Cold Hands and Feet? Your Brain Might Be Telling You Something

Cold hands and feet are often a visible sign of systemic circulation imbalance, which affect the brain at a microvascular level. Not everyone with cold hands has poor brain circulation, but many people with circulation imbalance show it first in their hands, feet, and nose. Occasional cold hands and feet are common. But persistence can be a sign your body is not regulating circulation efficiently to your brain.

The brain is very sensitive to small reductions in blood flow. If your body struggles to deliver blood to your fingers and toes, it may also struggle to deliver blood to your brain. Healthy brain circulation delivers oxygen,  glucose (fuel for brain cells) and nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids).

The brain uses about 25% of your body’s oxygen and energy, even at rest. One of the biggest problems with low body’s oxygen levels is that you don’t feel it directly. Instead, it shows up indirectly as:

• Fatigue 

• Brain fog 

• Frequent headaches

• Difficulty focusing

• Slow thinking

• Mood changes (irritability, anxiety)

• Sleep disturbances

The brain is very sensitive to small reductions in blood flow.

Blood flow is also regulated by the emotions:

Stress → vasoconstriction → reduced brain perfusion

Relaxation → vasodilation → improved circulation

If your body struggles to deliver blood to your fingers and toes, it may also struggle to deliver optimal blood flow to your brain.