Do you often get cold feet? No, not the kind that happens when you lose your confidence or courage to do a particular task, but something that literally leaves your feet feeling cold.
A lot of people will surely encounter having cold feet at least once in their lives. This article will get you introduced to some of the most common causes of it, so don’t stop reading now if it seems like you are constantly encountering such issue and it’s already bothering you.
Got some family members and friends who constantly complain that they have cold feet? Then make sure that you share this article on your various social media sites later on so that they, too, may know that having cold feet can be due to any of the following:
Exposure to the Cold
One of the most common causes of cold feet is being exposed to cold temperatures. If it’s one of the coldest months of the year or the AC is in full blast, then you can expect for your feet to feel cold. This is especially true if you’re not wearing enough clothes to safeguard you from the freezing temperature.
Needless to say, it’s a good idea for you to dress for the occasion — if your feet are especially prone to the cold, put on a pair of thick socks indoors and sport the appropriate boots outdoors.
Poor Circulation
Another very common cause of cold feet is poor circulation to the extremities. Blood is warm, and failure of the lower extremities to be supplied with sufficient amounts of blood can leave your feet cold. It’s also very much likely for the skin of your feet and also your toenails to appear pale, bluish or even purple.
There are many different things that can cause poor blood circulation to the feet such as clogged arteries and all kinds of heart-related issues. Needless to say, seeing a cardiologist is highly recommended.
Anemia
Your blood needs to have sufficient amounts of red blood cells or RBCs. That’s because these particular components are the ones that make it possible for oxygen molecules to get from the lungs to the different cells, tissues and organs. Being deficient in RBCs is a blood-related condition referred to as anemia.
One of the signs and symptoms of anemia is cold hands and feet. Others include paleness of the skin, shortness of breath, a rapid heart rate and fatigue. Having a diet that’s rich in iron and taking iron supplements are the usual solutions.
Diabetes
Having diabetes means that your cells no longer respond to the hormone called insulin, and this can cause sugar to collect in your bloodstream. That’s a very serious matter as it can cause many different serious problems to come into being sooner or later, and that includes damage to the peripheral nerves such as those that are in the feet.
Nerve damage due to poorly controlled diabetes can leave your feet feel cold and also cold to the touch. Other symptoms that you may experience if you have nerve damage in your feet include pain, numbness, heaviness, and pins and needles sensation.
Hypothyroidism
Put simply, hypothyroidism is a condition wherein the thyroid gland is underactive. This can cause the metabolism to considerably slow down. Because your metabolism has a direct impact on your core temperature, having a sluggish metabolic rate can leave you feeling cold. Needless to say, hypothyroidism can cause cold feet.
Some other common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include unintended weight gain, fatigue, muscle weakness, dry skin and constipation.
WARNING: None of the details found above should be mistaken for professional medical advice which can only come straight from a health provider’s mouth. If you have cold feet all the time and you feel that something isn’t right, see to it that you pay a doctor a visit without delay.
