As a newcomer to the slopes and normally used to sunny beach holidays, I continually suffer from cold hands whilst on the slopes.
What causes cold hands?
Everyone gets cold hands and feet sometimes, especially during winter but most definitely when you’re on a ski holiday. One reason for feeling severe reactions to the extremities may be that you are suffering from Raynaud's disease where you lose blood circulation in your outer extremities at the slightest change in temperature. As a result your fingers and toes turn white or take on a bluish tinge as they get colder, and they may feel painful or numb. When they warm up again, they become red as the blood returns and sometimes throb with pain for a few minutes to several hours, depending on the severity of the reaction. However, there are other causes why one might experience cold hands and feet. As unlikely as it may seem, it could also be the sign of a simple iron deficiency.
Here are some tips to counteract the effects of COLD HANDS whilst skiing:
Layering - Just like wearing thin layers underneath your ski/boarding clothing, wearing a thin silk glove inside your outer padded waterproof glove works well to preserve the rapid loss of heat from the hands during long ski/boarding days. Invest in some good quality outer glove as I started with some cheap gloves and suffered the consequences - unfortunately it is true that you do get what you pay for and when it comes to keeping my hands warm, having suffered countless times the dreaded piercing fingertips and being near to tears, I would definitely recommend investing in a good pair as they will last you years and years. Take the time to do a little research and try on numerous pairs I’d recommend good gore-tex waterproof breathable material with a lining of down/fleece. At the moment I am wearing a silk glove and a good quality gore-tex mitten type glove, which allows me to exercise my fingers inside the glove plus provide a nice little home for my hand warmer heat pads when required.
Hand Warmers - Which are sold at any ski shop or pharmacy are also a great way to counteract the cold. When required you just open the packet containing a pair of heat pads, the pads are air activated, you then place the heat pad inside your glove and within a couple of minutes you have about 3 to 4 hours of warmth. The downside to the heat pads are they are single use only, so after the 3 to 4 hours of use you must then throw them away and purchase another for the next day. Personally, I find if I have 2 to 3 heat pads in my pocket/rucksack just in case I need them, it almost acts as a placebo. If you do a search on the internet you can also find some reusable heat pads plus some hand warmers which require a small battery.
Cold Water Fish - There are some ways to give your blood flow a little helping hand to get your extremity temperature closer to normal. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as mackerel, herring, salmon and anchovies, help reduce the painful blood vessel spasms that cause the shutdown of blood flow. That is why you should eat plenty of these cold-water fish to ease the pain of Raynaud’s or other circulatory problems due to cold weather or emotional stress.
Iron Deficiency - A woman’s core body temperature is between one or two degrees lower than a man’s. Also, women are more likely to have cold hands and feet, whether due to Raynaud’s or not. One reason for the lower average body temperature is that many women are iron-deficient. Lack of iron can alter your thyroid hormone metabolism, which regulates body heat generation, so women who are aware of this try to consume the recommended 18 milligrams of iron a day, but even so, iron stores are depleted during menstruation. If your body iron is low, more iron consumption translates into more body heat, which is a good way to counteract your cold hands and feet.
Stay Dry - Since dampness leads to chilliness, you should also try to keep your hands and feet dry, absorbent foot powders are excellent for helping keep feet dry. Using foot powder on a regular basis is recommended, even sprinkling it between the toes.
Hot Chocolate/Vin Chaud Stop - A good old fashioned warm-up break to enjoy a warm drink and body thaw-out can do wonders for those piercing fingertips as well as improve your days performance on the slopes.
Finger and Hand Excercises - Another way to help your cold fingers and hands if any of the already mentioned options are not available on the day is to:
- Take off your glove and pop each hand under your armpits for a couple of minutes, or
- Move your fingers up and down vigorously, as if you are playing the piano double handedly, this will help the circulation of blood around the fingers therefore providing heat.
Another useful tip one Ski Instructor showed me when it is far too cold to take your glove off, is to punch your fist into the palm of your other hand, constantly alternating hands - amazingly it works well and get that blood circulating in double quick time!
Keep warm and have big fun!
Kim CarringtonHand Warmers - Which are sold at any ski shop or pharmacy are also a great way to counteract the cold. When required you just open the packet containing a pair of heat pads, the pads are air activated, you then place the heat pad inside your glove and within a couple of minutes you have about 3 to 4 hours of warmth. The downside to the heat pads are they are single use only, so after the 3 to 4 hours of use you must then throw them away and purchase another for the next day. Personally, I find if I have 2 to 3 heat pads in my pocket/rucksack just in case I need them, it almost acts as a placebo. If you do a search on the internet you can also find some reusable heat pads plus some hand warmers which require a small battery.
Cold Water Fish - There are some ways to give your blood flow a little helping hand to get your extremity temperature closer to normal. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as mackerel, herring, salmon and anchovies, help reduce the painful blood vessel spasms that cause the shutdown of blood flow. That is why you should eat plenty of these cold-water fish to ease the pain of Raynaud’s or other circulatory problems due to cold weather or emotional stress.
Iron Deficiency - A woman’s core body temperature is between one or two degrees lower than a man’s. Also, women are more likely to have cold hands and feet, whether due to Raynaud’s or not. One reason for the lower average body temperature is that many women are iron-deficient. Lack of iron can alter your thyroid hormone metabolism, which regulates body heat generation, so women who are aware of this try to consume the recommended 18 milligrams of iron a day, but even so, iron stores are depleted during menstruation. If your body iron is low, more iron consumption translates into more body heat, which is a good way to counteract your cold hands and feet.
Stay Dry - Since dampness leads to chilliness, you should also try to keep your hands and feet dry, absorbent foot powders are excellent for helping keep feet dry. Using foot powder on a regular basis is recommended, even sprinkling it between the toes.
Hot Chocolate/Vin Chaud Stop - A good old fashioned warm-up break to enjoy a warm drink and body thaw-out can do wonders for those piercing fingertips as well as improve your days performance on the slopes.
Finger and Hand Excercises - Another way to help your cold fingers and hands if any of the already mentioned options are not available on the day is to:
- Take off your glove and pop each hand under your armpits for a couple of minutes, or
- Move your fingers up and down vigorously, as if you are playing the piano double handedly, this will help the circulation of blood around the fingers therefore providing heat.
Another useful tip one Ski Instructor showed me when it is far too cold to take your glove off, is to punch your fist into the palm of your other hand, constantly alternating hands - amazingly it works well and get that blood circulating in double quick time!
Keep warm and have big fun!
