The Estrogen Connection Some studies suggest that estrogen levels are responsible for cold hands and feet in women. This may be one of the main reasons that women typically suffer from this problem more commonly than their male counterparts.
As estrogen levels drop, the hypothalamus–the part of your brain responsible for regulating your body temperature–gets overly sensitive, and therefore temperature regulation can be unstable. Cold flashes can also be triggered by a panic attack or anxiety.
Estrogen can lower women's body temperature, cause heat to dissipate and slow blood flow to the hands and feet, making them more sensitive to cold. And depending on the phase of your menstrual cycle and varying hormone levels, research, like this Polish study, shows the female body can change how it regulates heat.
Low estrogen can have a number of undesirable effects: it affects circulation, weakens blood vessels, thins the skin, makes existing veins more prominent and worse-looking than they actually are, and can weaken venous valves in the legs, leading to varicose veins.
Iron Deficiencies
Iron deficiency can cause anemia (a decreased level of hemoglobin in your red blood cells), and lead to symptoms like fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and chronic cold feet.
Cold hands and feet are one of the symptoms of Estrogen Dominance; however, this may also be indicative of a thyroid issue. Make an appointment with your family doctor and request a blood test for hormone levels.
Why is my body warm but my feet cold? When you're exposed to cold temperatures, you might notice your feet and hands are the first to get cold, but your chest and torso are still warm. Since your feet are furthest away from your heart, it can take longer for your blood to circulate through the limbs of your body.
Signs & Symptoms of Low Estrogen
Weight gain. Thinning hair. Dry skin/lips. Vaginal dryness (which may make sexual intercourse painful)
Low estrogen levels can interfere with sexual development and sexual functions. They can also increase your risk for obesity, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Treatments have evolved over the years and become more effective.
There is good reason for this. Many people don't realise the circulatory system of a female is different to that of a male. Women's circulation is centred around the female reproductive organs, thereby leaving the extremities, such as the hands and feet, feeling colder as the blood supply in these areas is reduced.
Poor circulation is a frequent problem in older women and can lead to the cold feet many menopausal individuals experience. According to Dr. Bello, this can be treated by going for short walks around one's bedroom, eating a balanced diet, and exercising a little bit a few hours before going to sleep.
Estrogen and the cardiovascular system
Increases HDL cholesterol (the good kind) Decreases LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) Promotes blood clot formation, and also causes some changes that have the opposite effect. Relaxes, smooths and dilates blood vessels so blood flow increases.
Cold hands and feet can be a result of iron deficiency anemia. People with anemia have poor blood circulation throughout their bodies because they don't have enough red blood cells to provide oxygen to their tissue.
A Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study involving postmenopausal, overweight, and obese women who took 2,000 IUs of vitamin D daily for a year found that those whose vitamin D blood levels increased the most had the greatest reductions in blood estrogens, which are a known risk factor for breast cancer.
Irregular periods, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, and headaches can all be signs of low levels of the hormone estrogen in women. The most common cause of low estrogen is perimenopause, your body's transition into menopause, but other factors can be involved.
Too little estrogen can lead to a low sex drive. Too much of it can cause infertility and erectile dysfunction. Excessive estrogen can cause gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts.
Cold feet may be your body's normal response to temperature, but it can sometimes be related to a medical condition that needs treatment. Diseases from diabetes to anemia can affect the temperature of your feet.
Poor circulation
This is one of the most common causes of cold feet. Poor circulation can make it difficult for enough warm blood to get to your feet regularly, keeping them cooler than the rest of your body.
One of the quickest ways to relieve cold feet is to soak them in a warm footbath. Filling a bathtub or basin with warm water and soaking the feet for 10 to 15 minutes may be enough to keep fresh blood circulating to the feet throughout the day.
Cold feet: When your thyroid acts up or doesn't perform at peak levels, it can disrupt your metabolism, blood flow, and even body temperature. It can leave your feet feeling cold, particularly in cold seasons. Muscle pain and cramps: One of the primary hypothyroidism symptoms include nerve, joint, and muscle pains.
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a disease where your thyroid gland does not produce sufficient thyroid hormone. This interferes with your body's metabolism that controls heartbeat and temperature, leading to reduced circulation that causes cold feet.