When should I be worried about cold hands and feet?

When the air turns much colder, it's normal for your hands and feet to feel chilly - but if they stay cold constantly, it may be a sign of something more serious.

- By Camilla Foster

Dr Sam Firoozi, consultant interventional cardiologist at HCA Healthcare UK's The Harley Street Clinic, explains why our hands and feet are vulnerable to the cold weather and outlines when it's time to see a doctor.

What happens to our hands and feet during cold weather?

"The blood circulation to the hands and feet is regulated by the autonomic nervous system," explains Dr Firoozi. "Its job is to open up the arteries (vasodilation) to encourage more blood flow in warmer weather. In the colder weather, this constricts the small blood vessels in the peripheries [such as our hands and feet] to restrict blood flow (vasoconstriction) to the edges in order to maintain heat and maintain body temperature."

Which conditions can lead to unusually cold hands and feet?