Women usually have cold feet more often than men. Although most of the time it is not important, especially if it happens in winter, if it lasts over time it can be a symptom of a health problem.
Have them cold feet all the time can hide the so-called “Reynaud’s phenomenon”, in which the arteries in the toes overreact to different temperatures. Other pathologies can also be behind this sensation, such as fibromyalgia, anemia, blood circulation problems or hypothyroidism.
Cold feet: causes
Learn about the diseases that can hide behind cold feet, and what are the precautions and care that you should take into account.
cold feet cause 1: poor circulation
The feet are the extremities farthest from the heart, so it is more difficult for blood to reach them. This influences that they have a lower temperature than the rest of the body.
The blood reaches them later and that lowers the temperature. If there is also a problem that hinders proper blood circulation, the sensation of cold feet can be accentuated and also cause other symptoms.
cold feet cause 2: anemia
You may not know that something as common (especially among women) as iron deficiency can affect the regulation of body temperature.
cold feet cause 3: Arteriopathy peripheral
Plaque buildup causes narrowing and hardening of the arteries, which in turn causes decreased blood flow in the legs and feet.
People who have high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or are smokers are at increased risk of peripheral artery disease (or peripheral artery disease).
cold feet cause 4: smoking
Smoking is one of the main causes of those who suffer from icy feet, among many other symptoms and diseases of varying severity.
The most common symptoms of this disorder are:
– Feet and legs cold to the touch
– Pale skin on these extremities
– Pain, fatigue, burning or muscular discomfort in the feet, calves or thighs
At first, they appear when walking (especially uphill or at a fast pace) or when exercising. But if the disease becomes severe, these symptoms can also appear at rest, along with numbness, cramps, tingling or pain in the feet and fingers.
cold feet cause 5: Sickness Raynaud
Also called Raynaud’s Phenomenon, it is a blood vessel disorder that affects the fingers and toes. People with this disease suffer from an excessive reaction to cold and emotional stress: the vessels are momentarily narrowed and not enough blood reaches these parts of the body.
- People with this syndrome overreact to cold and stress.
When this happens, the skin in these areas turns white or bluish, and the fingers feel cold and numb. This reaction can last from 10-15 minutes to more than an hour. But when blood flow is restored, the skin turns red and you may feel throbbing, tingling, or sore.
Although the cause of this disorder is unknown, in some cases it is associated with diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia or scleroderma.
cold feet cause 6: NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER
If your feet feel cold but feel warm to the touch, it could be a sign of peripheral neuropathy. This disorder of neurological origin is usually quite common among people with diabetes.
Having high blood sugar levels over a long period of time can damage peripheral nerves, which send information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.
- Diabetes or a deficiency of B vitamins can cause neuropathy peripheral
In some cases, neuropathy is hereditary, and in others it may be due to a deficiency of B vitamins (B6, B9 or folic acid and B12), autoimmune disorders, poisoning by heavy metals such as lead, injuries that cause pressure in the a nerve or excessive alcohol consumption.
Other very common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are:
Tingling, numbness, and stabbing pain in the feet (although it can also affect the hands and other parts of the body). Or instead of cold, the opposite can also be noticed: a burning sensation in the feet.
cold feet cause 8: HYPOTHYROIDISM
Intolerance or great sensitivity to cold is one of the usual symptoms of hypothyroidism. This disorder occurs when the thyroid gland has reduced activity and, therefore, does not produce the necessary amount of thyroid hormones, essential for most of the metabolic functions of the body.
In addition to feeling cold, hypothyroidism can also cause:
- Tiredness, fatigue, drowsiness and apathy
- Difficulty concentrating, memory loss, or depression
- Weight gain
- Paleness, dry skin and brittle nails and hair
- Constipation
- Decreased heart rate
- joint pain
How to combat cold feet?
As for the diet, it is good to include foods rich in magnesium, calcium, vitamins E, K and C and spicy products such as cayenne, curry, cinnamon, pepper can increase heart rate so that more blood flows to the feet. Dairy products should be avoided, as they increase the sensation of cold, and caffeine, because it compresses the blood vessels.
Similarly, it is recommended to drink water regularly because dehydration can cool the feet. You can practice hydrotherapy and soak your feet in warm water or perform contrast baths with cold and then hot water because they activate the foot’s circulation. You can also rub them with any moisturizer to warm them up and help improve circulation.
Precautions to prevent icy feet
– Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight, as it hinders blood circulation
– Wear socks made of natural fibers, such as wool or cotton, and that are not tight. The footwear must also be breathable, to prevent the accumulation of sweat from cooling the feet.
– Do not wear high-heeled shoes on a daily basis. Ideally, they should have a 3-4 cm heel.
– Try not to cross your legs while sitting.
– Do moderate exercise regularly, as it favors blood flow in the extremities and oxygenation.
– If you smoke, ask your doctor for advice to quit this habit. Smoking increases circulatory problems and cooling of the extremities.
– To warm your feet, do not put them near the stove or radiator, as this favors the appearance of chilblains. Better massage them to reactivate circulation.
– Consuming alcohol to warm up is not a good idea. Although it can produce this effect in the rest of the body momentarily, alcohol causes vasoconstriction (contraction of blood vessels) and hinders circulation in the extremities, increasing the sensation of cold in them.
Important: It should be clarified that Bioguía does not give medical advice or prescribe the use of techniques as a form of treatment for physical or mental problems without the advice of a doctor, either directly or indirectly. In the case of applying any information on this site for this purpose, Bioguía does not assume responsibility for these acts. The site is intended only to provide information of a general nature to aid in the pursuit of personal growth and development.
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