A few patients have mentioned that they’ve been dealing with intermittent periods of cold feet during the winter months. They aren’t talking about the type of cold feet Julia Roberts gets in Runaway Bride – instead, they are dealing with a physical symptom that leaves their feet cold to the touch. Other than the drop in temperature, what could be causing that issue? We explain why you might be suffering from cold feet in this blog.
Getting Cold Feet
In most cases, cold feet is simply your body’s response to cold temperatures. When your body is subjected to cold temperatures, it naturally does everything in its power to keep the critical organs warm. This means your body begins to divert blood from the extremities, like your ears, nose, fingers and toes to your core to maintain an optimal temperature. Oftentimes cold feet is simply your body’s natural response to cold temperatures.
That said, if you suffer from regular bouts of cold feet, especially when the weather isn’t cold, it could be the sign of poor circulation or an undiagnosed health condition. Here are some medical reasons your feet might be regularly cold:
- Frostbite
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Arthritis
- MS/MD
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypothyroidism
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Nerve damage
- Medications/Beta Blockers
Also, there has been some medical documentation that suggests stress, tension and negative emotions can cause the small blood vessels in your feet and toes to narrow, leading to less blood flow in the area.
Cold Feet Symptoms
In addition to a cold sensation, some symptoms that may accompany cold feet include:
- Muscle cramping
- Burning sensation
- Numbness
- Tingling sensation
- Discoloration
- Tenderness
- Dry or cracked skin
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms in addition to physically cold feet, you should set up a consultation with a licensed foot specialist. They’ll be able to diagnose the underlying condition and get you on a treatment plan that best suits your need. For some people, treatment is as simple as wearing a pair of warm socks to keep the area warm and encourage adequate blood flow, but other interventions are necessary if it turns out a medical condition is causing the issue.
For more information or to set up a consultation with a doctor, click here.