Getting cold feet at the alter is one thing, but if you are suffering from cold feet or feet that just don’t seem to want to warm up each day, there may be a health issue at play. Sometimes the problem isn’t serious, while other times you’re going to want to actively treat the condition. In this blog, we explain what might be going on in your feet and how to care for them if they are always cold.
My Feet Are Always Cold
Here’s a couple reasons why you may believe that your feet are always cold:
Inactivity – If you notice that your feet are cold, perform a self-assessment and ask yourself when was the last time you moved around. If you’ve been sedentary, blood may not be pumping as efficiently to your extremities, and that can cause them to feel cold to the touch. Walking around for 5-10 minutes or doing some more intense exercises should help to warm up your feet.
Atherosclerosis – This is a condition where your arteries are narrowed due to the buildup of fatty deposits in the area, which in turn impedes blood flow to the limbs. This can cause your feet to feel cold while sitting down or while lying in bed. This can also cause your feet to appear discolored or your calves to hurt when walking. This arterial disease can usually be detected by a foot specialist, who can set you up with treatment techniques that often include physical therapy, exercise, weight loss, diet changes and medications.
Raynaud’s Syndrome – An issue that sometimes develops in smaller individuals is that their blood vessels constrict as a way to conserve heat in the body. This vessel restriction helps to keep the internal organs at the right temperature but can result in colder sensations in the feet. In people with Raynaud’s syndrome, this vessel restriction is even more extreme, which can lead to cold feet and related issues when people are subject to cold temperatures. The syndrome is often treated by wearing clothes that help the feet regulate heat, avoiding extreme temperatures and certain medications.
Nerve Damage – Finally, neuropathy can also be a cause of cold feet. Simply put, the nerves that detect temperature in the feet may be damaged or not working correctly. Feet may not feel cold to the touch, but the feet may feel cold to the individual due to this improperly working nerve. Exercise, surgery and preventing any underlying conditions that contributed to this nerve damage (like diabetes) are all ways of managing cold sensations caused by nerve damage.
For questions about why your feet are cold, or to get a diagnosis from Dr. Silverman, reach out to his office today.