What are the symptoms of cold feet?
If you have cold feet, you might experience symptoms that appear once in a while, or happen consistently when temperatures in your environment drop. Symptoms could include:
- Your feet are at a lower temperature than the rest of your body.
- You have mild, throbbing pain in your feet and toes.
- Your feet take longer to warm up if you’re exposed to cold temperatures.
- Your feet are a different color (pale, red, blue or purple) than the rest of your body.
- You experience cold feet during specific hours of the day, like at night.
Why is my body warm but my feet cold?
When you’re exposed to cold temperatures, you might notice your feet and hands are the first to get cold, but your chest and torso are still warm. Since your feet are furthest away from your heart, it can take longer for your blood to circulate through the limbs of your body. This can cause your hands and feet to take longer to warm up.
What causes my feet to always be so cold?
There are several causes of cold feet. If you live in a cold climate, you could experience cold feet frequently. In addition, some of the most common causes of cold feet are poor blood flow, a symptom of an underlying condition or a side effect of a medicine.
Poor blood flow
Poor blood flow (circulation) in your legs and feet causes cold feet. Poor blood flow means that it takes longer for the blood to reach your feet.
Your blood travels through pathways (blood vessels) in your circulatory system. These pathways can close, harden and narrow, making it difficult for blood to flow steadily. If your pathways are blocked or narrow, the movement of your blood slows down similar to pouring liquid through a funnel. A lot of liquid can enter the funnel, but the funnel narrows, which slows down how fast the liquid moves. This delay in blood flow causes symptoms of cold feet.
Conditions that cause cold feet as a symptom
Cold feet could be a sign of an underlying condition. Several conditions that affect blood flow include:
Side effects of a medicine
Some medicines could cause cold feet as a side effect based on how the medicine interacts with your blood flow. Medicines that could cause cold feet include:
FAQs
Possible causes of cold feet include cold temperatures, stress, circulation issues, nerve disorders, and more. An underlying condition may need treatment, but home remedies — such as using a heating pad or wearing slippers — can also help.
What is the main cause of cold feet? ›
The main medical problems that cause cold feet are decreased circulation in the extremities and nerve damage, known as neuropathy. One cause of decreased circulation is atherosclerosis, where arteries are narrowed by fatty deposits and impede blood flow in the limbs.
What is the cure for cold feet? ›
Cold Feet Treatments
- Put on socks or slippers.
- Stretch or move your feet.
- Stop smoking (nicotine makes it harder for blood to reach your hands and feet)
- Lower your cholesterol through diet and medication.
- Lower your stress.
- Get more iron, vitamin B12, and folate to improve circulation.
Magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle cramps, spasms, and poor circulation, which may contribute to cold extremities. Consuming magnesium-rich foods such as nuts, seeds, whole grains, and leafy green vegetables or taking magnesium supplements can help alleviate these symptoms.
How do I stop my feet from being so cold? ›
You can take steps to treat your cold feet at home by:
- Wearing warm socks.
- Exercising regularly.
- Wearing compression socks or stockings.
- Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.
- Elevating your legs with a pillow when lying down.
- Staying hydrated and drinking water.
7 Tips To Improve Circulation in the Foot
- Get Proper Exercise. Moving your body is one of the easiest and fastest ways to ensure that your feet get better circulation. ...
- Use Compression Socks. ...
- Massage Foot Tissue. ...
- Eat a Healthy Diet. ...
- Keep Legs Elevated. ...
- Monitor Your Blood Pressure. ...
- Manage Stress. ...
- Final Thoughts.
Running, biking or walking can help boost circulation—and the same goes for stretching before and after exercising. If you smoke, quit. Smoking can inhibit blood flow, destroy blood vessel walls, and cause plaque to accumulate in the veins. “The sooner you quit smoking, the sooner your health will improve,” says Dr.
Can you reverse cold feet? ›
Staying warm and active, wearing compression socks, and managing stress may help people relieve the symptoms of poor circulation in the feet. However, it is important to seek guidance from a doctor so that they can rule out underlying conditions.
What can I put on my feet for a cold? ›
According to the folk remedy, if you come down with a cold or the flu, all you have to do is slice a red or white onion into rounds, place them on the bottoms of your feet, and put on a pair of socks. Leave the socks on overnight as you sleep.
How do you warm up permanently cold feet? ›
How to Treat Cold Feet
- Wear socks made from natural fibers like wool or cotton. ...
- Wear shoes that fit well and don't constrict your feet. ...
- Exercise regularly. ...
- Soak your feet in warm water for 10-15 minutes each day. ...
- Massage your feet each day with lotion or oil. ...
- Avoid smoking cigarettes.
Poor circulation
This is one of the most common causes of cold feet. Poor circulation can make it difficult for enough warm blood to get to your feet regularly, keeping them cooler than the rest of your body.
What are the best supplements for cold feet? ›
Vitamin B12 and D may help to improve cold hands and feet. They help keep healthy blood flow, nerve function, and general health. Does vitamin B12 help with cold hands and feet? Yes, vitamin B12 aids in forming red blood cells and nerve function.
Why are my feet warm but feel cold? ›
Dysesthesia and the Nervous System
In other words, your feet are actually warm, but you think they're cold because your nervous system is telling you they are. With sensitization of the nervous system, two phenomena may develop: Allodynia means that a benign stimulus like a light touch or cool breeze triggers pain.
How I cured my cold feet? ›
As simple as it seems, getting up and moving may be one of the easiest ways to warm the body and help blood flow to and from the feet. People who experience cold feet due to their desk job may benefit from getting up periodically and walking around the office.
Why are my feet colder than they used to be? ›
Poor Circulation
Every time your heart beats, it sends blood throughout your body. But if you have a heart condition, smoke, or don't move around often, your circulation may be poor. This slows the flow of blood around your body and is one of the most common medical conditions that can trigger cold feet.
How to warm up feet in bed? ›
If socks aren't enough, you can turn to something even warmer for instant relief from cold feet. Run a hot bath and soak cold feet for 10 to 15 minutes. Heat up a hot water bottle to rest your feet on or, especially if you struggle with cold feet at night, invest in an electric blanket to warm up your bed.
What drug makes your feet cold? ›
Some medications that cause constriction of blood vessels can also lead to cold feet or limbs. Beta blockers for high blood pressure, ergotamine medications for migraine headaches and cold medications that contain pseudoephedrine may all cause this problem.
How to improve circulation in feet while sleeping? ›
Elevating your legs while you sleep can help your circulation and prevent swelling. It's best to elevate your legs above the level of your heart. Wedge-shaped pillows make this easier to do. You can also use pillows or folded blankets you have on hand to elevate your legs in bed to help circulation.
How to warm up cold feet? ›
If socks aren't enough, you can turn to something even warmer for instant relief from cold feet. Run a hot bath and soak cold feet for 10 to 15 minutes. Heat up a hot water bottle to rest your feet on or, especially if you struggle with cold feet at night, invest in an electric blanket to warm up your bed.
