Can peripheral arterial disease cause cold hands and feet?

Peripheral arterial disease develops when arteries supplying the limbs become narrowed, reducing blood flow. The affected hand or foot may feel cooler than the other side, look pale or bluish, or have numbness, tingling or weaker pulses. Symptoms can be more noticeable in the feet and legs, while hand symptoms may have other explanations.

Cold hands and feet can also occur with cold exposure, Raynaud's phenomenon, nerve problems, anaemia or medicine effects. A clinician will consider whether symptoms are on one or both sides and examine skin colour, pulses, sensation and wounds.

Make an appointment if the symptom is persistent, occurs with walking pain, numbness, skin changes or slow-healing sores, or is clearly worse on one side. Keep the limbs warm without placing numb skin directly against intense heat. Protect feet from cuts, check the skin regularly and avoid smoking or nicotine exposure. Do not start circulation medicines without medical advice.

Seek urgent help if a hand or foot suddenly becomes cold, pale, blue, severely painful, numb or weak, or if you cannot move it normally. A new wound that turns dark, develops spreading redness or does not heal also needs prompt assessment. Sudden symptoms can signal a serious interruption of blood flow.

Could reduced blood flow explain my symptoms? Will you check pulses and circulation? What care is needed for my feet, and which changes mean I should seek urgent help?