Cold Hands and Feet: A Neurologist’s Approach to Evaluation, Differential Diagnosis, and Management

Cold sensation of the hands and feet is a common yet diagnostically challenging complaint encountered in neurological practice.Although often attributed to benign circulatory or environmental factors, this symptom may represent the initial manifestation of diverse neurological, vascular, autonomic, metabolic, or autoimmune disorders. [1][2]2][3] Accurate interpretation requires careful clinical reasoning, structured neurological examination, and thoughtful differentiation from non-neurological conditions.In this podcast episode, we are joined by Professor Sanggon Lee, a neuromuscular specialist at Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, for an expert interview focusing on the clinical evaluation, differential diagnosis, and management of patients presenting with cold hands and feet.The discussion emphasizes practical bedside approaches, including symptom characterization, pattern recognition, and targeted neurological examination, followed by stepwise diagnostic strategies incorporating neurophysiological studies.