Understanding Hot & Cold Sensations During Meals: Potential Health Concerns

Question
My husband is 70

When we eat a hearty meal I get hot but ocasionally he gets very cold to his core right while eating.  so cold that he goes for an extra sweater and extra socks.

Is that normal?  is there something that might need to be checked out?

Answer
Hi Gerry,
This could be a subtle sign of cardiac or peripheral vascular disease. The 'meal' shunts blood to the gut to aid digestion and away from the extremities leaving them cold. Either the heart can't keep up with the demand for digestion or the arteries can't carry enough blood to his extremities. If he has not had a physical or a cardiac workup for awhile, it might be a good idea to get that done. This is just a  guess however as I don't have the luxury of seeing him in person.