Cold hands

[Sam Harrison]

I also suffer from ridiculously cold hand. They was many a run that I came off last winter after wearing numerous pairs of gloves where my hands were still painfully cold.

I haven't got much more advice than what is offered here, but I can tell you what works for me. In extremely cold situations I have a pair of Extremities Super Inferno Mitts along with a thin pair of Merino wool liners. The Extremities have a whopping amount of Primaloft insulation which is really warm, and I find the Merino wool liners add that extra little bit of comfort I like - they're also great on there own on the not so cold days (i.e. summer!).

[Delroy Wilson]

Mum thinks muffins are best when it is really cold.

[Delroy Wilson]

Opps sorry that should have read Dad thinks......

[Delroy Wilson]

Pockets also work well, if you can remember.

[emmilou]

Have to agree that also suffering from cold hands (couldn't even hold the steering wheel this morning and we haven't had a frost yet ) that mitts are definately better than gloves although I do agree and can't understand why the manufacturers haven't compensated for the fact the thumb freezes on it's own!

[mr brightside]

Paul, that sounds a really good idea. Do you have any idea where a Leeds based person might buy these?

Robin Hood Watersports in Batley maybe.

[Flopsy]

Your history of working with hand held vibrating tools may very well have contributed or caused your condition. Grinding more so than welding.

A lot of people think that VWF is just visibly white fingers but it does cause a form a Reynaulds.

In that case I have to ask whether you still work with hand held tools. If you are then it will be making it continually worse. It is unclear but there is some evidence that stopping the use of such tools may reverse the symptoms slightly, but not completely, if it is caught early enough. Working in cold conditions won't help either.

As others have said there is medication that can help for serious cases, by dilating the blood vessles. Also the usual of don't smoke (I assume you don't) and there is some evidence that caffeine can make symptoms worse.

Also don't wait til your hands get cold, keep them warm all the time and also try and keep the whole body warm not just the hands.

As others have said I would see a specialist.

Personally I find gloves a bit rubbish at keeping hands warm once they are cold I like to scrunch my hands up into a fist inside a pair of gloves and that warms them up a bit.

[ZootHornRollo]

I get VWF, often after exercising on a cool day - as soon as I get home and stop, if the house isn't warm, then my thumb, index and middle fingers will go white / blue and numb almost immediately, and only a hot bath or the like will get them back.

[emmilou]

there is some evidence that caffeine can make symptoms worse.

oops - you best kick that Starbucks habit Darren

[Alexandra]

oops - you best kick that Starbucks habit Darren

As with migraines, Raynauds triggers are somewhat individual. Stress is another not yet mentioned. Personally, I can take things out of the freezer no bother, and caffeine doesn't seem to affect me. I think each person needs to observe their own reactions and act accordingly.

For many people, what matters is not the absolute actual temperature, but the change from higher to lower, so that going into an air conditioned room in summer can cause an attack. I find I tend to get problems as the temperature falls in autumn, but can withstand lower temperatures later in the winter when my hands seem to have got somewhat used to the cold.

In my case, my worst problem is not dead fingers, which happen rarely now I am vigilant and prepared, but chilblains and damaged nails due to ongoing low level poor circulation in my hands.