Imagine yourself sitting at your desk in the middle of summer, shivering despite the moderate air conditioning. Or holding a steaming cup of coffee, hoping your icy fingers will finally warm up. These situations may seem harmless, but if your extremities are constantly cold, change color (white, blue), or go numb, it could indicate a more serious problem than a simple reaction to the cold.
When cold becomes a health problem
If your fingers or toes change color, going from white to blue and then to red, accompanied by pain or tingling, you may be suffering from Raynaud's phenomenon. This condition, more common in women and people living in cold climates, is characterized by vasospasms, that is, a temporary constriction of small blood vessels, which reduces blood flow.
Besides the fingers and toes, this sensation can also affect the ears, nose, lips, or nipples. Sometimes, this feeling of never being able to get warm is so intense that it becomes particularly debilitating
