Jessica K. Gordon, MD, rheumatologist at HSS, shares insights with The New York Times on cold hands and feet and when this may indicate a more serious underlying issue.

About 5 percent of Americans have Raynaud’s syndrome, in which spasms of the arteries in the hands and feet, usually caused by cold or stress, temporarily cut off blood flow. This can cause the fingers and toes to change color, said Dr. Gordon — white and blue in lighter skin, or more yellow and purple in darker skin. While Raynaud’s is generally harmless, it can occasionally be caused by serious autoimmune diseases like lupus or scleroderma, she added.

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