Cold feet (and hands)
Cold feet are simply that, cold feet! They are extremely common in all age groups but become more problematic as we age due to a decrease in circulation. Cold Feet mostly occur in the winter months and can lead to chilblains, poor healing and even frostbite. Cold Feet can be troublesome and uncomfortable and even stop you from sleeping at night. As those of us who experience cold feet know, if our feet feel cold then we feel cold.
Cause
There are many reasons why some people get colder feet than others, but most of the time cold feet are a result of winter. The cold temperatures have a constricting affect on blood vessels in our limbs, which decreases the blood flow to our hands and feet. When this occurs, our hands and feet may even change colour, first they turn to white, and then if severe enough they may eventually turn blue and be accompanied by feelings of burning, tingling, itching, numbness and pain.
If your hands and feet seem to get colder than others you may be experiencing Raynaud's phenomenon. Raynauds is more common in women than men as they tend to naturally keep their core body temperature at an even temperature by sacrificing the warmth in there feet and lower limbs as part of a physiological baby protector mechanism.
Other causes of cold feet:
Poor functioning thyroid
Anaemia,
Raynauds Disease
Diabetes
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus and other autoimmune problems
High blood pressure
Poor circulation can also lead to cold feet and hands.
Please note if you notice your feet and legs become discoloured, that they are painful when at rest or when trying to walk short distances, or if you get burning or tingling sensation when sitting still then this may be a sign of poor circulation and medical attention may be required.
If your hands and feet seem to get colder than others you may be experiencing Raynaud's phenomenon. Raynauds is more common in women than men as they tend to naturally keep their core body temperature at an even temperature by sacrificing the warmth in there feet and lower limbs as part of a physiological baby protector mechanism.
Other causes of cold feet:
Poor functioning thyroid
Anaemia,
Raynauds Disease
Diabetes
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus and other autoimmune problems
High blood pressure
Poor circulation can also lead to cold feet and hands.
Please note if you notice your feet and legs become discoloured, that they are painful when at rest or when trying to walk short distances, or if you get burning or tingling sensation when sitting still then this may be a sign of poor circulation and medical attention may be required.
Treatment
The best treatment is prevention. However, if you suspect that you may have an underlying medical reason as to why your feet are getting cold, it is often worth getting it checked out by your local GP or Podiatrist as you may be suffering from one of the aforementioned problems.
What Can I do to prevent Cold Feet?
- Wear warm clothing. Its quite simple, if you feel cold it generally means you're cooling down. It means not only keeping your feet warm but keeping your core warm as well. You may also notice that by warming up your hands, you can often warm up your feet and vica versa.
- Good Quality socks
- Avoid walking bare footed ground when its cold. Prevention is key, so keep your feet well protected and off of the cold floor where possible.
- Have a warm shower or put the heater on. If your core temperature is low enough, sometimes your body may need a little more help than a jumper can provide.
- Do not smoke. Smoking affects your blood vessels just like the cold does, by causing the blood vessels to constrict (get smaller) so that less blood (and warmth) goes down to your feet. Over the years smoking can lead to something called arteriosclerosis (hardening of your arteries) that can cause long term effects on your feet and a permanent decrease in blood supply to your entire body. The effects are often worse in the feet and legs due to their distance from the heart.
- Eat warm food. Sounds simple but warm food is not only comforting and instantaneously warming, but it also requires less body energy to be digested than cold food leaving more energy to keep you warm.
- Avoid coffee. The caffeine in coffee constricts blood vessels in the feet and legs, causing less blood and consequently warmth to get down to where it is needed. Instead, drink caffeine free tea or coffee as it contains flavonoids which help support blood vessel health.
- Nutritional supplements. Magnesium and some herbs may also help to increase circulation by maintaining the integrity of your blood vessels. It is best to speak to a medical practitioner before starting any new medications or supplements.
- Exercise. What better way to promote better circulation to your feet than a nice long walk or some exercise, just make sure you don't go walking around with bare feet on wet grass or splashing around in puddles or you might find your feet are colder after the experience.
- Pamper your feet! When all else fails, sit back and soak your feet in some warm water (never hot) and add a few tea spoons of your favourite foot soak or aromatherapy oils.
- Good Quality socks
- Avoid walking bare footed ground when its cold. Prevention is key, so keep your feet well protected and off of the cold floor where possible.
- Have a warm shower or put the heater on. If your core temperature is low enough, sometimes your body may need a little more help than a jumper can provide.
- Do not smoke. Smoking affects your blood vessels just like the cold does, by causing the blood vessels to constrict (get smaller) so that less blood (and warmth) goes down to your feet. Over the years smoking can lead to something called arteriosclerosis (hardening of your arteries) that can cause long term effects on your feet and a permanent decrease in blood supply to your entire body. The effects are often worse in the feet and legs due to their distance from the heart.
- Eat warm food. Sounds simple but warm food is not only comforting and instantaneously warming, but it also requires less body energy to be digested than cold food leaving more energy to keep you warm.
- Avoid coffee. The caffeine in coffee constricts blood vessels in the feet and legs, causing less blood and consequently warmth to get down to where it is needed. Instead, drink caffeine free tea or coffee as it contains flavonoids which help support blood vessel health.
- Nutritional supplements. Magnesium and some herbs may also help to increase circulation by maintaining the integrity of your blood vessels. It is best to speak to a medical practitioner before starting any new medications or supplements.
- Exercise. What better way to promote better circulation to your feet than a nice long walk or some exercise, just make sure you don't go walking around with bare feet on wet grass or splashing around in puddles or you might find your feet are colder after the experience.
- Pamper your feet! When all else fails, sit back and soak your feet in some warm water (never hot) and add a few tea spoons of your favourite foot soak or aromatherapy oils.
When to see a podiatrist.
If your concerned about your circulation our podiatrist can help with running a few simple tests to see how your circulation is going. To do this we run through a series of simple checks which include checking the strength of your pulses by touch and by using a machine called a doppler where required.
