Countering the 'Cold Hand Blues'

Having been raised on the east coast of Quebec, I am well aware of winter’s chill at its most extreme. When I lived in Montreal during the 90’s, the bitter cold that was part and parcel of January and February was mind numbing at times. But I guess a part of me naively thought that Owen Sound would be different when I moved here in 2002. It’s up for debate whether or not this part of Ontario is as cold as the land of the fleur-de-lis. I would say that what we lack in freezing temperatures we more than make up for in snow volume.

But despite the fact that I can claim victory over some tougher winters than the average Ontarian, I am lagging behind when it comes to tolerance. Whether it’s –5 or –25 outside, my extremities abandon ship when cold strikes. Extra gloves, mittens, thick socks and well-padded winter boots can’t bring back the circulation once it’s gone. And I know I’m not the only sufferer out there.

This past weekend, I went to Harrison Park for an hour or so to check out the annual Winter Scout Campout. As my hands and feet thawed afterwards, I told my wife how impressed I was that these young Scouts could engage in an all-day/overnight marathon in the cold. We agreed that I would never be able to participate in such a venture due to my strange adversity to winter’s bite. At least I didn’t let it get the best of me. Snowcross at Victoria Park was a lot of fun and my new Vancouver 2010 Olympic mittens kept my fingers relatively safe.

If you do your research, there are a number of conditions out there when it comes to those frigid extremities. There is Raynaud’s Disease, a disorder that constricts blood vessels and ultimately blood flow to the fingers and sometimes toes during exposure to the cold. At the other end of the spectrum, Heart Disease is a more extreme cause of poor circulation.

But no matter how mild or severe the symptoms, here are a few small tricks I dug up to help ease the chill…

· Swing your arms in a circular motion with fingers outstretched to help increase blood flow.
· You may think that extra socks are a good thing. But make sure your footwear isn’t too tight or you’ll be feeling (or not feeling) the icy chill of cold feet.
· It’s a simple technique that has been encouraged for generations… Wiggling your toes may be all that is needed to increase blood flow and keep those little piggies safe and snug.