How to know if you have Cold Hand Disease

Do your hands always seem cold? You may have cold hand disease, which is a condition that can occur due to a decrease in blood flow in the hand. Here are some signs that you may have this disease:

1. Your hands are cold even in mild weather.
2. Your fingers hurt in cold temperatures.
3. You have to wear gloves when handling frozen foods.
4. Your hands turn a shade of blue, white or red sometimes.
5. Minor cuts on your fingers take longer to heal than normal.

In a normal hand, blood travels from the heart, down the arm, all the way to the fingertips, which keeps the hands warm. In an individual with cold hand disease, blood flow is decreased due to vasoconstriction (when the blood vessels in the hand become smaller, allowing less blood to flow) or vaso-occlusion (when the normal process of temporarily applying more muscle pressure to your blood vessels becomes abnormally strong or prolonged).

Treatment for this disease can include behavioral counseling, drug therapy, injections and surgery. Visit a hand surgeon to learn more about the best option for you.

There are many specific diseases of blood vessels that can cause vasoconstriction and vaso-occlusion. Learn more about this topic at www.HandCare.org.