Are your cold feet just an annoying discomfort or is it a symptom that indicates a more severe life-threatening condition?
There are several things that can cause cold feet but it’s best to make sure you have sufficient home heating. If the cause is from your home you’ll usually find discomfort in the hands and feet.
There are several serious medical causes for cold feet, like peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage out of the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include cold feet, a burning sensation, or feeling like you're walking on a cloud. At night these symptoms can get worse and most often result in weakness, pain, and/or numbness.
Other Medical Conditions
- Anemia- not enough oxygen traveling through the body because of an insufficient amount of red blood cells
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Reynaud’s syndrome- rare disorder of blood vessels
If your cold feet are persistent and never seem to go away it’s important to get a medical opinion. If only one foot is prone to always feeling cold, peripheral vascular disease (PVD, peripheral artery disease) can be the cause. If PVD is not treated it can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, or the need for amputation.
Cold feet can also be a symptom of arterial disease which makes people more prone to injury and healing takes a lot longer. If you are a smoker there are higher chances of developing arterial disease.
Circulatory cold feet causes:
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Being in a cold environment is the most common cause of cold feet. When your entire body is cold your body limits the amount of blood flowing and keeps heat to your vital organs rather than extremities
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Atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries
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Tighten blood vessels from feeling cold or nervous
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Acute blood clots to the arteries in the legs can cause one foot be regularly cold and painful- contact a medical professional if this happens to you
Hypothyroidism
This is an underactive thyroid which means the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. This condition can happen because of an autoimmune disease, surgery or radiation to thyroid, some medications, or consuming an inefficient amount of iodine. Symptoms include feeling tired, weight gain, slow heart rate and constantly feeling cold. You are able to take a simple blood test to determine if you have this condition.
When to seek medical attention
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Continuous fatigue and feeling cold all over
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Pain, numbness, or tingling with cold feet
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Feet changing color from white to purple to red
Home Remedies
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Increase exercise to help with circulation
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Layer silk or cotton sock under wool socks
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Warm hats and gloves preserve body heat
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Drink warm beverages in cold weather
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Quit Smoking
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Use a TUCKER’D TOEBEE at night
The most common cause of cold feet is a cold environment and not being properly dressed. When we’re in a cold environment our body primarily keeps our head and torso warm since this is where our essential organs are. The body diverts warm blood from fingers, toes, arms, and legs to keep the torso warm. Poor blood circulation can cause cold feet as well. It’s important to get diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol under control as these are severe causes of poor circulation.
Contact a doctor if the problem is persistent or you develop pain in your feet, joints, muscle pain, fever, weakness, weight loss, rash, arthritis or have problems with your heart or lungs.
https://www.buoyhealth.com/learn/cold-feet#faqs
https://www.ahchealthenews.com/2016/12/16/cold-feet-swelling-8-signs-feet-shouldnt-ignore/
https://www.amitahealth.org/blog-articles/heart-care/are-your-cold-feet-trying-to-warn-you