MD Podiatrist Discusses Cold Feet
Cold feet are common during the winter when the rest of your body tends to be chilly. Usually, you and your feet will warm up once you’re inside a heated space, or slip on your wooly socks. Still, Dan Michaels, DPM, says, “When cold feet continue to progress – they’re cold even if you’re at home, or the feet are cold and causing pain – that’s a warning sign that must get treated by a physician.”
Poor circulation – caused by a heart problem, smoking, high blood pressure, Reynaud’s disease, or diabetes – is the most common cause of chronic cold feet, Dr. Michaels says. Blocked or narrowed blood vessels makes it harder for blood to flow freely. It takes longer for blood to reach your feet, which makes your toes cold. “Poor circulation isn’t going to get better without some sort of intervention,” Michaels says. “It could be because of a poor diet or a smoking history, you could have major blockages that you’re just not aware of.”
