The Weather Outside is Frightful! Here's How Winter Affects Your Circulation and Vein Health

Jeffrey H. Miller, M.D.
3 days ago
4 min read

The winter months bring holiday cheer… and cold weather. You may notice your hands and feet getting colder, your skin turning pale, or your blood pressure creeping upward.

These aren’t just seasonal annoyances. They’re real responses driven by your circulatory system.

Here is a simple breakdown of what happens, why it matters, and what you can do.

A thumbnail with the title, "The Weather Outside is Frightful How Does the Winter Affect My Circulatory System?" with an image of a road and forest with snow.

What Happens When I’m Exposed to the Cold?

The most immediate effect of cold exposure is vasoconstriction. This is when your blood vessels narrow, specifically those closest to the surface of the skin. When temperatures drop, your body prioritizes conserving heat.

With vasoconstriction, it helps reduce heat loss by slowing blood flow to the surface. You may notice physical effects, such as:

Cold hands and feet
Pale or bluish skin
Tingling or numbness from reduced circulation

Because cold weather causes vessels to narrow, your heart is forced to push blood through smaller pathways. This raises blood pressure, making your heart work harder, and placing more stress on your cardiovascular system.

Cold weather can also cause the body to pull fluid from the bloodstream into surrounding tissues to conserve body heat. The result is thicker, more concentrated blood, which flows less easily through your vessels and can increase the risk of clot formation.

Why Are Extremities Affected First?

Your hands, feet, ears, and nose are especially vulnerable to cold weather because the body instinctively reduces circulation to these areas first to conserve core heat.

Some physical effects you may notice are:

Slower wound healing
Cold, painful fingers or toes
Numbness or “pins-and-needles” sensations
Color changes (specifically those with Raynaud’s phenomenon)

How Can I Protect My Circulation?

Dress in layers, and keep extremities covered
Warm up before intense outdoor activity (like shoveling snow)
Avoid sudden exposure to cold air
Stay hydrated—dehydration thickens blood
Keep indoor environments comfortably warm
Monitor blood pressure more frequently in winter

Why Cold Weather Matters for Vein Health

While cold weather affects the entire circulatory system, it can be especially impactful for people with underlying vein conditions such as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) or Chronic Venous Disease (CVD).

Healthy veins rely on strong vein walls and properly functioning valves to move blood back toward the heart. When temperatures drop and blood vessels constrict, blood flow slows—particularly in the legs, where veins already work against gravity. This can worsen blood pooling and pressure in the veins.

Cold weather–related changes, such as thicker blood and reduced circulation to the extremities, may contribute to symptoms often associated with vein disease, including:

Leg heaviness or aching
Swelling in the feet, ankles, or lower legs
Increased skin discoloration or skin texture changes
Slower healing of sores or wounds on the legs

By identifying and treating underlying venous issues—such as venous reflux—we can reduce excess pressure in the veins, improve circulation, and support overall fluid balance in the legs.

If you experience persistent leg swelling, skin changes, or discomfort that worsens during colder months, a vein evaluation can help determine whether Vein Disease may be playing a role—and whether treatment could help improve your symptoms year-round.

When to See a Vein Specialist

If you notice changes in your legs that persist beyond the winter months, it may be time to see a vein specialist. You should consider an evaluation if you experience:

Ongoing leg swelling, heaviness, or aching
Skin discoloration, thickening, or irritation on the lower legs
Cold-sensitive legs or feet paired with pain or fatigue
Slow-healing wounds or recurring skin issues near the ankles
Symptoms that worsen after long periods of standing or sitting

These signs may indicate underlying Vein Disease, such as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). Early evaluation can help identify the cause of your symptoms and determine whether vein treatment may improve circulation, comfort, and long-term leg health.

In Conclusion

Cold weather has significant effects on your circulatory system. From the narrowing of blood vessels to rising blood pressure to an increase in blood thickness to elevating risks of cardiovascular events. While these responses are normal and protective, winter can place extra stress on the heart and blood vessels, especially for those with existing vascular conditions.

Understanding what’s happening inside your body can help you take the right steps to stay healthy and safe during the colder months.

References

Kenney, W. L., & Munce, T. A. (2003). Physiology of cold stress. Experimental Physiology, 88(6), 747–754. https://doi.org/10.1113/eph8802563

Modesti, P. A., Morabito, M., Bertolozzi, I., Massetti, L., Panci, G., Lumachi, C., … Gensini, G. F. (2013). Seasonal blood pressure changes: An independent relationship with temperature and daylight hours. Journal of Hypertension, 31(7), 1318–1324. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0b013e328361ef8a

Ye, X., Li, J., Gao, X., Zhang, Y., Chen, H., Liu, C., … Guo, Y. (2023). Short-term exposure to cold temperature and cardiovascular mortality: A multicountry study. Environment International, 176, 107977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.107977

Charkoudian N. Mechanisms and modifiers of reflex induced cutaneous vasoconstriction and vasodilation in humans. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2010;109(4):1221–1228. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00298.2010

Kim JH, Park JB, Lee JH, et al. Association between cold hypersensitivity in the lower extremities and varicose veins: a population-based study. Open Heart. 2025;12(1):e002909. doi:10.1136/openhrt-2024-002909

Partsch H, Menzinger G. Effects of local cooling on venous function in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Angiology. 1998;49(5):375–381. doi:10.1177/000331979804900505

UC Davis Health Vascular Center. Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Accessed December 2025. https://health.ucdavis.edu/vascular/diseases/cvi.html

Stop Letting Your Legs Hold You Back

If you have restlessness, heaviness, aching, swelling, throbbing, or itchiness in your legs—or you notice varicose veins or spider veins—it's time to see a vein specialist.

Schedule an appointment today!