Vitamins For Circulation

Question
Throughout the year, but especially during winter, I seem to always have cold hands and cold feet (even inside where it is warm), could it be I am lacking an important vitamin or mineral?

Answer
Dan,

There are amny possibilities for the reason of cold hands and feet. I will try to point out the most logical culprits and give suggestions.

If youwere to come into an office setting with this complaint I would ask if you had any numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands and toes when this cold feeling came about. This is a sign of something called Raynaud's Phenomena a condition of poor circulation to the extremities. This often causes the fingers and/or nail beds to turn red, followed by turning white, and subsequently turning blue. However, variations of these symptoms can also yield a component of Raynaud's. As preliminary treatment I woudl suggest, so long as there were no contraindications, that you take a low-dose aspiring every day (81mg is sufficient). However, this doesn't always do the trick, and a doctor might then suggest that you take a more powerful aspirin (one that is often prescribed is Pletal).

Another common cause of cold extremities is the simple fact that your body may be producing too much adrenaline. What do you do for this? CALM DOWN!!! Work on some relaxing techniques such as meditation, prayer, anything that relieves stress and induces a relaxation state.

Other common sense suggestion is to wear warm clothing inside and out, more so when you are exposed to cold. Wear gloves, and heavy socks when outside. Don't run your hands under extremely hot warm, rather run them under water that is luke warm (this has to do with the constricting and dilating of the blood vessels).

Good luck!!!

Leigh-Anne

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