There are many reasons why you have a cold feet, and in some cases, it may be a sign of a serious problem.
Cold feet can be quite simple. As the temperature drops in a cold weather, the body extracts blood from the extremities to maintain the main body temperature and keep the life. This is exactly what should take place. However, this can be a serious problem for a long period of time. This could lead to freezing or even amputation if the tissue is not heated, and if the circulation was not restored correctly and timely.
The most common reason for cold feet is the cold temperature. When the temperature is colder, people usually experience problems with cold extremities. However, there are various medical problems that can cause cold feet.
It might be because of :
Reynaud’s Phenomenon – It is common in women. It is a disorder of circulation which causes the blood vessels of the fingers and toes when a stressor is present. This leads to the hands and feet feeling cold or sensitive to cold. The cause of the phenomenon of Reynaud is not always known and, it can be a side effect of other conditions. People with the disorder may experience numbness or tingling in the fingers of hands and feet. They may also notice that your skin becomes pale or blue, followed by redness in the affected areas. This may take a few minutes to several hours, and the gradual warming of the fingers and toes helps restore blood flow.
Peripheral Vascular Disease – It makes the blood vessels in the periphery (the feet in this case) to narrow and harden. The narrowing of vessels leads to the decrease of blood flow and maybe one of the cause cold feet. The vessels narrowed by the buildup of plaque in the vessels, mainly the arteries. Those who are at higher risk of developing peripheral vascular disease are those who smoke or have health problems such as diabetes, diseases of the heart, high blood pressure, kidney disease or have had a stroke.Treatment for peripheral vascular disease can include medications and surgery to remove the blockages. Once the blocks are cleared, the blood flow will improve, and thus relieve cold feet.
Buerger’s disease – It is a disease that the condition is closely related to smoking, which is linked to Reynaud’s phenomenon. The disease causes inflammation in some of the blood vessels in the feet and legs. This disorder is very rare, and more common in men from 20 to 40 years who are likely to smoke. Smoking causes hardening of the blood vessels, but for people with this disease, hardening can become so severe that it damages or destroys tissue of the skin, which can lead to infection and even gangrene. People with Buerger’s disease should quit smoking completely to help improve circulation of blood.
Possible Treatment :
The treatment for your cold feet may vary depending upon the cause. If the cause is something trivial like the cold environment, wear an extra pair of socks or socks designed for extreme cold temperature. It will help warm your feet eventually. If the cause of your cold feet is vascular, set an appointment with your cardiologist and ask him/her to prescribe a treatment based upon your condition.
Stay healthy and keep your feet happy! 🙂