Do your hands and feet become cold after the onset of winter? Doctor: Be careful of wearing wrong clothes. If you feel cold, the main thing is to keep warm in “three places”

beginning of winter Winter has just passed and many people have started taking out thick coats, scarves and warm clothes. However, although he is obviously wearing warm clothes, his fingers and toes are still cold, and he also experiences discomfort such as stiffness in the shoulders and neck and tightness in the waist. Xu Weiyi, a Chinese medicine practitioner at Chumingtang Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, said that staying warm in winter does not mean wearing as thick clothes as possible, but protecting the parts of the body that easily lose heat, especially the neck, abdomen, waist and ankles. If the method of keeping warm is wrong and the body remains in a low temperature environment for a long time, peripheral blood circulation may be affected, making cold hands and feet and muscle stiffness more obvious.

Zou Weiyi said that when the temperature drops in winter, the human body will reduce heat loss from the skin surface through vasoconstriction, so peripheral parts such as hands and feet are prone to cold. If people only pay attention to wearing thick coats but neglect to keep their neck, stomach and lower limbs warm, they will easily lose heat in the cold wind.

First is the neck. If the neck is exposed to cold air for a long time, the muscles of the shoulders and neck become stiff due to the low temperature. This is especially true for office workers who frequently use computers and scroll through their mobile phones. Their already stiff shoulders and neck will become more pronounced when the weather gets colder. It is advisable to wear scarves and turtleneck clothes while going out to avoid the cold breeze hitting your neck directly.

After this there is stomach and waist. The abdomen is an important trunk area of ​​the body. Wearing too short tops or low-waisted pants in winter, or exposing the waist and abdomen to cold air for a long time can make people feel uncomfortable. Especially before and after women’s menstruation, if they are prone to lower abdominal strain or waist discomfort, they should pay more attention to clothing to keep warm and avoid wearing thin clothes for a long time.

The third thing that is easily overlooked is the ankle. Many young people are still accustomed to wearing socks and cropped pants in winter, even keeping their ankles exposed. The legs are located at the end of the body. When ambient temperature drops, peripheral blood vessels constrict. Therefore, you can choose appropriate length socks and warm shoes to reduce direct stimulation from cold air.

Xue Weiyi reminded that the most important thing when wearing clothes in winter is to balance warmth and breathability. It is recommended to wear onion style using inner, middle and outer layers of clothing to adjust body temperature. The inner layer can be made of moisture-absorbing and sweat-wicking materials to prevent clothing from sticking to the skin after sweating, resulting in reduced body heat; The middle layer is mainly made of sweaters, woolen clothes and other materials with warm effect; The outer layer is made of windproof jacket to reduce direct contact of cold air with the body.

Due to the large difference in morning and evening temperatures in winter in Taiwan, wearing very thick clothes when you go out in the morning will make you sweat a lot after activities in the afternoon, and there is a cold breeze in the evening, which can easily overheat and cool your body. Therefore, it is best to wear clothes that are easy to put on, take off, and adjust according to the amount of activity and ambient temperature. There is no need to wear heavy clothes from morning till night.

In addition, the elderly and office workers who stay in air-conditioned rooms for long periods of time should also pay special attention to staying warm. The elderly may be less sensitive to changes in ambient temperature and should not decide what to wear based solely on whether they feel cold.

Many people’s hands and feet become cold in winter, they think that they are born with a cold body. Xu Weiyi said that cold hands and feet may not only be related to individual constitution and peripheral vasoconstriction, but also affected by factors such as prolonged sitting, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, and unbalanced diet. For example, if an office worker sits at a desk for a long time and his leg muscle activity is insufficient, it is easy to feel heaviness and cold in the lower limbs. It is advisable to increase foot muscle activity through simple activities such as getting up and walking from time to time, moving your ankles, stretching your calves, or raising toes and heels.

You can also soak your feet in warm water to make your feet feel warm. The water temperature should not be hot, about 38 to 40 degrees Celsius, for 10 to 15 minutes each time. However, people with diabetes, poor peripheral nerve sensation, or blood circulation diseases should consult a doctor before soaking their feet to avoid irritation caused by the dull sensation.

In addition to dressing, Xu Weiyi suggested that after the onset of winter, you should gradually adjust your daily routine to avoid staying up late and excessive fatigue. To maintain balanced nutrition, the diet should include moderate intake of proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and iron-rich foods. There is no need to consume large amounts of sesame oil, ginger oil or high-calorie supplements to stay warm.

Furthermore, many people avoid going out in winter because they are afraid of the cold, resulting in reduced activity levels. It is recommended to choose a time when the temperature is more comfortable for walking, brisk walking or stretching, and maintain muscle function and heart health through regular activities.

Zhu Weiyi reminded that maintaining good health at the beginning of winter does not just mean wearing more clothes, but more importantly, understanding the body’s need for warmth. If cold hands and feet persist for a long time, or are also accompanied by changes in the color of the fingers, numbness, pain, unilateral cold limbs, or wounds that are difficult to heal, it cannot be attributed to physical structure alone. You should seek medical help to evaluate whether there is anemia, thyroid dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, etc. Only by mastering the right way to dress, maintaining active levels, and maintaining a regular schedule can your body more easily adapt to winter climate changes.