Cure Cold Hands

23 September 2015

If you’re one of the estimated 10 million adults in the UK suffering with Raynaud’s Disease then you’ll know the daily struggle of needing to keep your hands warm. Cold hands and fingers, or feet and toes are a sure sign that you may be suffering from Raynaud’s, triggered by poor blood flow and compromised circulation in the hands and a blight on even the simplest of everyday tasks.

Uncomfortably Numb

Raynaud’s affected fingers suffer from over-sensitivity to the cold. In most cases this is Primary Raynaud’s which fortunately is the less severe of the two, unfortunately it also has no apparent cause, meaning it can affect anyone of any age at any time. For a lucky few, Raynaud’s may leave as mysteriously as it came after a few years, but there are just as often those who are stuck with the chilly chore of living with Raynaud’s daily.

It might initially seem like living with Raynaud’s would not be particularly difficult, while the condition is frustrating, it is not considered serious, and really, how hard is it to simply wear a pair of gloves? The answer is, very! There is no limit on how Raynaud’s attacks might be triggered – from air conditioning to handling cold coins, walking down the frozen food aisle or having a particularly stressful day. Imagine not being able to go without worrying if something as simple as holding a cold drink will call your hands out of action for anything from a few minutes to several hours, in terms of being able to perform simple tasks, Raynaud’s can be incredibly debilitating.

Circulation Boosters

Boosting blood flow through the hands, as well as ensuring they are kept warm, can help decrease the frequency of Raynaud’s attacks. Several things can assist with this, including diet and a few simple exercises to keep hands heated and healthy.

If you’re chained to a desk all day with hands typing away it’s important to give your them a shake-up and make sure the blood is pumping, not only is this ideal for Raynaud’s sufferers, but it can also help prevent Carpal Tunnel which often befalls hands that type all day:

Shake it off: Simple enough, just shake your arms and hands to wake them up a bit and warm them up.

Wrists and Fists: Turn your hands into fists, squeezing as tight as you can while rotating your wrists. Relax and repeat. A rubber, stress ball or dedicated hand exerciser can all lend added resistance to this stretch.

Joining Joints: Spread your fingers out on your desk and bend each joint one by one, this is a better alternative to cracking your fingers and helps boost circulation.

Take the Stairs: A simple way to get the heart pumping, opt for the stairs over the lift.

For an extra boost of hand circulation try one of our dedicated hand exercisers, including the Xtensor, an innovative hand exerciser than is favoured by sportsmen, musicians and other hard working hands for maximising the blood flow and improving the overall condition of poorly hands,

By the time your exercises are complete it should be time for a coffee break, Raynaud’s sufferers should remember the following:

Watch your caffeine intake as this can aggravate Raynaud’s attacks
Herbal teas like ginko and ginger are believed to help boost circulation while soothing teas like camomile can help lessen stress, also a trigger for Raynaud’s.
Healthy snacks such as sunflower seeds are also believed to help boost circulation while supplements like garlic are thought to help thin the blood and make circulation easier.
Water intake is important for a host of health benefits and is a far better alternative to caffeinated tea or coffee.

Visit our online store for a great range of heat treats to make sure that warmed-up hands stay that way!