Many people face the problem of cold feet at least once in their lives. Sudden changes in air temperatures, preferred diet and lifestyle choices are some of the most common causes of cold feet. Elimination of these factors usually helps relieve symptoms. Although such conditions are temporary and harmless, in some cases, more serious health problems can cause cold feet, or in other words, cold feet.
What Causes Cold Feet?
The causes of cold feet are quite wide. Although it takes place in a wide spectrum, it is useful to keep in mind the causes of cold feet in terms of early detection of some metabolic and circulatory disorders. There can be many different answers to the question "Why do my feet get cold?" There are various causes of cold feet, from falling temperatures in winter to circulatory and nervous disorders. Some of the common causes of cold feet can be listed as follows:
Decrease in Air Temperatures
Cold feet are one of the body's normal responses to colder temperatures. When the body is exposed to a cooler temperature, blood vessels in the distal extremities, such as the hands and feet, constrict. This reduces blood flow to these areas, which causes cold feet and chills. The extremities are the parts farthest from vital organs. Therefore, reducing the amount of blood going to the extremities helps maintain heat and blood flow in more important body parts. Decreased blood flow over time can also cause a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the tissues. As a result, it can also cause the tissues to take on a bluish color.
This condition is usually temporary and the tissue color returns to normal as the body warms up.
States of High Stress and Anxiety
High stress or anxiety Being in a state of (anxiety) can also cause cold feet. One of the body's natural responses to stress is to increase the release of the hormone adrenaline. Adrenaline causes blood vessels in the body to constrict, reducing blood flow to the extremities. Therefore, cold feet may occur. This situation is similar to the decrease in air temperatures. It is an adaptation mechanism to protect the blood flow to the more important organs of the body by reducing the blood flow to the mites. Inadequate circulation can prevent body-temperature blood from reaching your feet regularly, causing your feet to be colder than the rest of the body. Circulation problems can have various causes. These types of circulatory problems can also occur as a result of heart disease, where the heart has trouble pumping blood through the body fast enough. Inadequate circulation can also be the result of adopting a sedentary lifestyle in daily life or working at a desk sitting.
Smoking and tobacco use are also one of the most common causes of circulatory disorders. The use of these substances can lead to the destruction of the artery walls over time, making it difficult for blood to reach distant parts of the body. For this reason, complaints of cold feet and cold feet may occur.
Anemia (Anemia)
Anemia (Anemia) can be defined as the insufficient number of red blood cells in the blood circulation due to various reasons. Causes of anemia; It can be due to many factors, such as a lack of vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin B12 or folate, or chronic kidney disease. Especially in cases of severe anemia, very cold feet is one of the most basic symptoms. Iron deficiency anemia, which is one of the most common causes of anemia in the community; It can be seen after a while, even in healthy people, in cases such as intense work tempo and malnutrition. This condition can be easily treated with lifestyle changes and some vitamin and mineral supplements used under doctor's control. It can cause constant cold feet by causing a decrease in blood flow. Diabetes can cause not only cold feet, but also numbness and tingling in the feet due to nerve damage it causes in the body. Peripheral diabetic neuropathy, prolonged It is a form of nerve damage seen in people who have high and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. The tingling sensation may be more severe at night and cause an increase in cold feet at night.
Cold feet due to hypothyroidism occur as a result of the thyroid gland not being active enough and not producing enough thyroid hormone in the body. Thyroid hormone is a hormone that greatly affects the metabolism of the human body. Almost anything that can cause low thyroid gland activity and hypothyroidism can cause decreased circulation to the feet and cold feet. There could be several different reasons for this situation. Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy can affect the autonomic nervous system, which can reduce blood flow to the lower extremities. In addition, the metabolic rate increases in the case of pregnancy. As a result, slight increases in body temperature may cause a feeling of coldness, especially in the lower extremities. Anemia is not expected to occur during pregnancy, and if it is seen, the person should be evaluated by a doctor. Changes in hormone levels can occur during pregnancy. This can cause underactive thyroid gland, thus hypothyroidism. All these factors can lead to cold feet.
Other rare causes of persistent cold feet are:
- Peripheral vascular diseases, (Constriction problem in the veins due to plaques formed in the arteries),
- Raynaud phenomenon (spasms in blood vessels; may be physiological or may be one of the symptoms of an underlying rheumatological disease.),
- Atherosclerosis (formation of fatty plaques on artery walls), Some diseases that cause nerve damage in the body.
What are the Symptoms of Cold Feet?
The problem of cold feet or cold feet that has existed for a long time may require help from a specialist doctor. The following health problems accompanying cold feet If you have one or more of the following symptoms, it is strongly recommended to consult your doctor:
- Long-term non-healing wounds on the feet and toes,
- Weakness and exhaustion,
- Sudden changes in body weight ,
- Fever,
- Joint pains,
- Skin thickening or redness occurring.
After the general physical examination and blood pressure measurements of the peripheral limbs by your doctor, a routine blood test may be required to investigate metabolic disorders such as anemia, diabetes or hypothyroidism. If possible heart disease or poor circulation is suspected, an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram may be done, which can help evaluate the functioning of the heart. If peripheral arterial disease is suspected, imaging techniques such as Doppler ultrasonography can also be used to evaluate the blood flow in the arteries. It is based on the detection and initiation of treatments for the detected disease. Exercise may be recommended to improve peripheral blood circulation. Exercising can also help treat or prevent the development of other conditions, including heart and lung conditions. For conditions such as Raynaud's disease or certain heart conditions, a number of medications may be added to the treatment that can help open up the blood vessels. However, if you think that cold feet may be a symptom of a more serious disease, it would be beneficial to consult your doctor.
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