Feeling cold is frustrating, unpleasant, and uncomfortable regardless of where or when you are experiencing it. And if you are still feeling cold even after slipping into thick wool socks, it might be difficult to know what you should do. In order to know what could be causing cold feet constantly and what to do to keep them warm, talk to your doctor.
What Cold Feet Are
Cold feet happen when the feet feel they are at lower temperatures than other parts of the body. For instance, your hands might warm, whereas your feet may feel like you have just walked on the snow barefoot.
Causes
There are different reasons you may get cold feet. At times, the reason could be a lack of warmth. You can easily get cold feet if you are always in T-shirts and jeans and your feet are bare. But there could be other reasons for getting cold feet. These may include poor blood circulation and anemia.
Poor circulation is among the most common causes of this condition. Poor circulation makes it hard for warm blood to get to the feet. Circulation issues may result from a heart condition where your heart could be struggling to pump blood at the required pace.
Anemia is also a common cause of cold feet. It develops when a person is short of red blood cells. Iron-deficiency anemia may occur in healthy people. It can be treated relatively with simple changes in your diet and by considering supplements.
Who Does Cold Feet Affect the Most?
Cold feet may affect anyone. You can experience the condition if you are currently living in a place with a cold climate. It is very common among individuals with:
- Conditions affecting the nervous system
- Conditions affecting hormones
- Circulation problems
- Autoimmune conditions
Managing Cold Feet
You can manage cold feet in various ways. Usually, foot warmers are needed to warm your feet. For shoe inserts and boots, you may want to take off the packaging and shake them well to activate warming elements and put them into your feet against thick socks.
Apart from warmers, other techniques, both behavioral and medications, can help to manage the discomfort. Medications that can help are SSRI drugs, tricyclic antidepressant Elavil, and anti-seizure medications.
When to See Your Doctor
While having cold feet occasionally is normal, there are certain instances when you may need to visit a doctor. Anyone experiencing cold feet for no reason or frequently needs to talk to a doctor about the possible causes.
A person affected should as well talk to their doctor if different symptoms accompany the condition. These symptoms may include sores on the toes, significant joint pain, fever, gain/weight loss, fatigue, and skin changes, like thick skin, scales, or rashes.
And if your feet feel cold internally and the skin doesn’t feel cold, you should also see your doctor. This could be a sign of nerve damage.
Cold feel can be the normal response of your body to temperature. However, it may, at times, be related to medical conditions that require treatment. Whichever the case, it is best to consult a doctor to know the way forward.
