Constantly cold extremeties, discolored (usually red)

[AlexS]

Hello.   I am 17 years old, and my fingers and toes are constantly red and cold.  Any slight challenge of cold weather freezes me to the bone and i'm starting to get worried as this has been going on for almost 2 years now.  I think its a circulation problem.  I have been to 2 doctors and niether of them have been able to say anything about it.  When squeezed, my fingers and toes return to their natural color and quickly turn red again when i let go.  If I keep my hands extremely elevated (as in, above me) they return to their natural color, for a short time.   This is making me insane, since it is extremely hard for me to lead a normal life, trying to go through highschool having discolored fingers...i am very self concious about it.    also, any time i try to hold my girlfriend's hand, or something like that, they refuse because my hands are too cold...i need some advice on how to fix this because it is literally driving me crazy and adding to my list of reasons for suicide

here is some more info if it helps:
i smoke 15-20 cigarettes a day
i drink caffiene, about 20 oz. every other day (cutting down)
i DO exercise regularly
i dont eat too much junk food, just your regular everyday stuff with the occasional fruit

any advice is greatly appreciated...

alex

[anacyde]

I have that, it started when I was 14, and I was diagnosed with Raynauds.  It isn't dangerous or anything but it is really unpleasant and quite painful in cold temperatures.  My husband is always asking me if I deliberately stick my feet and hands in the freezer before bed because they are so cold that he can feel cool coming off of them and I don't even need to touch him!  Now that is cold!  I don't know if Raynauds is what you have, but I would ask if it's possible.  I also have extreme difficulty writing or doing fine work with my fingers when they are cold, so I wear gloves as soon as it goes into the 50s outside.  FOrtunately, over the past 14 years, the symptoms have stayed about the same.

Don't smoke.  It will make ANY circulation problem worse and create new ones.  I don't mean to preach.  I started smoking when I was 14 and didn't quit until I was 24...and I hate to think of what damage I've done so I always encourage others to be quitters too ;)

[AlexS]

thanks for the help but i think a doctor mentioned raynaulds and said i dont have it because my hands never change to any color besides red...maybe its dehydration because i dont drink enough water and sometimes when i go for like a week with no caffiene they return to their natural color...any thoughts on this?

[nosa47]

Here are some suggestions that were given on a website about this:

"If wearing gloves and wool socks and staying indoors where it's warm is a nuisance or doesn't help, try these other warm-up tips:
Don't smoke. It impairs circulation.
Avoid caffeine. It constricts blood vessels.
Avoid handling cold objects. Use ice tongs to pick up ice cubes, for instance.
With fingers outstretched, swing your arms in large circles, like a baseball pitcher warming up for a game. This may increase blood flow to the fingers. (Don't do this if you have bursitis or back problems!)
Do not wear footwear that is tight-fitting.
Wiggle your toes. It may help keep them warm as a result of increased blood flow.
Practice a relaxation technique, such as biofeedback."

It seems that you are violating the first two rules i.e. smoking and caffeine.  You also mentioned being dehydrated. Having enough fluids is very important and you should drink at least 8-10 cups of water a day.  Caffeinated drinks don't count; they actually increase your dehydration.  Exercise also helps a lot; walking, jogging, biking, etc for at least 40 minutes a day, 4 or 5 days a week.  

Try the above suggestions and hopefully that will elminate your problem.   Do some google research on the subject of cold extremities and you will find lots of information that might help you.  The main thing is not to give up.  You are still very young and this is a relatively minor problem.  By learning how to deal with it, you will turn a negative experience into a positive one and will develop the confidence to deal with other problems that come along during your lifetime.   Good luck to you.

[XanB]

Hi, my name is Xan. If you dont mind me asking did you ever find out what was the cause of your problem? Was it low blood pressure or the lack of drinking water? Im just curious because ive had a similiar experience as well and wanted to find out the result of your situation. ;-)