in England, with freezing hands at -1oC. I cycle 7 miles to work each day (and then back.) My current gloves are supposedly designed for 'Ice Climbing' and cost £80. If I wear a hat and keep the rest of my body sweltering hot it helps.

Is there a treatment? What if I wanted to climb Everest or visit The North Pole?

Answer 1

There certain diseases which present with cold hands and I have worked with some people in this regerd. However, I dont think you are suffering from any of the conditions I am familiar with. It is more likely that you are experiencing this as a result of aging. As we get older the circulation to the extremities decreases in favour of providing blood and heat to vital organs. Staying physically fit can help, but it sounds like you are doing that.
Having lived most of my life in Canada, I familiar with coping with the cold. I will offer some suggestions based on my personal and professional experince.
First, in cold weather mittens are a better choice than gloves. There are good quality light weight apparel made from a material known as Thinsulate. If you can find a pair of mittens lined with it I'm sure you will notice a difference. But, while bulkier, old fashioned wool mittens inside leather mittens works just as well.
Second, there is a hydrotherapy treatment which can lower the body's core temperature thus reduing the body's demand for heat. A lower core temp means that the body will accept colder external temperatures before it reduces blood flow to the extremities. Find a good Hydrotherapist and ask about this procedure. If you are unable to find one, send me a message and I will explain how you may be able accomplish this on your own.
Also, there are a few things you can take as food supplements which will help to keep the small blood vessels open, allowing more heat to the extremeties. Cayenne pepper, niacin and any of a variety of naturural anti-inflammatories, to name a few. Check with a health food store or herbalist for more information. I use a product called pycnoginal which is essentially grape seed extract. If you can find one which also contains pine bark extract, all the better. These have anti-infammatory properties as well as high levels of anti-oxidants which help to reduce the risk of cancer. Doctors sometimes recommend a low dosage, enteric coated asperin to reduce the risk of heart disease. Asperin has anti-inflammatory effects as well as thinning the blood, thereby making it flow more easily to the hands and feet. You might try taking one just before you go out in the cold. But, be careful with this as there may be medical reasons for you to avoid asperin.
Finally, sometimes poor circulation to the hands is due to muscular tension in the wrists, arms, shoulders or chest. Try massage therapy to relax these muscle groups and reduce restricted blood vessels. Proper stretching is also very helpful in this regard. There is a great book which I've used for years. It's called ''Stretching'' by Bob Anderson. It explains the proper techniques as well as providing a great many exercises for all kinds of sports. You may benefit from something as simple as warming up before you cycle! You can order this book at your local book store.
I hope you find something useful in what I have said. If all else fails you can always do as I have done,- move to a warmer climate!
Best of luck!

Answer 2

Pls check with your dr to see if the symptom of cold hands that you have could be related to a circulatory problem going on that could be causing this.