Do you struggle with cold hands and feet?  Extreme cold feet can be serious or nothing to be too concerned about.  Reasons tend to fall within the following categories:

• Poor Circulation
• Nerve Damage
• Genetics

Vasoconstriction

To understand circulation it would be worthwhile to understand that vasoconstriction is narrowing of the blood vessels by small muscles within their walls.  Vasoconstriction and vasodilation occur throughout the body, controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). Disease, drugs or psychological affects can damage these processes.

Poor Circulation and Cold Feet

Reduced circulation causes cold feet.

Atherosclerosis and Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

PVD is serious, it is the reduction in circulation due to narrowing of the arteries from a build up of fatty deposits.  A person suffering from Peripheral vascular Disease may experience their feet changing colour and calf pain when walking.  The clinician would usually find diminished pulses.

PVD can develop in those with Diabetes as well as smokers, those with high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Raynaud’s Disease is over compensation of the small blood vessels to constrict to preserve heat in the body.  The arteries in the hands and feet spasm and narrow, therefore blood doesn’t reach the fingers.  Raynaud’s may be triggered by stress and anxiety or as most commonly found, when exposed to cold temperatures.

Anemia

Anemia will result in the body not having enough red blood cells to take oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. You may feel tired and weak and notice cold hands and feet.

Thyroid

The thyroid produces hormones that affect all organs and these organs turn foot and oxygen into energy.  An under active thyroid would mean that not enough hormones are produced, interfering with the metabolism which in turn would usually control heart rate and body temperature. Therefore cold feet are a symptom of under active thyroid.

Stress

Stress affects the body in an array of different ways.  Stress can cause the blood to travel to the body’s core, away from the feet thus causing the feet to swell.

Neuropathy and Cold Feet

Neuropathy is nerve damage and the person suffering neuropathy will feel numbness or pins and needles in response to cold exposure.

Neuropathy can develop in those with diabetes, autoimmune disease, alcoholism, under active thyroid and lack of vitamins.

 

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