Cold feet but warm hands
Jan 18, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. He Haochen
Introduction
Cold feet but warm hands may result from non-medical factors, or could be related to medical conditions such as spleen and kidney yang deficiency or lower limb venous thrombosis. It is important to seek timely treatment under a doctor's guidance through general measures and medication to avoid delaying the condition. In daily life, one should maintain warmth and avoid exposure to cold, eat light and easily digestible food, reduce intake of spicy and irritating foods, and engage in appropriate exercise and rest.
Feet feeling cold while hands remain warm may result from non-medical factors, or could be related to medical conditions such as spleen-kidney yang deficiency or lower limb venous thrombosis. It is important to seek timely treatment under a doctor's guidance through general care or medication to avoid delaying the condition.
1. Non-medical factors
During winter, when the weather is particularly cold, hands may be adequately protected while feet are not. Additionally, hands tend to move more than feet, leading to poorer blood circulation in the feet and resulting in cold feet despite warm hands. It is recommended to improve warmth protection—such as wearing thicker shoes—and soaking feet in warm water before bedtime to promote blood circulation in the feet.
2. Spleen-kidney yang deficiency
Poor lifestyle habits, such as long-term consumption of spicy or stimulating foods, irregular sleep patterns, or excessive fatigue, may lead to deficiency of yang energy in the spleen and kidneys. Since the spleen and kidneys are located in the lower body, this deficiency can cause symptoms such as cold feet but warm hands, sweating, and weakness. Treatment may include medications like Gui Fu Di Huang Wan or Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan, taken according to medical advice.
3. Lower limb venous thrombosis
If a blood clot forms in the veins of the lower limbs, it may cause leg swelling and impaired blood circulation, leading to cold legs and feet while the hands remain warm. Patients should elevate the affected limb when resting and avoid soaking feet in excessively hot water. Under medical supervision, medications such as Alteplase for injection or Urokinase for injection may be used to effectively dissolve the clot.
In addition, cold feet with warm hands could also be caused by other conditions such as thromboangiitis obliterans. It is advisable to visit a hospital promptly for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In daily life, individuals should maintain proper warmth, avoid exposure to cold, follow a light diet, reduce intake of spicy and irritating foods, and engage in moderate physical activity.
