It’s completely healthy for your hands to feel cold from time to time. Whether you’re walking around outside during the chilly winter months, or sitting in a cool, air-conditioned room in the summer, cold hands are often a response to a temperature change in your environment.

Experiencing cold hands is usually not a cause for concern. However, if you notice that your hands are feeling cold all of the time, cold hands may indicate the presence of an underlying medical condition. 

Do cold hands mean you are sick?

When your hands are cold, the vessels that supply blood to your hands and fingers constrict. “If you're in cold, frigid temperatures,” or if you find yourself handling cold items, such as foods from a kitchen freezer, “one would expect that your hands will feel cold,” says Dr. Ernestine A. Wright, an internal medicine physician and a primary care physician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.

For most people, cold hands shouldn’t set off alarm bells. Often, they’re just a temporary result of being in a cold space. However, there are a few signs that may indicate your cold hands are the result of a more serious health condition. 

If your cold hands are persisting despite being indoors and the rest of your body being warm, speak with a physician, says Wright. 

Additionally, if your cold hands are accompanied by any symptoms of pain or ulceration of the fingertips, it is necessary that you consult a physician, says Dr. Hisham Awan, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. 

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Why are my hands always cold?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, medical conditions that can cause cold hands include:

• Raynaud’s syndrome
• Hyperthyroidism
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Lupus
• Scleroderma

Raynaud’s syndrome is one of the most common causes of cold hands, according to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. It is a disorder that causes the blood vessels that flow through the hands to spasm, Awan says. As blood flow becomes more restricted, hands will become cold. 

Raynaud’s syndrome can be triggered by cold temperatures, stress and habitual activities that involve using your hands, such as playing an instrument or typing on a computer, Wright says. 

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How to warm up cold hands

If you struggle with chronically cold hands, there are a few general measures you can take to manage your symptoms.

First, you should always try to minimize exposure to cold temperatures. If you know you will be in a cold environment, no matter if it’s bracing the outside weather, or simply picking up cold foods at a supermarket, wear protective gloves or mittens, says Wright.

To warm your hands up, place “your hands in warm water for about five to 15 minutes” until the cold feeling has dissipated, Wright says.

It’s important to note that treatment will vary according to the root cause of your symptoms. Consult your primary care physician to determine the right course of treatment for you.