CHILLY tootsies could simply mean that your office A/C is cranked up too high or that you live in Minnesota. But frozen feet can also signal a host of other health conditions, ranging from poor circulation to serious nerve disorders. Here are some health-related conditions that could be turning your feet to ice. 1. You have poor circulation Blood is warm, and it helps maintain your core body temperature. If the flow of blood throughout your body is decreased, your body won’t feel as warm (especially in your extremities), your tissues won’t receive as much oxygen, and everything kind of shuts down. Smoking, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and peripheral artery disease are all linked to poor circulation. 2. You have nerve damage Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that’s especially common in people with diabetes. In addition to cold feet, you might also notice a loss of sensation, tingling, or numbness in your toes or hands. If you have these symptoms, you may need to have a blood sugar test to check for diabetes. 3. You smoke or abuse alcohol Alcohol causes vasodilation, or the opening up of blood vessels. (That’s why your face gets flushed when you drink.) As larger blood vessels get bigger, blood is shunted away from the feet. Smoking shrinks blood vessels so that less blood flows through the body. It also makes the platelets in your blood more sticky, so they stick to each other and cause blockages. Smoking-related lung damage also can reduce the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Do all cold feet need to be treated? No, but in many instances, the symptoms of cold feet can be key in making a medical diagnosis. Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, loss of sensation, or shortness of breath, since they can indicate more serious medical conditions that contribute to cold feet.(SD-Agencies) |