Cold hands and feet

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I've always had quite cold hands and feet, which became really obvious when I had a girlfriend and I wanted to touch her naked skin (pretty annoying for her). When I learnt that the use of beta blockers can lead to this symptom, I figured my own cold hands and feet might have been related to Asperger's Syndrome. Thus, I wonder if anyone else on this forum has this symptom as well. Please fill in the poll.

So how do I see this connection? Well, to reduce blood flow through the arterio-venous anastomoses (specialized connections between the arteries and veins), the brain sends signals along sympathetic nerves. The nerves release a chemical (norepinephrine - also called noradrenaline) that causes the diameter of the arteries to get smaller, thereby allowing less blood through. If the sympathetic nerves are overactive, too little warm blood gets through, so the fingers and toes get cold. Now, we know that people with Asperger's Syndrome have too much Dopamine β-hydroxylase (the enzyme that turns dopamine into norepinephrine) and thus it is reasonable to suggest that there is too much norepinephrine present among people with Asperger's, causing the sympathetic nerves to be overactive.

In general, sympathetic nerves prepare the body for action or emergencies. The sympathetic branch of the nervous system is stimulated by things like stress, fear, anger, upright posture, and a cold environment, among others. Activities that calm the sympathetic nervous system can help warm the hands and feet.

Last edited by Salonfilosoof on 28 Mar 2010, 6:16 am, edited 1 time in total.

I have an opposite problem, I hate my hot feet. My hands are normal I think, but feet... I could walk barefeet whole year long

I find I get cold feet if I sit around too much... I never have the problem if I'm active during the day. Therefore it seems like a circulation problem, but may be affected indirectly by AS if this condition causes you to lock yourself in your room for long periods of time.

I used to have trouble with my hands and feet randomly changing temperature on me. I started taking B-12, 2000mcg a day, and it's gotten much better.

I've always had cold hands and feet and I'm super fit and live in a warm country. I had no idea there was any connection.

I had it much worse, before I go fit through martial arts.

If you are basically skinny and have a fast metabolism your extremities will loose heat quick. Pair that with anxiety and you had can turn into an ice block, with little exposure.

I'm pretty sure it's related to Asperger's, but I find it strange that it's not mentioned in the DSM-IV criteria. I guess this only confirms my lack of trust in psychologists and psychiatrists.

i had 'em before i even was prescribed the beta blocker.

To reduce blood flow through the arterio-venous anastomoses (specialized connections between the arteries and veins), the brain sends signals along sympathetic nerves. The nerves release a chemical (norepinephrine - also called noradrenaline) that causes the diameter of the arteries to get smaller, thereby allowing less blood through. If the sympathetic nerves are overactive, too little warm blood gets through, so the fingers and toes get cold. Now, we know that people with Asperger's Syndrome have too much Dopamine β-hydroxylase (the enzyme that turns dopamine into norepinephrine) and thus it is reasonable to suggest that there is too much norepinephrine present among people with Asperger's, causing the sympathetic nerves to be overactive.

In general, sympathetic nerves prepare the body for action or emergencies. The sympathetic branch of the nervous system is stimulated by things like stress, fear, anger, upright posture, and a cold environment, among others. Activities that calm the sympathetic nervous system can help warm the hands and feet.



I'll add this info to the first post for some more clarity.

??? what evidence do you have evidence to suggest it is? The DSM-IV is a series of arbitrary requirements, as are all psychiatric manuals. I mean it took the APA 10 over to figure out the Asperger's was a arbitrary distinction of ASD. If you had been involved you would have had some chance of convincing them of pretty much anything if you were persuasive enough. It is not at all empirical, but they are mostly concerned with behaviourism. Do you actually believe that x of section one and y of two, etc is meaningful modelling of a condition? It is BS, plain a simple. The basis for establishing coincidence is arbitrary as is the basis for establishing mutual exclusivity is arbitrary. If you don't believe me ask them for a definitive answer what their methodology is. There isn't even consistency in the reason for having diagnosis. The major flaw in their approach can be summed up as follows: If you assume that components are bolted together to form a condition you can learn nothing further, if you assume that all components are free moving through analysis you can establish the nature of conditions, including the possibility of some traits being bolted together.

I already said I don't put any trust in psychologists and psychiatrists. I wasn't aware of how the DSM-IV was assembled, but you just only confirmed my distrust

What evidence do I have? Well, I don't have any evidence but the fact that both conditions are related to large amounts of Dopamine β-hydroxylase turning dopamine into norepinephrine and the fact that most people responding the poll so far also have this condition is indicative that there is a correlation. Of course, further research should be done to prove or disprove this correlation.

I never realized I had cold hands and feet until I had a girlfriend. I have to try to warm my hands sometimes before I touch her. I always thought it was because Im a smoker. I am fairly active. I go to the gym 6 days a week.

Sound very familiar

That's quite interesting. I wasn't aware of this connection.

My hands and especially my feet have always been cold, much colder than the rest of my body. My feet at this moment are like two blocks of ice, as they almost always are when I'm not moving around. They actually get so cold it's painful. I just assumed it was down to poor circulation. But, the thing is my feet are even cold when I'm moving around.

I do fit the profile you described too. I am slim - have been all of my life and I have a fast metabolism.

I have cold everything, never mind just hands and feet...

cold hands, warm heart