Jimellow

Yep, I tend to agree with this.

Cold hands are often associated with Renauds Syndrome (not sure on the spelling), which is related to circulation.

I've read in extreme circumstances, the Syndrome (can't spell the first part, so it will be Syndrome from here on out) can result in some pretty serious issues with the extremities.

My hands get cold, especially in the winter, and if it's cold where I am, my hands are cold also. Generally, the recommendations seem to be keep the hands moving, the circulation flowing, and if possible be warm whenever possible.

If you press your fingernail (or fingertip) and watch to see how fast the white "impression" is filled with red, you can get an idea about how your circulation and capillaries are doing. The faster the red comes back, the better (I assume, I'm no doctor).

Being active helps a lot too. Obviously, if you are active, get the blood pumping, your body will warm up, including the extremities. Also, stay warm, especially in the winter. Winter used to really really mess with my hands, but now I make more of an effort to stay warm, and the results have been good.

Lastly, use hand lotion. Unrealted? Yes, but seriously, my hands used to get so chapped, cracked, and generally messed up due to the cold, dry air. Now that I use hand lotion, it's great. Smells good, makes them feel good, and they're smooth.

I don't think there is a cure for the Syndrome that I know of. I actually went to a few doctors back in the day about it, but they generally said that I didn't have an extreme case and that there wasn't much they could do, or that I should worry about.

However, I personally, recommend staying warm and being active, because activity gets the blood flowing much better than being inactive. And obviously, avoid the cold when possible, as that seems to be what sets it off.

Smoking is also bad news, as it's my understanding that it has a negative effect on the capillaries and circulation in general.

Again, I am no doctor, this is just bits of what I've picked up through some reading, a doctor visit, and my own personal experiences.

EDIT: A few more fun facts.. One method of treatment was to sit out in the cold, while submerging the hands in warm water. In effect this was "tricking" the body to think that your hands were in fact warm, despite the frigid conditions. An ideal place to do this is an army or military base, because it's my understanding that they have the means to create a very cold environment, and that would contrast the warmth the hands are exposed to. I tried this a few years ago on my back porch. Not really sure if it worked, but it was an interesting experience to be freezing my ass off, except for my hands being warm... I also tried acupuncture, and ultimately left that feeling like I had wasted my parent's money. I stopped going when they decided to try using heated "needles" which resulted in my having a very faint burn scar on each wrist... It was then that I realized and became very skeptical of their practice, at least in my case... Lastly, I read (or was told, recommended, I forget) that fish oil is good for the circulation. I take Fish Oil capsules on a daily basis, and have been for years. Apparently, Eskimos eat a lot of fish oil, and they are very healthy in that sense. One thing to be careful of is that (as I understand it) too much fish oil can thin the blood and increase the chances of a stroke (like Aspirin?). I've been taking it for years, and it's now a part of my daily vitamin dose, and I've not experienced any negatives as a result of taking fish oil pills. Whether it is doing anything, I am unable to tell, but I think generally fish oil is a good thing, and therefore I continue to take it. It might be helping, or it might not.. But I've been taking it for years without any problems, and I'm under the impression that it's "good," so I continue to take it to this day.

__________________
Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.