All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Medics have discovered why women's hands are constantly freezing
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
Many people may have noticed that women's hands and feet are often colder than men's, regardless of the ambient temperature. US experts have found that this pattern is related to the physiological characteristics of the female body and has nothing to do with various diseases.
Today, many women are concerned about this feature of their bodies, and doctors record a large number of cases when people turn to them for help and advice. Most often, people blame circulatory problems and changes in hormonal levels for the fact that their limbs cannot warm up. Both the first and second answer options are not far from the truth.
Experts say that "cold hands" are caused by a natural process that occurs in the female body. Vasoconstriction is a narrowing of the lumen of all blood vessels, especially arterial ones. With normal width of blood vessels, blood is distributed throughout the body quickly enough, which ensures uniform body temperature.
The human body is designed in such a way that when it feels very cold, the capillaries on the surface of the body close, and the blood flow is directed rather sharply to the important internal organs: the liver, heart, lungs. The female body reacts to minimal cold much faster and more sharply than the male body. This difference is due to the fact that women are more sensitive to changes in the environment, especially to cold, and they need much more time to warm up. Hands and feet often remain cold because part of the blood rushes to the central organs of the body and does not have time to return back to the extremities.
When a woman is in the cold, the amount of blood flowing to the extremities is about 0.025 liters per minute, when the maximum speed of blood movement in the human body is about 2-2.5 liters per minute. It turns out that the arms and legs of the female body unconsciously "sacrifice" themselves and their dose of blood to preserve other vital organs. Due to the lack of blood in the cold, the extremities turn white, then even take on a bluish tint, the first organs that suffer from severe frostbite are the arms and legs.
If we talk about the peculiarities of the female body, we can note the following: the body temperature is affected by the hormone estrogen. This hormone regulates peripheral blood circulation. The body temperature of women has the ability to change frequently during the menstrual cycle, when the level of estrogen in the body is unstable.
It is worth noting that the above are only the main and most common reasons why women are more likely to freeze and have cold hands. In addition to natural causes, poor blood circulation can be associated with vegetative-vascular dystonia. If you periodically experience severe dizziness, causeless headaches and are constantly tired, it is recommended to consult a doctor for a qualified diagnosis.
[ 1 ]