Feeling of Cold Hands and Feet is a Highly Heritable Phenotype

Abstract

The prevalence of the feeling of cold hands and feet (FCHF) is high in the general population but the etiology of FCHF is largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore whether the FCHF is heritable. Eight hundred and ninety-four pairs of twins completed a question about FCHF. Tetrachoric correlations for FCHF were .58, .29, .67, .52, and .04 for monozygotic male, dizygotic male, monozygotic female, and dizygotic female twins, respectively. Model-fitting analyses suggested that in the best fitting model, additive genetic and nonshared environmental variance including measurement error were 64% (95% CI: 55%-72%) and 36% (28%-45%), respectively. Sex differences in genetic and environmental influences were not significant.

Dry skin conditions are related to the recovery rate of skin temperature after cold stress rather than to blood flow

“…14 The majority of individuals with Raynaud's phenomenon and cold hypersensitivity are women, 15,16 which suggests that women tend to have peripheral vascular dysfunction more than men. Dry skin is a common skin problem both in the cosmetic and dermatological fields, particularly in the winter.…”

Efficacy and safety of Korean red ginseng for cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

“…It is significantly more prevalent among women than men in the Korean population (Hur et al, 2012). CHHF can disturb employers in cold climates, and lower the quality of life by interfering with daily activities.…”

“…Various neurovascular, psychosocial, cultural, environmental, and medical factors might contribute to CHHF (Traynor and MacDermid, 2008). However, few studies have been performed to elucidate its etiology (Hur et al, 2012). Further, satisfactory treatments for this condition are not available; the current treatment approaches often involve behavioral modification (Craigen et al, 1999).…”

Acupuncture in subjects with cold hands sensation: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Reactions characterized by excessive peripheral vasospasm may evoke clinical symptoms, and complaints of cold hands sensation are very common among the general population [1]. Cold hands sensation is defined as hands that become intolerably cold when exposed to normal temperature, in which most individuals feel no cold.…”

“…In a community-based survey of approximately 7,000 people, almost 12% responded that they had experienced unusual sensitivity to cold temperatures in their fingertips or toes [3, 4]. This may be due to a mild, early manifestation of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) or may be related to RP [1, 5], which is characterized by a reversible digital vasospasm provoked by cold temperatures and/or emotional stress [6]. A study by Choi et al .…”