Why are women's feet constantly cold? Diseases and disorders in the body that provoke permafrost of the feet

There is practically no adipose tissue in the foot area, and there are very few muscles. Therefore, in cold weather, the legs freeze due to the large heat transfer. Some people have cold feet all the time, even in the heat of summer. Why is this happening, and what to do in this case?

Causes of cold feet

Vegetative-vascular dystonia. This conditional diagnosis can be made in 80% of people. Disharmony in the work of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system leads to a violation of the regulation of the tone of blood vessels and internal organs, which often requires treatment with venotonic agents ().

Low blood pressure. Freezing limbs are a fairly common problem in hypotensive patients. With low blood pressure, blood flow slows down, so hypotensive patients often freeze.

Hypothyroidism. With a decrease in thyroid function in the body, all processes slow down. For this reason, with hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue and a feeling of cold appear.

body constitution. Often the legs are cold in - thin people with a narrow chest. Asthenics have a small heart, which is why it is not able to provide normal blood supply to the body.

Iron-deficiency anemia. With this disease, hypoxia is noted. Tissues (including vascular ones) receive less oxygen, which causes coldness in the limbs (arms and legs).

Smoking. It is known that nicotine can cause vasospasm.

Atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels. Cholesterol plaques interfere with normal blood flow.

Back pain. Legs can freeze with osteochondrosis, in particular, with pinched nerve endings, which can lead to a feeling of cold in the limbs and even their numbness.

Taking certain medications. Beta-blockers cause spasm of peripheral vessels, which makes a person feel chilly, primarily in the limbs.

What to do if your feet are cold?

If you notice that even in warm weather your extremities are freezing, it is best to consult a doctor in order to establish the exact cause of this symptom. By eliminating the causative disease, you will forever get rid of such a problem as cold feet.

Train your vessels. Contrasting procedures are perfect for this: a contrast shower or alternately lowering the feet into cold and hot water. Also useful will be saunas and baths, in which, after the "hot" procedures, dousing with cold water is provided.

Go in for sports. Force yourself to exercise daily. You can choose running, aerobics, brisk walking, swimming, cycling and other types of physical activity according to your taste.

Try to get rid of bad habits. As mentioned above, nicotine causes vasospasm. Excessive consumption of alcohol and coffee also negatively affects the vascular system. It is better to exclude them from your diet altogether.

Eat right. In the cold season, eat fatty sea fish (mackerel, salmon, pangasius) more often. With low hemoglobin, give preference to foods that contain a large amount of iron (meat, cocoa). To maintain the normal activity of the thyroid gland, iodine is needed, which is contained in seaweed, , fish and seafood.

Keep drinking balance. Drink enough liquid (30 ml per 1 kg of body weight). If you increase the amount of liquid you consume, this will lead to increased blood circulation, which will make you feel warmer.

Choose the right footwear. Do not wear shoes that are tight to the foot. This is especially true for winter shoes. So the heat exchange with the environment takes place more intensively, which you absolutely do not need. The foot in the shoes should feel free. If there is a little air space in the shoe, then the foot will cool down more slowly.

Temper yourself. Spring and summer are the right time to start hardening procedures. Start by taking air baths, gradually moving to rubbing and dousing with water. So you will not only improve vascular tone, but also significantly increase the body's immune defenses.

Health 19.01.2018

Dear readers, many people have cold feet, especially women. The problem gets worse with age. Probably, many of you parents complain and constantly walk around the house in something very warm on their feet. Older people do get colder. Most likely, this is provoked by age-related changes. But why are the feet cold in young and middle-aged people? Is this feature associated with any diseases and disorders?

I have a good friend who also has this problem. The survey showed no change. Doctors put a standard diagnosis - vegetative-vascular dystonia, and until she began to give the body regular physical activity, the problem was not resolved. It turns out that people with poor circulation get cold feet all the time. And sport is the best way to disperse the blood. What do experts think about this? About why the legs are constantly cold, what to do in this situation and how dangerous it can be for health - the doctor of the highest category Evgenia Nabrodova will tell.

So, your feet are cold - the reason may be, indeed, banal: poor blood circulation. But it often leads to a whole chain of disorders and even diseases that need to be treated. Local cooling speaks rather about problems with blood flow specifically in the limbs. But in any case, if your feet are cold and you do not know what to do, consult a doctor. It's best to make an appointment with a GP first, who can refer you to a neurologist, psychologist, and even a cardiologist.

Let's explore the reasons

Why do feet get cold and what to do about this problem? Before you go to the doctor, prepare to answer the following questions (which the doctor will ask at the appointment):

Are your feet and hands cold, or just your feet?
under what conditions cold extremities are observed: in the warmth of the house or on the street, under the influence of stress or in a calm state;
feet are cold and sweaty or there is no sweating;
what additional symptoms occur;
whether there are chronic diseases.

Try to answer the doctor's questions as accurately as possible. It depends on how correctly the specialist will make a diagnosis and select an effective treatment. But do not rush to conclusions and do not start taking any drugs until you get the results of the diagnosis.

Feet are cold - consider the main reasons for men and women:

circulatory disorders;
anemia;
vegetative-vascular dystonia;
pressure reduction;
neurological disorders;
endocrine diseases.

Let's talk more about these main reasons. Having understood them, you can understand why the legs are cold in the heat, and what diseases this may be associated with.

The main reason for cold extremities is circulatory disorders, but they can be different, ranging from vegetative-vascular dystonia to venous insufficiency.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia

Vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD) refers to functional disorders that are accompanied by a violation of vascular tone and the corresponding symptoms:

feeling of constant heartbeat and anxiety;
increased sweating;
headache;
flushes of heat to the face;
general chilliness of the limbs;
stitching pains in the region of the heart;
sleep disorders;
fluctuations in blood pressure.

VSD put many people. In women, the disease is more common. This is due to hormonal imbalance. And also with the fact that women more often than men turn to doctors. Childbirth also increases the risk of developing blood flow disorders in the extremities.

Modern medicine does not consider vegetative-vascular dystonia as an independent disease. The complex of symptoms, including chilliness of the legs, is based on changes in vascular tone and a decrease in the quality of blood circulation in all tissues and organs. The autonomic nervous system is precisely responsible for the constancy of thermoregulation and other important processes, including maintaining the optimal level of blood pressure, metabolic reactions and the work of many body systems.

During puberty, vegetative-vascular dystonia can be triggered by a high rate of maturation of internal organs against the background of slow neuroendocrine regulation. This process leads to autonomic dysfunction. Adolescents have cold hands and feet, and this reason lies in the imperfection of the autonomic nervous system. In addition, often there are pains in the region of the heart, combined with a rapid pulse, increased fatigue and irascibility.

At an older age, VSD progresses against the background of certain chronic diseases and depressive conditions. Strengthen the manifestations of the disease can traumatic brain injury, endocrine diseases, restructuring of the body during pregnancy and menopause.

The concept of "circulatory disorders" includes the development of many diseases and temporary deviations from the norm. Diseases of the blood vessels can proceed for a long time without any symptoms. First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the cold extremities of those people who have unfavorable heredity associated with diseases of the vascular system.

Women often have cold feet, and the cause of this disorder lies in the development of varicose veins or venous insufficiency. Unfortunately, the need to constantly be in tight shoes and boots, walk in high heels and spend a lot of time in a standing position leads to pathological changes in the blood circulation of the lower extremities.

Due to venous stasis and overstretching of the walls of the veins, disturbances in the operation of the valve apparatus and varicose veins develop. This disease is accompanied by the following characteristic symptoms:

heaviness, leg cramps //website/sudorogi-v-nogax-prichiny-lechenie.html, worse in the evening;
swelling of the limbs;
the appearance of hyperpigmentation on the legs;
dry skin on the legs, a tendency to form trophic ulcers;
pronounced chilliness of the limbs.

Violations of venous circulation are very dangerous for health. If your legs are constantly freezing against the background of varicose veins, it is urgent to diagnose and start treatment. The long course of the disease leads to chronic venous insufficiency, thrombophlebitis and directly threatens the woman's life.

Anemia

With iron deficiency and anemia, the muscles of the limbs lack oxygen and energy. This causes cold feet. If you are constantly cold, you may have low hemoglobin. It is very simple to check this: take a general blood test. Anemia today is easily treated with special drugs and dietary adjustments.

In this video, experts talk about why feet are cold, about the causes of this condition and examination options.

Why do men get cold feet?

Despite the fact that circulatory disorders in the extremities are more common in women, men also get cold feet - the cause may be the development of obliterating endarteritis. The disease is associated with insufficient blood flow and active damage to the peripheral arteries.

Obliterating endarteritis affects mainly men. This disease most often requires surgical treatment, up to amputation of limbs. The main reason for the development of pathology is long-term smoking, which leads to disruption of the blood vessels, accompanied by chronic intoxication.

Due to the constant spasm of the vascular walls, organic changes occur in them, parietal thrombosis occurs. The lumen of the arteries narrows, the limbs cease to receive the necessary amount of blood, oxygen and nutrients. As a result, the feet are cold and constantly cold.

Without timely treatment, obliterating endarteritis in men ends with amputation of the limbs. If your feet are cold and you don't know what it means, make an appointment with a phlebologist or at least a therapist. An early start of treatment will allow you to get rid of the chilliness of the limbs and prevent total surgery.

Symptoms of obliterating endarteritis:

constant chilliness: legs get cold even in warmth, and a man cannot understand why this is happening;
paresthesia: tingling, crawling sensation on the skin;
leg cramps: spasms cover mainly the calf muscles and feet;
pain syndrome: pain in the legs appears while walking, a characteristic symptom occurs - intermittent claudication (a man makes frequent stops and suddenly begins to limp);
hair loss on the legs, deterioration of the nails;
atrophy of the muscle tissues of the lower extremities;
tendency to edema and trophic ulcers.

At the last stage of the disease, gangrene begins to progress. Due to the high rate of infection, specialists are forced to amputate the limb.

Cold feet during pregnancy

Many women get cold feet during pregnancy. This is due to an increase in the load on the venous system and a change in hormonal levels. The condition does not require any special treatment if the woman has no other health complaints. During pregnancy, the work of the nervous system changes. This can lead to increased sweating.

If your feet are cold and sweating at the same time and this is not associated with chronic diseases, you need to pay increased attention to the quality of personal hygiene, use special powders and deodorants. Try to wear socks and shoes made from quality natural materials.

What to do? Solution

You can only find out exactly why your feet and hands are cold even at home, where it is warm, only with the help of a doctor. The specialist prescribes a comprehensive diagnosis, which includes a laboratory blood test, electroencephalography, ultrasound of the vessels of the legs, magnetic resonance imaging and other examination methods.

Treatment directly depends on the diagnosis. If there are no chronic diseases, it is necessary to pay attention to the state of the nervous system. Chilliness of the extremities is often found in people with mental disorders who are under the influence of stress and internal experiences for a long time. In this case, antidepressants, light sedatives, warm evening baths with chamomile, linden, valerian are recommended.

Treatment for VVD

Treatment of VVD is complex, lasts several months, is selected taking into account the state of the patient's nervous system. It is recommended to normalize the regime of work and rest, use dosed physical activity and limit the negative impact of stress as much as possible. Sometimes these measures alone are enough to stop cold feet and improve the general condition.

Additional treatment of chilliness of the limbs with vegetative-vascular dystonia includes the use of massage, water procedures, and electrophoresis. Pay attention to hardening procedures. Because hardening directly affects the state of blood vessels, due to impaired blood supply to which, most often, increased chilliness of the extremities occurs.

Gradual hardening procedures improve the protective mechanism and the thermoregulation system. A smooth decrease in the temperature of the water for dousing trains the vascular walls, enables the capillaries to respond correctly to temperature changes and adverse external influences.

Treatment of circulatory disorders

How to improve blood circulation if your feet are cold? Treatment of circulatory disorders also depends on the underlying disease. In diseases of the veins in women and men, complex therapy is prescribed. Of the drugs, phlebotropic agents are necessarily prescribed, which strengthen the vascular walls and prevent complications.

It is necessary to control the level of blood clotting and reduce the risk of developing thrombophlebitis. Topical treatment includes the use of ointments, creams and gels that relieve inflammation, heaviness and swelling, and alleviate the condition. It is recommended to wear compression stockings during the day. Specialists also prescribe antispasmodics, anticoagulants. From physiotherapy, electrophoresis, foot baths, diadynamic currents, UHF are used.

Surgical treatment is used for the ulcerative-necrotic stage of obliterating endarteritis and chronic venous insufficiency. If you timely notice that your feet are cold, change your lifestyle and start using drugs prescribed by your doctor, surgery can be avoided, as well as life-threatening complications.

Doctor of the highest category
Evgenia Nabrodova

I thank Evgenia for the information. And for the soul, we will listen to you Ernesto Cortazar . Moments of loneliness. Very penetrating.

16 comments

Usually people do not pay attention to the state of cold feet or do not attach much importance to it, because the feeling becomes familiar and ceases to cause discomfort. But in vain!

The constant sensation of freezing limbs of the legs causes the development of new or already formed diseases.

In human physiology, the limbs of the legs have many different factors that are responsible not only for movement, but also for the general condition of the body.

In the foot, there are a large number of nerve endings and blood vessels. Therefore, human health depends on their condition.

In this article, we will try to answer in detail why the legs are cold in the heat, consider the causes and methods for their elimination.

Why can feet get cold?

Cold feet in a person can signal various problems and conditions. Here are some reasons that provoke a condition in a healthy person:

Wrong nutrition. The amount of nutrients and energy substances does not correspond to the amount of the norm for the human body. This factor can cause discomfort in the lower extremities.
The habituation of the body to one particular temperature. Consequently, already at a temperature below the accustomed, the limbs begin to freeze.
Exposure to cool temperatures or wet feet, which leads to diseases.
due to external factors. Sedentary work may have an effect. Legs tucked in one position for a long time, uncomfortable shoes - disrupts blood circulation. Then in this case, the limbs become numb, numb and cold.
The frostbite of the legs that has happened for a long time is affecting. After a long time, outwardly, this is not noticed in any way, but with slight cool weather, frostbitten limbs make themselves felt.

The feeling of cold feet is also common in children. Unlike adults, they do not like to dress warmly. If the baby's legs are cold, this does not mean that there is any disease.

It's just that children at an early age do not develop heat transfer and cool legs can be attributed to the norm. But this is only at this early age.

If a child is 5-7 years old and such a condition of the legs is noticed, then it is worth paying attention to. This may be the beginning of some pathological conditions, for example:

increased body temperature (in cases of teething or as a result of reactions to vaccination).

Reasons for women. The condition of cold feet is not uncommon for women to experience during pregnancy. The temperature regime is disturbed with an increase in the level of estrogen. It can also be the cause of changes in blood pressure (in the later stages).

There is another not very pleasant factor in feeling cold feet, in summer and winter, and this is their sweating.

Such symptoms are often found, in men and women, if present, with flat feet, as well as with infectious diseases of the kidneys.

At such moments, you should pay attention to the quality of socks. Since the synthetic material has a negative effect on warming.

If you do not pay attention to this, then such a pathology can develop into a chronic form.

Diseases and disorders in the body that provoke permafrost of the feet

There are also serious reasons due to which feet can freeze even at home when it is warm. With a physiological disorder, treatment of the body is required. The causes of chronic cold feet are as follows:

Arterial pressure

Strong, provokes vasoconstriction, which leads to freezing of the legs. The volume of blood flow to the extremities is small. With hypertension, a decrease in their temperature is considered a common result.

With opposite consequences occurs with hypotension.

The blood pressure is also low for its circulation, but the vessels do not constrict.

Anemia

When feet are cold in summer or in winter when warm, this may indicate anemia (). With a low level of hemoglobin in the blood, oxygen is supplied with difficulty.

Subsequently, the processes of exchange between cells take place with difficulty, which makes it impossible to warm the legs.

Vegetovascular dystonia

(VSD, neurocirculatory dysfunction).

It affects the increased blood flow in the lower extremities, and the vessels do not have time to quickly respond to temperature changes and the legs get cold.

Obliterating endarteritis

This disease most often affects smokers. When nicotine is inhaled, blood vessels constrict. Thrombus formation is possible. What causes cold feet.

Diabetes

When large and small vessels become fragile and brittle, and over time, these important arteries can close completely. The blood supply is interrupted.

To avoid the occurrence of "", you need to consult a doctor.

Nervous system disorder

The legs become very sensitive, with nervous and emotional disorders. Intense spasms occur with the vessels.

Raynaud's syndrome

- this disease affects the small terminal arteries and arterioles in the extremities, takes place in the form of seizures. Cause frostbite.

Phlebeurysm

If your feet are constantly freezing even in warmth, this can be provoked by a violation in blood circulation during. Feeling pain when walking.

There is swelling in the area of the leg. Capillary asterisks and a bluish color appear on the skin. After rest, the heaviness and pain disappear.

Frostbite of toes

There are IV degrees:

The appearance of light bluish spots, accompanied by tingling and painful sensation.
The skin becomes bluish in color, bubbles form on it, and the pain increases significantly.
Skin necrosis sets in.
The condition is dangerous, the color of the skin is black, necrosis of tissues and bones at a deep level.

If at I degree only a slight swelling and pallor is noticed, as a result of which pain sensations also occur, then at II, III and IV, this is already a critical circumstance. In the case of self-medication, the condition worsens significantly.

In the case of frostbite of the I degree and in the II degree, the period is delayed for 2-3 weeks. In this case, an infection develops, the temperature rises. III and IV degree - infection occurs, leading to a gangrenous character.

Frostbite can lead to a serious illness, gangrene. It has two types. This is the dry and wet type. With the dry type of gangrene, there is a gradual drying of the tissues. The need to eliminate dead tissue leads to the appearance of a scar. But, and if with a wet type of gangrene, then it is more difficult.

Body temperature rises, tissue swelling increases. Appears - insomnia and migraine.

Surgical intervention occurs after three to four weeks, time is expected, especially for the correct diagnosis.

Violation of the water balance

The body does not receive the right amount of water, as a result of which the blood becomes thick. There is a protective reaction of the body - the formation of blood vessels. There are certain diseases:

fungal infections, both of the legs and internal organs;

The first and main causes of poor blood flow in aged people are hidden in pathological disorders of peripheral vessels.

Signs of poor blood circulation in the vessels:

significant;
noticeable prominence of veins;
rapid fatigue with small physical. loads;
seizures at rest;
numbness of the limbs;
sagging, dark blue skin color.

In addition to problems with blood vessels, in an elderly person, diseases such as brain disorders and osteochondrosis lead to constant freezing of the legs.

Cold feet and people with low sugar levels. as well as due to the intake of various medications that cause vasospasm.

Each person has an individual diagnosis, individual diseases, and therefore, in any case, one has to consult a doctor to solve this problem.

After the examination, after passing the tests, the cause is established and, consequently, the correct treatment of diseases that carry such signs. But in all cases, the circulation is wrong.

First aid for frostbite

In no case should the injured limb be immersed in hot water. This only makes things worse and worse. It is necessary not to rub the affected areas with sharp movements. Soak your hands in alcohol first.

You can lower the limb into warm water no higher than 20 degrees and gradually heat it up a little. The skin is not wiped dry until it dries on its own.

Cold and hot shower

A contrast shower is indispensable for hardening the whole body. Hot water is certainly an effective way to increase blood circulation, but you should not get carried away.

The body has such a property - addiction. That subsequently it will be practically impossible to warm up without warm water, heating pads and various warming objects cannot be used.

Therefore, the choice is put on a contrast shower. There is nothing better than hardening.

Food

Nutrition is an important factor. Be sure to supplement your diet with foods such as:

bran bread or bran supplement;
cellulose;

And, you can still buy a ready-made vitamin complex in pharmacies. It consists of:

iron;
vitamins C;
vitamins E;
group B;
omega-3 fatty acids;
calcium;
magnesium.

This vitamin complex serves as a prophylactic. Supplements the body with the necessary properties.

How to get rid of cold feet?

What to do, you need to increase blood circulation and normalize the activity of blood vessels. You can change all this with the help of warm baths or a contrast shower. Only, the water contrast should not be very significant.

Various essential oils are added to the bath:

rosemary;
tea tree;
orange.

Very useful baths with needles. After the procedures, the feet are not wiped, but allowed to dry on their own. Then they put on cotton socks, into which one or two tablespoons of mustard are poured. And they drink warming teas, preferably with ginger.

But all this can be done only if the pressure is normal and there are no problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Useful warm socks made of coarse wool.

Rubbing for the treatment of cold feet

Rubbing with apple cider vinegar

The usual property has a unique property. After massaging the limbs, apple cider vinegar is applied. It has a very useful property, such as eliminating blood clots and clots in blood vessels.

If the vinegar is 6 percent, do not dissolve it with water. Apply completely to the entire leg, capturing the feet without fail. Gently rubbing it into the skin. After 3-5 minutes, it is absorbed, and the legs are wrapped in a warm cloth. Having not been in a lying position for a long time, thereby allowing it to be absorbed, you can continue to do your own thing.

Rubbing red ground pepper

It saves ordinary red ground pepper from freezing the limbs: 2 tsp of pepper is poured with 1 st vodka, kept for ten days and filtered, lubricated feet, preferably at bedtime at night.

Thus, the circulation improves and the feet stop getting cold. By doing daily therapeutic massage and foot baths, these problems will disappear in the near future.

Prevention

In order to give at least a little chance to restore blood flow, it is necessary to remove the largest number of factors that provoke a feeling of cold in the lower extremities:

drinking alcohol and smoking;
increased body weight;
inactive lifestyle;
malnutrition;
correct selection of shoes;
minimum stressful situations;
treatment with folk methods.

In the absence of these diseases, you can take advantage of an active lifestyle, walking in the fresh air, cycling, swimming, and, of course, exercising.

When working in a sitting position, do not forget to do a warm-up every hour. All these points improve blood flow. Stop the reduction of muscle tissue.

The heart is not overloaded. In addition to training for muscles, it is very important to relax them by massaging the feet (circulation in the limbs is perfectly normalized). Particular attention should be paid to the lymph nodes and blood vessels that are under the knees.

You should also pay attention to choosing the right shoes. Inside the shoes there should be natural or woolen fur, you need to select a thermal insole that correctly creates heat transfer. And of course, the lower part of the shoe, the sole. It should be thick enough to not feel cold from the ground. It must be made of durable waterproof material. This is the main part of the shoe, which protects the feet from cold and dampness.

Similar content

Surely, many people are faced with a situation where their limbs suffer from cold. Of course, this is a natural reaction of the body to hypothermia, for example, after a walk in the cold. But often the legs or hands can freeze not only in winter, but also in summer, and even in a warm room. This problem is more typical for older people, but relatively young people and even children can experience it. This phenomenon is more typical for men than for women. Why does this happen, and is this symptom not a sign of some serious illness?

Why do feet get cold in the heat and what to do

Legs are a very important part of the body. And it's not just that we need them to move around. A lot of nerve endings are concentrated in the feet of a person. There are many small vessels and capillaries in them.

On the other hand, it is worth bearing in mind that the lower part of the legs - the feet and toes - is at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the body. After all, the distance from the heart to the feet is much greater than the distance from the heart to other parts of the body. Therefore, the circulation in the lower part of the legs is not as intense as in the upper part of the body. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that the legs most often receive less blood, and therefore heat, than the rest of the body. It should also be remembered that there is relatively little adipose tissue in the legs, which allows you to keep warm.

However, the feeling of cold feet in a warm room should not be experienced by a person whose health is not weak. Therefore, feet freezing in the heat can serve as a kind of diagnostic sign, indicating that not everything is in order in the body.

So, what causes cold feet? It:

vegetovascular dystonia;
osteochondrosis;
high or low blood pressure;
diabetes;
anemia;
heart failure;
dehydration;
beriberi;
previously transferred frostbite of the legs;
immunity disorders;
endocrine disorders, in particular, hypothyroidism;
allergic reactions;
smoking;
vein diseases - phlebitis and thrombophlebitis;
Raynaud's syndrome;
atopic dermatitis;
insufficient body weight;
chronic stress;
disorders of cerebral circulation;
elderly age.

Circumstances such as improper sitting at the table (in which the legs become numb all the time), sitting on a chair in a position when one leg is thrown over the other, constant wearing of uncomfortable shoes or synthetic socks or tights, in which feet are constantly cold or sweaty.

Constantly cold feet: why the feet are cold

The sensation of cold in the extremities in most cases is associated with spasm of peripheral vessels. Quite often, a similar condition occurs with vegetative-vascular dystonia. This syndrome most often manifests itself in young and middle age - from 20 to 40 years. With it, there is an inconsistency in the contractions of blood vessels in the limbs and the heart. Thus, blood can have problems getting into the capillaries of the legs and feet.

A similar effect is observed with high blood pressure, when vasospasm occurs. On the other hand, low blood pressure can also cause cold feet. This is due to the low intensity of blood circulation in a similar condition. Therefore, if your feet are cold, then the causes of this phenomenon may also lie in unstable blood pressure. Therefore, such a condition requires the control of this important physiological parameter.

Previous frostbite of the feet can also affect the sensitivity of the feet to cold. Despite the fact that the limbs seem to be restored after such an event, in fact this recovery is not complete, and its consequences can be felt for the rest of life. Therefore, if you cannot understand why your feet are cold, then perhaps the matter lies in the frostbite of your feet that you suffered a long time ago, maybe even in childhood.

Diabetes mellitus greatly affects the condition of the blood and blood vessels. Vessels become more fragile, blood clots can form in them. With this disease, the properties of blood and blood supply to tissues deteriorate and, as a result, the legs will lack warmth. However, cold feet are far from the most dangerous consequence of diabetes. In many cases, diabetics can develop a dangerous condition called "diabetic foot", which in turn can lead to tissue gangrene.

Anemia or a lack of hemoglobin causes the tissues to receive insufficient amounts of oxygen. As a result, metabolic processes in them are disturbed, which, in particular, results in the effect of chilly legs.

Smoking also leads to disturbances in the walls of small capillaries. They become more brittle and more difficult to bleed through. Often, heavy smokers are prone to such a disease as obliterating endarteritis, leading to inflammation of blood vessels and the formation of blood clots in them.

Sometimes the feeling of coldness in the legs is combined with their increased sweating. Most often, this situation indicates the presence of diabetes mellitus, endocrine disorders (insufficient functionality of the thyroid gland).

Most older people also face a similar problem. This is due to the fact that in old age the blood supply to the tissues deteriorates.

Are there signs by which you can determine if the blood flow in the legs is effective enough? Such indications are well known. The following symptoms indicate that the vessels of the lower extremities are not doing their job:

swelling,
protruding, blood-filled veins,
fatigue of the legs when walking,
frequent cramps in the feet and legs,
frequent itching in the legs,
frequent cases of leg numbness,
skin laxity,
bluish skin color.

How to get rid of this condition?

If the symptom is caused by some disease, then the main attention should be paid to its treatment. And until it is cured, of course, it is necessary to somehow warm the legs. You can also carry out activities to harden the body, a contrast shower, physiotherapy exercises, massage. Folk remedies give a tangible effect - rubbing with vinegar and alcohol, baths (warm and contrasting), applying pepper patches to the feet.

Ethyl alcohol has a good effect on warming the feet. Its use can be combined with the use of warm baths with warm water. For example, if after such a bath you put on thin socks soaked in alcohol, and warm woolen socks on top of them, then your feet will quickly warm up. Warm baths with essential oils of coniferous trees and eucalyptus are also effective for warming the feet. The water temperature during this procedure should be 39-40 ºС. The duration of the procedure is 10 minutes.

It should also be remembered that the factors contributing to the freezing of the legs are malnutrition, excess weight and physical inactivity. Therefore, it is necessary to the best of your ability to take measures to change your lifestyle. It makes sense for young people to go in for sports - cycling, running, swimming. It is necessary to exclude alcohol and coffee from your diet, drink enough fluids.

There are special exercises for the legs that help eliminate swelling, increase the tone of blood vessels and skin. For example, you can simply shake your legs while lying on your back and bending your knees. Or, lying on your stomach, freely bend your knees, hitting your buttocks with your feet.

Factors such as comfortable shoes, proper seating at the table, etc. are also of great importance. In winter, shoes should not only be warm (this implies both a thick sole and high-quality shoe material), but also, which is often overlooked, not tight, since tight shoes retain heat worse and squeezing blood vessels. Women are advised not to wear high heels for more than 4 hours a day. You should also pay attention to the selection of insoles - they should be warm enough and at the same time let air through freely.

Most people periodically face a situation where their hands and feet get cold. This usually happens during the cold season, especially if the person is dressed out of season. But quite a few people complain about literally icy limbs, being in a room with normal room temperature or even on the beach in the heat.

Coldness of the hands and feet indicates a violation of local blood circulation, i.e., a delay in the movement of blood. The problem may be associated with pathological changes in the peripheral and central vessels (or). Another cause is often a transient spasm. The narrowing of small arterioles and capillaries is often due to disorders of the nervous system (including).

Coldness of the upper and lower extremities is very typical for people with low blood pressure.

Note:in people with an asthenic, thin physique, blood pressure indicators are often below a certain average "norm". It is they who most often complain that they are cold in warm weather.

Cold hands and feet: causes of the problem

Important:freezing hands and feet are not always a sign of some kind of pathology. Perhaps it's a common thing when you stay outside for a long time at a low temperature. Warm shoes and high-quality gloves will solve this problem.

Possible reasons why the limbs are often cold:

With some diseases of the endocrine glands (diabetes mellitus,) the process of conducting an impulse along sensitive and autonomic fibers is disrupted. It is imperative to take a blood test for sugar levels when numbness, burning, itching appear in the hands and feet, or sweating is noted for no apparent reason.

If, in parallel with the feeling of coldness in the hands and feet, you also notice hair, pain in the legs, decreased skin sensitivity or interruptions in the work of the heart, we strongly recommend that you do not postpone a visit to the doctor. Only a comprehensive comprehensive examination will help to identify the true cause of violations.

Nicotine and other compounds present in tobacco cause vasospasm. People with nicotine dependence develop pathological changes in the vascular walls over time.

A sign of varicose veins of the lower extremities are swelling of the feet, local pain in the projection of the joints, etc. "spider veins".

VVD and heart disease are manifested by rapid fatigue against a background of minor physical exertion and shortness of breath.. The skin of the feet acquires a pale shade with a peculiar "marble" pattern.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia can be a direct consequence of physical inactivity in childhood and adolescence, low stress resistance or past infections. With VVD, a significant amount of adrenaline is periodically released into the blood, provoking hypertonicity and spasms of the smooth muscles of the vascular walls.

Raynaud's syndrome, which is particularly common in patients suffering from cold allergies, is characterized by symptoms such as painful spasms in the hands and feet. It is considered as a separate disease or as a manifestation of pathologies of the spine, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.

Important:the fact that the fingers, palms and feet freeze first of all can be considered a normal phenomenon, due to the anatomical and physiological features of the structure of the human body. In these areas of the body there is relatively little richly vascularized muscle tissue, but a lot of tendons. The area of the skin that actively gives off heat to the external environment is relatively large, and the layer of fiber that can prevent this is very small.

What to do if hands and feet are cold?

Certain dietary changes need to be made. Fractional meals are recommended - in small portions 5-7 times a day.

Useful and harmful products

It is advisable to include more foods high in iron in the menu. This, in particular, helps to prevent anemia.

Note:iron is an integral part of hemoglobin, which is responsible for the transport of oxygen in the body.

Foods rich in iron:

green leafy vegetables;
lean meat (preferably poultry meat);
fish of any kind;
egg yolk;

Orange juice (especially freshly squeezed) contributes to the most complete assimilation of this macronutrient.

It contributes to the expansion of arterioles and capillaries, and (vitamin C) strengthens the walls of the main and peripheral vessels.

Products for strengthening the walls of capillaries:

(hazel, walnuts, almonds);
sunflower or pumpkin seeds (unroasted);
buckwheat grain;
beans;
whole wheat bread.

Alcohol must be forgotten once and for all. In no case do not try to keep warm in the cold with alcohol. It gives only a subjective sensation of warmth. Due to the expansion of peripheral vessels, the blood really rushes to the face and limbs for a short time, but the body as a whole is only additionally supercooled.

Important:For heavy smokers, the only way to avoid circulatory problems is to give up the habit completely.

The blood supply to the arms and legs improves significantly with regular exercise. Jumping, running and swimming can prevent blood stasis. This is especially important for people engaged in sedentary work. It is noted that their feet often freeze even in a warm room. During the working day, it is advisable to get up every 20-30 minutes, stretch and perform rotations and swings with arms and legs for 2-3 minutes. Thanks to gymnastics, not only physical, but also mental performance will improve, since blood flow in the brain will also increase.

If your fingers get cold from time to time, you need to take measures to a kind of hardening of blood vessels . Being in a room with a comfortable temperature (usually it ranges from + 19 ° C to + 22 ° C), prepare a warm bath for hands, and lower the brushes into the container for 3-4 minutes. Then you need to move to a room with a lower temperature, which will provoke a cold spasm of peripheral vessels. There, again, you need to lower your fingers into warm water, forcing the capillaries to expand. Regular performance of such gymnastics for vessels (at least three times a day for a month) will help them resist vasospasm. After each procedure, it is necessary to actively move your hands in order to intensively disperse the blood through the limbs.

In summer, in nature, try to swim more often in open water (it’s good if the water is a little cool), and walk barefoot on the grass and ground, thus massaging the biologically active points on the soles.

If there are no general contraindications associated with chronic diseases, try to visit the Russian bath or sauna weekly.

Legs are useful to soak overnight in hot water. If you can't cope with cold feet, put a warm heating pad on your feet before going to bed.

For local and general hardening, contrasting douches of the extremities are useful. They can be done in the shower, alternating hot and cold water. The duration of such hardening procedures must be gradually increased.

Massage is very useful for normalizing the state of blood vessels.. Try to knead your hands, toes and lower legs (up to the knee joint) more often, using ginger or cinnamon essential oils for rubbing.

Drink infusions of blueberries, strawberries, mulberries and elderberries, brewing 1 tbsp. l. berries with a glass of boiling water.

An effective folk remedy for improving the tone of blood vessels is alcohol or vodka tincture of horse chestnut flower. For 1 part of vegetable raw materials, take 2 parts of ethanol solution and infuse for 1 week in a dark place. Take 30-40 drops 2-3 times a day before meals.