Q I feel cold even at temperatures others find comfortable, and my hands and feet are like ice. Why does this cold sensitivity happen?
A Cold sensitivity happens when warm blood cannot circulate fully to the hands and feet. Poor peripheral circulation, low body weight, anemia, and hypothyroidism are common backgrounds, and the management approach differs depending on the cause.
Detailed Answer
Being unusually intolerant of cold, with constantly cold hands and feet, often occurs when the warm blood pumped from the heart cannot reach the fingertips and toes smoothly. Common backgrounds include reduced peripheral vascular circulation, insufficient muscle and energy to generate heat due to low body weight, reduced oxygen transport from anemia, or a slowed metabolism from hypothyroidism. Smoking narrows peripheral vessels and worsens cold sensitivity further.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
In Korean medicine, cold sensitivity is seen as a state where the "warming energy" that heats the body is insufficient, and that energy and blood cannot circulate well to the extremities, causing blockage. Treatment focuses on restoring warming energy and releasing blocked circulation so that warmth spreads evenly throughout the body.
Related FAQs
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Q
Will herbal medicine really make my hands and feet warm like everyone else's? Please tell me honestly.
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They say tests can't find a cause. How can Korean medicine address cold sensitivity of unknown cause?
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Along with cold sensitivity, I also have numbness in my hands and feet, menstrual pain, and indigestion. Can these improve together too?
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Every winter my hands and feet get so cold I can't even fall asleep. How should I manage cold sensitivity at home?
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I heard exercise helps with cold sensitivity. What kind of exercise should I do and how?
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