[Click! Health] "My hands and feet feel like ice"… Symptoms and Treatments of Peripheral Vascular Circulation Disorders

During the winter season, the number of patients complaining of cold hands and feet increases. If the symptoms are severe, it is advisable to visit a hospital for examination. [Image source=Getty Images]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwanju] Every winter, many people visit hospitals complaining of particularly cold hands and feet. While it is natural for hands and feet to feel cold in chilly weather, if they are excessively cold and numb, it is advisable to get examined. This could indicate a problem with the peripheral blood vessels.

Raynaud's Syndrome, Severe Cases Can Lead to Skin Necrosis

One representative disease causing peripheral blood circulation disorders is 'Raynaud's syndrome.' Due to an excessive reaction of the sympathetic nerves, the peripheral blood vessels in the fingers and toes constrict severely, causing circulation problems. Raynaud's syndrome occurs nearly twice as often in women as in men. Women tend to have narrower blood vessels than men, and various risk factors include hormonal changes related to menarche, pregnancy, and childbirth, a history of frequent exposure to cold water from activities like dishwashing, and blood pooling in internal organs such as the uterus or ovaries.

When warm blood is not delivered to the fingertips and toes, symptoms of coldness and numbness occur, sometimes accompanied by color changes in the fingers. The blood vessels constrict and turn white; if this state persists, oxygen deficiency causes cyanosis, turning the skin blue. When the vessels dilate again and blood flow resumes, the skin turns red. In severe cases, oxygen supply to the fingertips and toes is insufficient, causing numbness, itching, pain, and even skin necrosis.

Diagnosis is made through vascular function tests that check how quickly peripheral blood flow and temperature return after immersing the hands in cold water for a certain period, or nuclear medicine tests that observe changes in the affected area after injecting radioactive isotopes following cold water immersion. Treatment mainly focuses on symptom relief, and since most pain is mild, symptoms are managed with medication.

It is best to manage body temperature well in daily life and avoid exposure to cold air or water as much as possible. Wearing socks, indoor shoes, and gloves for protection is recommended. In severe cases, medication is used to alleviate symptoms, and if medication is ineffective, sympathetic nerve blockade surgery may be performed. Smokers must quit smoking to prevent peripheral blood vessel constriction.

Professor Jo Seong-shin of the Department of Vascular Surgery at Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital explains peripheral vascular circulation disorders.
[Photo by Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital]

Atherosclerosis, Starting with Cold Feet and Calf Pain

Another factor that impedes peripheral blood circulation is atherosclerosis. When any part of the arteries, which carry blood from the heart, becomes blocked, the amount of blood reaching the peripheral vessels decreases, causing cold sensations in the hands or feet. Atherosclerosis is often accompanied by risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and smoking, and it more commonly causes coldness in the feet rather than the hands, often affecting only one foot.

In the early stages, the main symptoms are coldness in the feet and calf pain when walking or climbing stairs. As the condition progresses, black discoloration of the toes and pain occur. If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, necrosis of the fingertips and toes may advance.

Diagnosis involves measuring blood pressure simultaneously in both arms and legs while lying comfortably, and checking the ankle-brachial index (ABI). If the ABI is 0.9 or below, peripheral arterial disease is suspected, and additional tests such as CT or vascular ultrasound are conducted. Treatment options for peripheral arterial atherosclerosis include procedures to open blocked vessels by inserting thin wire-attached instruments through small skin punctures, as well as bypass surgery that creates new pathways to deliver blood to the periphery by making incisions in the skin.

Professor Cho Seongsin of the Vascular Surgery Department at Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital explained, "If vascular problems occur, receiving diagnosis and treatment at the appropriate time often allows sufficient management with medication alone. If early symptoms are suspected, it is important to visit a hospital to accurately identify the cause."