Cold hands and feet

Cold hands and feet are a common occurrence with ME/CFS. The cause is believed to be related to the autonomic nervous system being unable to regulate proper blood flow to the small blood vessels that supply the skin. In turn, tiny blood vessels to shut down, resulting in the cold feeling. The fingers, toes, ears and nose are the most vulnerable to this phenomenon.

Prevalence

 * In a 2001 Belgian study, 72.2% of patients meeting the Fukuda criteria and 77.2% of patients meeting the Holmes criteria, in a cohort of 2073 CFS patients, reported cold hands and feet.

Symptom recognition
The Canadian Consensus Criteria recognizes cold hands and feet as a neuroendocrine system symptom.

Possible causes

 * Anemia
 * Diabetes
 * Lupus
 * Nervous system disorders
 * Poor circulation
 * Raynaud's syndrome
 * Thyroid disease

Learn more

 * 2013, The Blood Will Out: Dr. De Meirleir on Low Blood Volume, Low Blood Pressure and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)