Is this the same as cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet?

Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet is centered on the extremities, whereas cold intolerance refers to sensitivity to cold throughout the entire body. Both symptoms can occur together.

What should I do if I still feel uncomfortable after the examination?

Based on the confirmed results, we analyze the overall heat-cold tendency of the body along with digestion, fatigue, sleep, and coldness in the lower abdomen to determine the priority of Korean herbal medicine treatment and the goals for progress.

What clues help distinguish the cause?

We look at recent weight changes, fatigue and edema, pallor and dizziness, changes in medications, and menstrual or menopausal status. If cold intolerance is new or worsening, it may be necessary to check thyroid function and anemia.

How should I keep a lifestyle log?

For about a week, please record uncomfortable indoor temperatures, times when symptoms worsen, whether your hands and feet or your torso feel colder, and changes after meals and activity. This provides more useful information for actual medical evaluation than simply writing that you have a 'cold constitution'.

Cold intolerance is broader than simply having cold hands and feet

Cold intolerance refers to a state where it is exceptionally difficult to endure the cold compared to other people in the same environment, and systemic discomfort persists even with warming. Unlike coldness in a single area like the fingertips, it is necessary to check for systemic changes such as fatigue, pallor, edema, weight changes, and constipation.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: If fingers turn white or blue, feel numb, or become painful after exposure to cold, Raynaud's phenomenon is examined separately. Systemic cold sensitivity can be related to anemia, hypothyroidism, chronic diseases, or medications, and is not explained by cold hypersensitivity or constitution alone.
Information to record before your visit: Note whether you feel cold even on days when the indoor temperature and clothing are similar, and whether your whole body or your hands and feet get cold first. Recording skin color changes, fatigue, changes in weight, menstruation, or bowel movements, along with medications and recent blood test results, helps in determining the scope of the examination.
Scope of this material: MedlinePlus data was used to distinguish the medical causes of cold sensitivity from Raynaud's phenomenon. A symptom description of cold intolerance alone is not used to diagnose thyroid or vascular diseases or cold syndrome; sudden color changes, wounds, or severe pain in one hand or foot must be checked immediately.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of cold intolerance, the scope of differential diagnosis, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideChills

Symptom and Disease GuideHypothyroidism

Heat and Cold ColumnReasons why the body feels cold, and Korean medicine treatment when coldness in the hands, feet, and abdomen is accompanied by fatigue

This explains how to distinguish the reasons for a cold body from thyroid issues, anemia, and Raynaud's phenomenon, and describes how Korean herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments vary when coldness in the hands, feet, and abdomen is accompanied by poor digestion, fatigue, or edema.

Heat and Cold ColumnCauses of Cold Hands and Feet: Korean Medicine Treatment Based on Skin Color Changes, Fatigue, and Digestive State

We categorize the causes of cold hands and feet into Raynaud's phenomenon, thyroid issues, and anemia, as well as Korean medicine perspectives such as lack of warmth and stagnation of Qi and blood, and explain herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments tailored to symptom combinations.

Medical GuideWhat should be checked when the entire body feels excessively hot or cold?

Sensitivity to heat or cold throughout the body can be caused by various factors, including the thyroid, medication, anemia, and menopause. If discomfort persists despite no major abnormalities in tests, we can determine the direction of Korean medicine treatment by analyzing systemic heat/cold tendencies along with sleep, digestion, sweat, and fatigue.

Medical GuideWhen my hands and feet are cold and chilly, should I only think of it as cold hypersensitivity (Sujok Naengjeung)?

Symptoms of cold hands and feet vary, even under the single term 'cold hypersensitivity' (sujok-naengjeung). By distinguishing between color changes, differences between sides, numbness, and general fatigue, and by examining digestion, sleep, and lower abdominal coldness when tests show no clear cause, we can determine if Korean medicine treatment is appropriate.

Comparison of similar terms

Symptom ExpressionCold Sensation

Cold sensation is a symptom where the hands, feet, abdomen, lower back, or the entire body feels cold and chilly. We examine accompanying patterns such as changes in skin color, numbness, differences between the left and right sides, and digestion or fatigue.

Korean Medicine ConceptHan-jeung

Cold syndrome (Han-jeung) refers to a tendency where various body signals lean toward a cold state. It is not a term used to describe diseases such as anemia, hypothyroidism, or vascular and nerve problems.

Conditions requiring differential diagnosisHypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the body may feel cold, tired, swollen, or experience weight gain. It is not judged by cold hypersensitivity alone and requires blood tests and medical evaluation.