TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Feet feeling cold, it’s a common symptom of many health and lifestyle factors, such as chills and anxiety. This condition mostly occurs when the body restricts blood supply to the outer parts of the body, such as the legs or nose, to conserve body heat in other vital organs.
The decrease in blood flow causes a decrease in oxygen, which in turn causes a cold sensation in the feet and causes a condition called cold feet. Cold feet are not only characterized by coldness in the feet but are followed by other symptoms, such as numbness, skin discoloration, fever, tingling or needle-like sensations, joint pain, erectile dysfunction, slow wound healing, muscle weakness, pain and sores in the body. toes and fingers.
Here are some of the main causes of feet cold and suggested treatment methods, as reported from Boldsky.
Anemia
Iron deficiency is a major cause of cold feet or cold intolerance. Iron helps in the formation of hemoglobin which binds oxygen and helps deliver it to various parts of the body. Lack of iron decreases the production of hemoglobin and thus reduces the supply of oxygen to the outer parts of the body such as the feet, which causes the feet to become cold and bulging in women compared to men.
Diabetes
Sufferers diabetes a higher risk of developing foot ulcers. According to one study, diabetics often describe symptoms as an abnormal cold sensation in the legs, painful cramps, stabbing pain, and other unpleasant sensations such as stabbing, tickling, or burning in the leg area. This is because hyperglycemia can cause damage to the nerve fibers and weaken the muscles, affecting the small muscles in the legs.
Also read: 5 Benefits of Soaking Feet in Salt Water
Cold temperature
Undoubtedly, cold temperatures are the most common cause of cold feet in healthy adults. When the body temperature drops to 37 degrees Celsius which is the normal body temperature, the hypothalamus which is sensitive to blood temperature limits blood flow to less important parts of the body such as the feet to conserve heat for the brain, heart and other vital organs.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism or insufficient thyroid hormone production is an endocrine disorder characterized mainly by cold sensitivity. Thyroid hormones work closely with the nervous system and regulate body temperature. When production decreases, even the slightest drop in skin temperature can cause blood flow from the legs to be obstructed, causing them to become cold.
Acute stress
Psychological factors such as acute stress and anxiety can trigger peripheral vasoconstriction, which causes a rapid drop in core body temperature and causes symptoms such as cold feet. Because stress helps pump the hormone adrenaline into the blood, prolonged stress can decrease regular blood flow to the extremities such as the feet.
Fenomena Raynaud
In response to cold temperatures and emotional stress, Raynaud’s phenomenon occurs, which is characterized by coldness and numbness of the toes and other extremities of the body. This can be caused by certain underlying conditions, such as arthritis or an autoimmune disease.
Smoke
According to one study, a condition called Buerger’s disease can be the cause of cold feet, which is mainly found in men who smoke. It is a type of inflammatory disease whose mechanism may involve an association between tobacco hypersensitivity and impaired endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation, leading to cold feet.
High cholesterol
Arteriosclerosis is characterized by narrowing of the arteries due to the buildup of cholesterol, fat, and calcium, resulting in a buildup of plaque. This causes a blockage of the blood supply to parts of the body such as the feet and gives the sensation of cold feet.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is characterized by hormonal changes that can affect the autonomic nervous system due to a lack of blood flow to the outer parts of the body, especially the lower ones, such as the limbs. In addition, during pregnancy the body’s core temperature increases slightly which can make the air around it feel cool. These changes can cause cold feet in pregnant women.
Certain drugs
Certain types of drugs such as beta-blockers, antidepressants, and amphetamines, which are mostly used to lower blood pressure, reduce migraine headaches, and lower arthritis pain can cause cold feet as a side effect. They constrict blood vessels and may give a cold sensation to the feet.
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