How to get rid of cold feet

Cold feet: Causes and remedies

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Experiencing cold feet is normal from time to time. Changes in temperature, as well as health and lifestyle choices, are some of the most common causes of cold feet, and adjusting these factors will usually help relieve symptoms.

In this article, we look at these and several medical causes of cold feet. We also list home remedies people can try to keep the feet warm and comfortable.

There can be a variety of reasons for cold feet, from winter temperatures to circulation and nerve disorders. Causes of cold feet include:

Cold temperatures

Share on PinterestCold feet is common in cold temperatures. However, experiencing cold feet in normal or warm temperatures may be a sign of an underlying health problem.

Cold feet are one of the body’s normal reactions to colder temperatures. When the body enters a colder area, blood vessels in the extremities, such as the hands and feet, will constrict. This reduces the blood flow to these areas, which also reduces the amount of heat the body loses.

The extremities are the parts of the body furthest from the vital organs, so reducing blood flow to the extremities also helps keep warmth and blood flow in the more important body parts.

Over time this reduced blood flow can cause decreased oxygen in the tissues, which may cause them to take on a bluish color. When temporary, these symptoms are not usually serious, and the body will return to normal as it warms up again.

Some people have Raynaud’s phenomenon, where exposure to cold temperatures or high stress causes them to experience limited blood circulation, resulting in cold or numb fingers and toes.

High stress or anxiety

Being in a state of high stress or anxiety may also cause cold feet. One of the body’s natural responses to stress or nervousness is to pump adrenaline into the bloodstream.

As it circulates, adrenaline causes the blood vessels at the periphery to constrict, which decreases the flow of blood to the outermost areas of the body. This response reserves energy and prepares for any bodily harm that may happen, as a result of the high-stress situation.

The modern world is full of stressors, but not many of them put the body at immediate risk, so this protective response may be more harmful than helpful if it is making the feet or hands cold regularly. Reducing stress and tension may help reduce symptoms in these cases.

Circulation issues

Share on PinterestFeet and hands are prone to feeling cold, as blood flow is restricted to the extremeties in cold temperatures.

Circulation issues are a very common cause of cold feet. A person with poor circulation will often struggle to get enough warm blood to their extremities, and may complain of cold hands and cold feet frequently.

Poor circulation can have a variety of causes. Living a sedentary lifestyle or sitting at a desk all day may reduce circulation to the legs and cause cold feet.

Smoking tobacco products can also make it more difficult for the blood to reach every area of the body, so people who smoke may be more likely to complain of cold feet.

High cholesterol can lead to plaques forming inside the arteries that can reduce circulation to the legs and feet, leading to cold feet.

Some heart conditions can also cause cold feet, so a person should speak to their doctor about any existing heart problems or risk factors.

Anemia

Anemia is a condition that occurs when a person has too few normal red blood cells in their body. This can be due to many factors, including deficiency in iron, vitamin B12, or folate, or chronic kidney disease.

Moderate to severe cases of anemia may cause cold feet. Anemia usually responds well to changes in diet and supplements.

It is best to have anemia diagnosed by a doctor and to follow their treatment recommendations.

Diabetes mellitus

People with diabetes may be at risk of circulation problems, such as cold feet or hands.

Frequent high blood sugar levels can lead to narrowing of the arteries and a reduced blood supply to the tissues, which may cause cold feet.

In some people, diabetes can lead to diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a form of nerve damage. Diabetic nerve damage typically happens in people who have an uncontrolled, high blood sugar level for long periods of time.

Other symptoms of diabetic nerve damage include tingling or prickling sensations, numbness, or burning pain in the feet and legs. Symptoms may be worse at night.

Nerve disorders

Other nerve disorders may also be the cause of regular cold feet. Nerve damage may be caused by trauma or injury, such as severe frostbite, or may be due to an underlying medical condition.

Peripheral neuropathy may also be caused by liver or kidney disease, infection, or genetics. It usually causes additional symptoms, including numbness and tingling. Treating symptoms, such as cold feet, can help a person reduce their discomfort while waiting for a proper diagnosis.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is caused by an underactive thyroid gland, producing a low level of thyroid hormone, which has a negative impact on the body’s metabolism.

The body’s metabolism affects circulation, heartbeat, and body temperature, so anything that impacts on thyroid function and causes hypothyroidism can lead to cold feet.

People with hypothyroidism may be more sensitive to cold in general, and may experience other symptoms, such as fatigue, weight gain, and memory problems.

Working directly with a doctor to diagnose any underlying cause of cold feet is the best way to prevent the symptom, as much as possible.

However, many home remedies can help warm the feet and keep a person comfortable.

Movement

Share on PinterestRegular movement, such as getting up from a sitting position periodically, may help to treat cold feet.

As simple as it seems, getting up and moving may be one of the easiest ways to warm the body and help blood flow to and from the feet.

People who experience cold feet due to their desk job may benefit from getting up periodically and walking around the office.

Getting blood circulating using cardioactivities, such as jogging or even doing jumping jacks, may be enough to keep the feet warm throughout the day.

Socks and slippers

Warm, well-insulated socks are important for people with cold feet. While indoors, it may also help to wear well-insulated slippers, especially if a person does not have carpeted or heated floors.

Keeping the feet bundled up is a great way to help them stay warm and prevent any additional heat loss.

Foot baths

One of the quickest ways to relieve cold feet is to soak them in a warm footbath.

Filling a bathtub or basin with warm water and soaking the feet for 10 to 15 minutes may be enough to keep fresh blood circulating to the feet throughout the day. This may be especially helpful just before bed, as it can also relieve tension and relax the muscles.

People with diabetic nerve damage should avoid using hot water to warm the feet, as they may not be able to tell if the water is too hot or not. This can lead to accidental burns.

Heating pads or hot water bottles

For people who have trouble sleeping due to cold feet, placing a heating pad or hot water bottle at the foot of the bed can keep the area surrounding the feet warm at bedtime.

Heating pads may also be helpful to help soothe sore muscles after a long day of standing.

Although having occasional cold feet is normal, there are some instances when a visit to the doctor may be necessary. Anyone who experiences cold feet frequently or for no obvious reason should speak to their doctor about possible causes.

A person should also speak to a doctor if cold feet are accompanied by other symptoms, including:

fatigue
weight loss or gain
fever
significant joint pain
sores on the fingers or toes that take a long time to heal
skin changes, such as rashes, scales, or thick skin

If the feet feel cold internally, but the skin does not feel cold to the touch, a person should see a doctor, as this may be a sign of nerve damage or other neurological conditions.

Outlook

Getting cold feet from time to time is perfectly normal. Persistent symptoms may be something to discuss with a doctor, but treating the underlying cause should help the feet return a better temperature.

In the meantime, taking immediate steps, such as wearing thick socks or using a hot footbath, can help warm the feet up quickly.

Shop for home remedies for cold feet
Some of the remedies and products listed in this article are available for purchase online:
insulating socks
foot baths
heating pads
hot water bottles

Cold feet: Causes and remedies

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

In this article, we look at these and several medical causes of cold feet. We also list home remedies people can try to keep the feet warm and comfortable.

There can be a variety of reasons for cold feet, from winter temperatures to circulation and nerve disorders. Causes of cold feet include:

Cold temperatures

Share on PinterestCold feet is common in cold temperatures. However, experiencing cold feet in normal or warm temperatures may be a sign of an underlying health problem.

The extremities are the parts of the body furthest from the vital organs, so reducing blood flow to the extremities also helps keep warmth and blood flow in the more important body parts.

Some people have Raynaud’s phenomenon, where exposure to cold temperatures or high stress causes them to experience limited blood circulation, resulting in cold or numb fingers and toes.

High stress or anxiety

Being in a state of high stress or anxiety may also cause cold feet. One of the body’s natural responses to stress or nervousness is to pump adrenaline into the bloodstream.

Circulation issues

Share on PinterestFeet and hands are prone to feeling cold, as blood flow is restricted to the extremeties in cold temperatures.

Poor circulation can have a variety of causes. Living a sedentary lifestyle or sitting at a desk all day may reduce circulation to the legs and cause cold feet.

Smoking tobacco products can also make it more difficult for the blood to reach every area of the body, so people who smoke may be more likely to complain of cold feet.

High cholesterol can lead to plaques forming inside the arteries that can reduce circulation to the legs and feet, leading to cold feet.

Some heart conditions can also cause cold feet, so a person should speak to their doctor about any existing heart problems or risk factors.

Anemia

Moderate to severe cases of anemia may cause cold feet. Anemia usually responds well to changes in diet and supplements.

It is best to have anemia diagnosed by a doctor and to follow their treatment recommendations.

Diabetes mellitus

People with diabetes may be at risk of circulation problems, such as cold feet or hands.

Frequent high blood sugar levels can lead to narrowing of the arteries and a reduced blood supply to the tissues, which may cause cold feet.

Other symptoms of diabetic nerve damage include tingling or prickling sensations, numbness, or burning pain in the feet and legs. Symptoms may be worse at night.

Nerve disorders

Other nerve disorders may also be the cause of regular cold feet. Nerve damage may be caused by trauma or injury, such as severe frostbite, or may be due to an underlying medical condition.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is caused by an underactive thyroid gland, producing a low level of thyroid hormone, which has a negative impact on the body’s metabolism.

The body’s metabolism affects circulation, heartbeat, and body temperature, so anything that impacts on thyroid function and causes hypothyroidism can lead to cold feet.

People with hypothyroidism may be more sensitive to cold in general, and may experience other symptoms, such as fatigue, weight gain, and memory problems.

Working directly with a doctor to diagnose any underlying cause of cold feet is the best way to prevent the symptom, as much as possible.

However, many home remedies can help warm the feet and keep a person comfortable.

Movement

Share on PinterestRegular movement, such as getting up from a sitting position periodically, may help to treat cold feet.

As simple as it seems, getting up and moving may be one of the easiest ways to warm the body and help blood flow to and from the feet.

People who experience cold feet due to their desk job may benefit from getting up periodically and walking around the office.

Getting blood circulating using cardioactivities, such as jogging or even doing jumping jacks, may be enough to keep the feet warm throughout the day.

Socks and slippers

Warm, well-insulated socks are important for people with cold feet. While indoors, it may also help to wear well-insulated slippers, especially if a person does not have carpeted or heated floors.

Keeping the feet bundled up is a great way to help them stay warm and prevent any additional heat loss.

Foot baths

One of the quickest ways to relieve cold feet is to soak them in a warm footbath.

People with diabetic nerve damage should avoid using hot water to warm the feet, as they may not be able to tell if the water is too hot or not. This can lead to accidental burns.

Heating pads or hot water bottles

For people who have trouble sleeping due to cold feet, placing a heating pad or hot water bottle at the foot of the bed can keep the area surrounding the feet warm at bedtime.

Heating pads may also be helpful to help soothe sore muscles after a long day of standing.

A person should also speak to a doctor if cold feet are accompanied by other symptoms, including:

fatigue
weight loss or gain
fever
significant joint pain
sores on the fingers or toes that take a long time to heal
skin changes, such as rashes, scales, or thick skin

If the feet feel cold internally, but the skin does not feel cold to the touch, a person should see a doctor, as this may be a sign of nerve damage or other neurological conditions.

Outlook

In the meantime, taking immediate steps, such as wearing thick socks or using a hot footbath, can help warm the feet up quickly.

Shop for home remedies for cold feet
Some of the remedies and products listed in this article are available for purchase online:
insulating socks
foot baths
heating pads
hot water bottles

articles from the Oxford Medical Center Ivano-Frankivsk

With the onset of winter, each of us feels that it has become more difficult to keep warm. Accordingly, the first thing that suffers from hypothermia is the legs. However, chilliness of the legs does not only arise from the action of cold. The cause may be other factors that may be the first signal of the disease!

The main causes of cold feet

Diseases of the circulatory system is one of the most common causes of cold feet, regardless of the season. Given that the legs are the most distant from the heart (the so-called "pump" that pumps blood), with any changes in blood circulation, the legs are the first to suffer.

With a decrease in blood pressure, the blood passes to the legs at an insufficient speed and does not have time to convey heat, and with an increase, on the contrary, the vessels spasm, the surface area of the vessel decreases accordingly and the legs again do not receive enough heat. Such conditions occur with hypertension, vegetative-vascular dystonia, prolonged smoking. It is also possible to suspect helminthic invasion, since parasites secrete specific toxins that affect vascular tone, that is, cause their spasm.

Chilliness of the legs may also indicate iron deficiency anemia, in simple words - anemia. Why? It's simple: little hemoglobin - little oxygen - little heat. In this case, just check the level of hemoglobin in the blood - donate blood for a general clinical laboratory examination.

It should be noted that when the thyroid gland malfunctions, the regulation of heat in the body is disturbed, a person often feels cold, even in warm weather. It is not necessary to exclude the insufficiency of vitamins and microelements as a factor of chilliness, taking certain medications.

What should be done to prevent cold feet

How to eliminate this unpleasant sensation? Doctors have prepared some simple and useful tips for you:

Move actively, train your legs. If you have a sedentary job - do a little exercise for your legs, try to walk more, do not forget about systematic walks.
Throw away any tight shoes. Wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes provokes a violation of the circulation of the feet. Note that it is worth buying shoes that are not tight and not too loose!
Quit smoking. Nicotine leads to vasospasm, and then ischemia, which is accompanied by chilliness, pain in the legs, a symptom of "intermittent claudication".
Warm foot bath with essential oil is a great way to warm up your feet.
Foot massage, rubbing with warming cream - exactly what you need for legs that often get cold!
Hardening, contrast shower will help to quickly adapt to the cold weather.

What is recommended to include in the diet?

If you are worried about cold feet, pay attention to your diet: do you eat enough nutritious and healthy clothes in your diet? Doctors recommend enriching the diet with foods containing vitamins, iron, zinc, and fiber. It is advisable not to abuse carbohydrates and foods high in cholesterol. Always follow the right balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Always include fresh vegetables and fruits, liver, enough meat, oily sea fish.

And most importantly: if you suspect that cold feet may be the cause of a more serious condition and are accompanied by pain, discomfort, do not delay your visit to the doctor! After all, it is the doctor who will conduct the necessary examination and jointly eliminate your problem! Timely treatment is the key to good health. Take care of the most valuable - trust the best!

Medical Center "Oxford Medical Ivano-Frankivsk"

To make an appointment with a doctor, call us: 067 3777299, 050 3777299

published: 12.12.2019

updated: 12/13/2019

(rating: 3.63, votes: 60)

What to do when the legs are freezing: 20 ways to warm cold legs

Furious legs - this is not only discomfort and pain from the cold, but also a direct threat to health . For cold winter weather, it is better not to save on shoes and buy high-quality sneakers or boots (for example, Salomon Fury 3), keeping feet warm . On rainy days, when the air temperature is already dropping, you should not allow your feet to get wet. In this case, the question of choosing high-quality shoes that does not leak and has water-repellent properties is also relevant.

Hypothermia in the street is the simplest and most common case of freezing of the extremities. But doctors believe that age becomes the main reason for the feeling of constant cooling of the hands and feet. This is due to age-related changes in the body, when all processes slow down and, as a result - blood circulation is disturbed .

But there are a number of other reasons why feet get cold and they are more serious:

Hypothyroidism is a violation of the thyroid gland, a decrease in its functions, as a result of which a person becomes lethargic, sleepy, feels cold in the extremities;
Atherosclerosis - occurs as a result of the formation of cholesterol plaques that form in the blood vessels and cause slow blood flow to the limbs;
Diabetes mellitus causes thinning and fragility of blood vessels, the formation of blood clots in them;
Blood pressure - as a result of vasospasm caused by increased pressure, coldness is felt in the legs;
Frostbite. If earlier there were cases of serious hypothermia of the legs up to frostbite, then the limbs will constantly freeze;
Anemia is a disease caused by a lack of iron in the body, as a result of which the hemoglobin index is at a low level, insufficient oxygen supply to the blood leads to constant cooling of the feet.

Basic rules if your feet are often cold

When the feeling of constantly cold feet in any weather does not leave, it is better to make a rule:

Do not wear too tight shoes, they should be free. Wear winter boots or boots on a warm woolen sock, and in the summer, wear sandals that are not too open. Shoes should be made of genuine leather, because artificial materials cause excessive sweating of the feet, and wet feet risk freezing quickly.
A healthy lifestyle will reduce the predisposition to hypothermia. Mandatory daily morning exercises, rubbing the legs and body with a terry towel after a shower, walking in the fresh air.
The menu must necessarily include products containing many vitamins and microelements: pumpkin, herbs, radish, beets, cabbage, various fruits. It is advisable to refrain from eating sweet and flour products. If anything, then here you can pick up fasteners.
Before going to bed, apply a warming cream to the feet.
To improve blood circulation in the lower extremities, before going to bed, you can do foot baths with a contrasting effect, immersing your feet in turn in cold and hot water.

Prevention is the best way not to get cold

In case one of the relatives has problems with the circulatory system, one should not neglect preventive measures and try to avoid unpleasant sensations from cold in the feet:

The well-known truth “movement is life” is relevant in this case. Therefore, while running or just walking , the circulatory system is pumped and blood exchange improves. It is also helpful to go barefoot.
It is worth getting into the habit every day before going to bed to massage the feet using a massage mat, special balms or gels.
Women with circulatory problems should minimize walking in high heels .
After a hard day or a long walk, it will be useful lying on your back, raise your legs up , then fatigue and swelling will subside faster.
It is worth to forget about the “leg to foot” pose .
Review the diet, it should be supplemented with products that cleanse blood vessels, improve blood and the work of the cardiovascular system.

20 ways to warm up cold feet

If you neglect preventive measures and do not follow the advice on how to avoid hypothermia, then cold feet will surely make themselves felt unpleasant. At the same time, thoughts will only be in my head about how to quickly find myself in a warm place and warm icy feet . There are many ways to do this :

The first step is to take off cold and possibly wet tights or socks and change into home clothes. This will create a feeling of comfort and warmth. Then immerse your feet in hot water, after salting it. The main thing is that the water does not cool down. The feeling of warmth should come fairly quickly.
To warm up faster massage cream with a warming effect will help. It must be carefully rubbed into the skin of the feet with massaging movements.
Natural wool socks are irreplaceable. They retain heat well. To warm up faster, you can cover yourself with a warm blanket and drink hot tea.
If it is not possible to soak your feet in hot water, terry towel is good . Rub each toe with massaging movements , but not too hard, so as not to damage the skin. Then you can wet thin socks with alcohol (you can use vodka) and put them on your feet. Again, you can not do without woolen socks, which you need to wear on top of the previous ones and cover yourself with a warm blanket.

If in severe frosts neither warm shoes nor thick socks help, you need to make insoles from foil heat reflector , which is sold in any building department. To do this, cut the insole of the desired size and place it in boots under an ordinary insole.

A quick way to warm your feet is to use ground red pepper , which should be poured into thick socks and put on your feet.

Aromatic bath will not only warm, but also soothe tired feet. To do this, you will need 1 teaspoon of lavender or rosemary oil, 3 tablespoons of sea salt, about half a glass of milk. Dilute all this in hot water and soak your feet in it.

Hot tea has a warming effect, but its effect is greatly enhanced by finely chopped ginger root and lemon juice, which must be added to tea. Ginger not only destroys germs, but also disperses heat throughout the body, including the legs.

Of course, it is more pleasant to warm up at home in a comfortable environment, but what if you have to work in a cold office where your feet are constantly cold. The easiest and most affordable way is to drink hot tea, you can add herbs. This will help prevent colds.

In a cold office, modern innovations will be a real salvation - USB slippers . You just need to connect them through a special connector to a working computer and put them on your feet. Just a few minutes are enough to feel the beneficial warmth.

Knowing that you have to work in a cold room, you should always have in stock dry warm socks . A warming massage will help to disperse the blood in the feet and warm them up, in which you need to actively rub the feet and alternately all the fingers. You need to do this until a feeling of warmth comes. After that, spare dry socks will come in handy.

You can warm up your feet by actively moving your toes . Too tight shoes will not allow this, so it is better to take them off.

Also shaking movements will help as gymnastics . When the vessels and muscles oscillate, blood flow increases and accelerates warming. You just need to shake your legs in turn, walk around and jump on the spot.

To quickly warm up the limbs, rolling movements from toe to heel and back are effective .

Ideal in a cold room to install under the feet heater . They come in different types and sizes, but are equally capable of giving the necessary feeling of warm comfort.

If when you come home, you want to immediately crawl under a warm blanket and not soar your legs, then it is quite possible to do this, and an ordinary heating pad will help you warm up faster. If one is not at hand, an ordinary plastic bottle of hot water, attached near the feet, which must first be put on warm socks, is quite suitable. An alternative to water can be homemade cereals: buckwheat, rice or salt, heated in a pan.

If it is not possible to change shoes or change socks, you can use a hairdryer to warm up the shoes from the inside . If necessary, the process can be repeated.

For those who regularly suffer from hypothermia of the feet, it will be useful to use warming creams that can be prepared at home. There are many recipes, they may include beeswax, hazelnut oil, shea butter, camphor. Such balms and creams should be stored in the refrigerator.

In the case when you have to stand in the cold for a long time, shoes can be insulated with paper insoles.

There is a common belief that alcohol keeps you warm in cold weather, but this is not true. High-grade drinks can give a feeling of warmth only for a short time, and then it begins to rapidly disappear. Hot coffee is also not an effective warming drink. Many climbers prefer hot chocolate. Such a drink warms perfectly: add 0.
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