You may find that come rain or sunshine, your feet are as cold as ice. This can either be your body’s normal response to the temperature or it could be related to a medical condition that needs treatment, explain WebMD.
Should it be the latter, other symptoms may include a pain and weakness in your hands and feet, sensitivity to cold, a change in skin colour when feeling cold or stressed and a numb feeling as you get warm or relieve stress.
Symptoms aside, here is a list of the possible causes of cold feet, provided by WebMD:
Complications relating to diabetes
If you have diabetes, the following may be the cause of your cold feet:
- Peripheral neuropathy: This diabetes complication damages the nerves in your feet, making it feel cold to you but normal when you touch them. Peripheral neuropathy also happens to people without diabetes. Reasons may include alcoholism, lack of vitamins or bone marrow disorders, to name a few.
- Peripheral artery disease: This condition slows down or blocks the flow of blood to your legs and feet. The poor circulation results in the cold feet. Like the above, you also do not need to have diabetes to have this condition, as smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol play a part in your chances of getting this condition.
Hypothyroidism
Your thyroid makes hormones that affect almost all your organs. These hormones help to turn food and oxygen into energy. If you have an underactive thyroid, it does not release enough hormones. Thus, making your body cold, including your feet.
Anaemia
Cold feet could be a sign that you are anaemic, meaning your body does not have enough red blood cells, or these cells are not healthy enough to take oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
Stress
Your body pushes blood towards your core and away from your hands and feet when you are feeling stressed.
Whether you are suffering from an unknown or undiagnosed medical condition or if it is just the weather, be sure to keep your feet warm by doing the following:
- Improve blood circulation by getting more iron, vitamin B12 and folate
- Stretch or move your feet
- Put on socks and slippers
- Stop smoking
- Lower your stress
Also see: How to maintain healthy feet
