Cold Hands And Feet In Summer Can Signal Underlying Health Issues
Persistent coldness may have several possible health-related causes.
Cold hands and feet during summer can have several possible causes and are not always linked to poor blood circulation. The body's extremities play an important role in regulating heat, with blood vessels, nerves, hormones and metabolism all influencing how warm or cold they feel. When hands and feet remain unusually cold despite warm surroundings, everyday factors such as stress as well as certain underlying health issues may be responsible.
Stress and anxiety can temporarily make the hands and feet feel cold. During stressful situations, the body releases adrenaline, which can cause small blood vessels near the skin to narrow. This redirects blood towards vital organs as part of the body's natural response to stress, reducing warmth in the fingers and toes even when the surrounding temperature is comfortable.
An underactive thyroid can also contribute to persistent cold sensations. Thyroid hormones help regulate metabolism, which influences how much heat the body produces. When thyroid hormone levels are low, metabolism can slow and people may experience increased sensitivity to cold. Other symptoms can include fatigue, sluggishness and dry skin, although these symptoms can have several possible causes.
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In some cases, the sensation of cold may be related to the nerves rather than the actual temperature of the hands and feet. Sensory nerve problems can cause the brain to receive abnormal signals, resulting in sensations such as coldness, numbness or tingling even when the skin feels relatively warm. Such nerve changes can be associated with factors including prolonged high blood sugar, vitamin B12 deficiency and chronic inflammation.
Blood-vessel spasms are another possible explanation. In some people, small vessels in the fingers and toes can temporarily narrow in response to triggers such as sudden temperature changes, including entering an air-conditioned room or handling something cold. The affected areas may become pale or bluish before returning to their normal colour and temperature as blood flow improves.
Low iron levels may also contribute to feeling unusually cold. Iron plays an important role in transporting oxygen and supporting energy production, and insufficient iron can be associated with symptoms such as tiredness and increased sensitivity to cold. If cold hands and feet persist, particularly when accompanied by colour changes, numbness or tingling, it is worth discussing the symptoms with a doctor, who can assess possible nutritional, hormonal, circulatory or nerve-related causes.
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