My feet are cold. What could this mean and how to deal with it?

The problem is in the blood vessels

The first question why your feet are cold that should be closed is checking the blood vessels. A common reason why women under thirty have cold feet is autonomic dysfunction. According to old classifications, this condition was called vegetative-vascular dystonia. The mechanism of its development is that the balance between the work of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is lost. Therefore, there is a disruption in the blood supply to the organs and the body as a whole. If your feet are cold, what does it mean ? All due to the fact that adrenaline is released and the blood vessels spasm.

Diagnostics

The examination of a patient with complaints of chilly feet begins with a family doctor (therapist), who, if necessary, involves highly specialized specialists in the diagnostic search - vascular surgeons, neurologists, endocrinologists. During a physical examination, the color and temperature of the extremities are assessed and signs of venous stasis or ischemia are identified. For diagnostic purposes, the following instrumental and laboratory research methods are used:

• Doppler ultrasound of leg vessels.
  Duplex scanning of the arteries and veins of the lower extremities shows the speed of blood flow, pathological reverse blood flow, visualizes blood clots and lipid plaques blocking the lumen of blood vessels. Features of microcirculation are assessed according to rheovasography and capillaroscopy.
• Angiography.
  The method is used to diagnose obliterating processes of the lower extremities that cause chilliness. Peripheral arteriography shows narrowing or blockage of the lumen of the arteries and helps assess the size and extent of plaques. Ascending phlebography of the legs is indicated for studying venous blood flow, the condition of the deep and superficial veins.
• ECG.
  To confirm arterial hypotension, arrhythmia and other cardiac pathologies, a cardiogram is recorded at rest and with stress tests. To clarify the diagnosis, an orthostatic test and echocardiography are recommended. To assess daily fluctuations in blood pressure, Holter monitoring is performed.
• Neurological diagnostics.
  A standard examination includes testing of superficial and deep sensation, reflexes, muscle tone and strength. For a qualitative assessment of neuromuscular transmission, electroneuromyography is prescribed. In case of osteochondrosis, the results of an MRI or CT scan of the spine are informative for a neurologist.
• Laboratory techniques.
  Based on the results of a clinical blood test, anemia and its probable causes are diagnosed. Biochemical research is aimed at identifying nutritional deficiency. When cold feet are of endocrine origin, an expanded hormonal profile is studied.

Consultation with a vascular surgeon

Parasitic infestation

A common reason why women's feet get very cold is worms. The thing is that during their life, worms produce a huge amount of toxins. In turn, toxins lead to vasospasm. People who constantly come into contact with animals, namely milkmaids, veterinarians and animal lovers, are especially prone to infection with worms.

reasons why feet are cold

Treatment

Help before diagnosis

If chilliness occurs against the background of banal hypothermia, the person needs to be warmed up as soon as possible. For mild hypothermia, use warm drinks, baths, and heating pads. The temperature must be increased gradually. For superficial frostbite, warming bandages are applied to the legs. With moderate and severe hypothermia, the patient requires comprehensive medical care.

To correct vegetative-vascular dysfunction or physiological hypotension, non-drug measures are sufficient. Patients experiencing chilliness are advised to normalize their work and rest schedule, walk more in the fresh air, and begin dosed training in the gym. It is recommended to limit watching TV and surfing social networks. A balanced diet high in vitamins helps improve your well-being.

Conservative therapy

Medicines are selected taking into account the etiological factors of chilly feet. In cases of arterial circulation disorders, infusions of saline solutions and antiplatelet agents, which prevent the adhesion of red blood cells and increase blood fluidity, show a good effect. To prevent thrombosis, anticoagulants are included in therapy. Dilatation of peripheral vessels and improvement of blood flow is achieved by taking antispasmodics.

For obliterating atherosclerosis, which causes chilly legs, lipid-lowering drugs are effective, reducing cholesterol and LDL levels and preventing the appearance of new lipid plaques. For endarteritis, pathogenetic treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, which neutralize pathological changes in the vascular wall.

In case of insufficient venous outflow, phlebotropic agents are used in combination with elastic compression. To influence trophic ulcerative defects, local effects in the form of creams or ointments are indicated. Patients with polyneuropathy are recommended to take B vitamins, which improve neuromuscular transmission. The therapeutic regimen is supplemented with neurotrophic drugs.

To eliminate chilliness associated with obliteration of the vessels of the legs, physiotherapy is used: electrophoresis with medicinal solutions, ozokerite applications, diadynamic currents. Hyperbaric oxygenation helps improve tissue oxygen supply. General strengthening balneological procedures are actively prescribed: pine, pearl or radon baths.

Prevention methods

To prevent a constant feeling of cold in your feet, it is recommended:

• walk barefoot on grass, sand, small stones, pebbles;
• avoid overheating your feet, walk around the house without shoes more often;
• massage your feet regularly;
• maintain constant physical activity;
• harden the body with the help of contrast showers and baths;
• ensure correct posture;
• strengthen the musculoskeletal system by doing physical exercises and sports;
• organize a complete and balanced diet, replenish the existing deficiency of vitamins, microelements, proteins, fatty acids;
• After a long stay in the cold, you should take a warm bath, you can warm up with tea.

If a person’s feet are always cold, this is a symptom that requires timely identification and elimination of the causes that caused it. Ignoring such a signal can lead to serious health problems requiring long-term and complex treatment.

How does cold affect joints?

The joints most susceptible to cold are the knee and hip. Gonarthrosis affects the knee and enters the exacerbation stage precisely with the onset of the cold season. People begin to complain of persistent pain in one or both knees.

Pain develops not only during and after walking, but also at rest. To increase discomfort, it is enough to even slightly chill your knees - this is the main cause of dull and aching pain.

These facts confirm the dependence of joint health on environmental temperature. Thus, there is a direct connection between pain and weather dependence. Cold can also provoke the development of inflammation.

Natural causes

Physiologically normal cooling of the skin of the legs can occur due to:

• constant and excessive insulation of feet at home under normal conditions;
• impaired blood flow due to incorrect body position for a long period of time: sitting with legs tucked under oneself or crossed;
• using tight shoes that are not the right size;
• hypothermia, getting wet lower body;
• impaired body metabolism in thin, tall people (due to low levels of subcutaneous fat deposits);
• pregnancy - in such a situation, increased blood circulation is redirected to the pelvic area and abdomen;
• menopause in women;
• being in a stressful situation.

Often the feet begin to freeze in senile and elderly people, in infants (due to the immaturity of normal thermoregulation).

To get rid of an unpleasant manifestation, it is enough to eliminate the factor that causes it: carry out hardening measures, wear comfortable breathable clothes made of natural materials, shoes, change your body position.

Symptom manifestation

A decrease in toe temperature may be accompanied by additional symptoms. Initially, these are just phalanges that are cold to the touch without any discomfort. Also, this condition is sometimes accompanied by burning and tingling in the fingers, numbness, and changes in skin color. The phalanges become bluish or pale and may itch. All this is a manifestation of impaired blood circulation.

Content:

• Symptom manifestation
• Causes of cold toes
• Diagnosis and treatment

The fingers of the lower extremities are the periphery for the circulatory system. To reach this place, the blood passes a full circle through the smallest arteries. Therefore, a violation in any part of the vascular network is reflected in the toes.

A person may also have a congenital anomaly in the structure of capillaries. They may be more branched or narrowed, in which case the toes and hands will be cold from birth. If, in addition to your feet, your earlobes or the tip of your nose become cold, this clearly indicates diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Folk remedies for freezing and numbness of the feet

There are many ways to warm cold feet. Our grandmothers used them. Due to their effectiveness, they continue to be used today.

1. Alcohol compress . Dip the socks in alcohol, wring them out and put them on your feet, warmed up in warm water. A few minutes are enough to warm you up.
2. Rubbing with vinegar . Suitable for adults only. Apply a few drops of vinegar to the skin of your feet and rub for five minutes. Wrap yourself up and lie quietly for a quarter of an hour. Reduces vascular spasms, improves blood circulation. A good preventative against blood clots.
3. Baths with essential oils . Pour two liters of water heated to 38 degrees into the bath, add essential oil of eucalyptus or pine needles. Repeat the procedure daily for 10 minutes for 2 weeks.
4. Baths with mustard . Pour mustard into tolerable hot water and stir. Warm your feet for 20 minutes. After the bath, dry and wrap your feet.
5. Gymnastic exercises . Special physical exercises will quickly restore heat exchange. Lie on your stomach, move and swing your legs bent at the knees, touching the pelvis.
6. Shaking . Lie on your back, raise your legs, arms and shake your limbs for a minute.
7. Black pepper . When going out for a walk on a frosty day, sprinkle ground pepper in your socks. It will keep your feet warm.
8. Sophora tincture . Prepare a tincture: pour 100 g of herb with a liter of vodka, leave for a month. Drink 1 tsp. three times a day. The course of treatment is 4 months.
9. Massage with essential oil . Stretch and massage your lower limbs three times a week. Before the procedure, place a drop of pine needle essential oil on the skin of each leg and rub.
10. Once every 3 months carry out prevention by drinking a mixture of lemon juice (1 lemon), beets, horseradish and carrots (a glass each), with the addition of honey (a glass). Keep refrigerated. Take 2 tbsp. on an empty stomach before meals every day.

Proper nutrition

A balanced diet plays an important role in normal blood circulation. Lean meats, fish, vegetables, and fruits must be present on your table. But smoked, very salty, canned, fried foods are not recommended.

Take a preventive course of blood vessel cleansing

Help cold and numb feet warm up: wear warm socks and suitable shoes in cold weather, warm your feet with heating pads, baths with warm water, and use folk recipes.

If simple remedies do not help, consult your doctor. It will help determine the cause of your illness. Prescribe medication.

Link to video on how to inexpensively insulate your boots for the winter so your feet don’t get cold

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