Everyone has had really cold feet at some point in their life and knows how unpleasant it can be. The cold seems to radiate from the feet throughout the entire body. Even when wearing a truly warm down anorak, the rule of thumb applies: if your feet are cold, your whole body is cold. But what if a pair of thick wool socks in winter doesn't offer real relief, and the pervasive feeling of cold, especially in the evening, simply won't subside? Anyone who lies in bed with cold feet knows full well that restful sleep won't come easily.
In addition to obvious causes such as cold and dampness, constantly cold feet can also be symptoms of not always harmless illnesses or disorders. Chronically low blood pressure or vascular damage, such as that appearing in the course of arteriosclerosis, could be behind it. Blood circulation could also be impaired. Since nerves are responsible for blood flow, nerve damage, for example in the course of diabetes, could be present. However, such symptoms are always accompanied by another abnormality such as numbness, pain, or blueness. Hormonal disorders affecting the cardiovascular system or general metabolism, such as an underactive thyroid, could be the cause. The psyche, depression, eating and sleeping disorders, or stress can also be the cause of cold feet, as can a side effect of certain medications.
The fact is that people who constantly suffer from chilled feet must first consciously give them their full attention. Especially in the late autumn and winter months, our feet are all too often neglected compared to the summer season, when they are also supposed to be presentable in light footwear. Paradoxically, when the weather permanently changes to winter, the time for intensive care ends, even though it would then be at least as important. Instead, feet are also winterized, meaning they are airtightly packed in socks and placed in heavy footwear during the day. If our winter footwear also fits poorly, a vicious circle begins: foot misalignments occur, which in turn stimulate callus production. Therefore, even and especially in winter, the choice should always fall on comfortable, breathable shoes that one can walk or stand in for long periods.
However, foot care is always important in all four seasons, as good blood circulation in our feet is the key to their health. But the feeling of cold in the feet is often associated with circulatory problems. It is not for nothing that it is said that freshly cared-for feet feel more. Uncared-for feet, on the other hand, dry out, and the calluses not regularly removed from them thicken.
Poor circulation is usually accompanied by the formation of calluses on the feet. This closes the vicious circle, and it is essentially irrelevant how the increased callus formation came about. What is crucial is the knowledge that, through the detour of circulatory disorders, it gives us cold feet in the evening. It is imperative to gently free the feet of all excess calluses with careful, intensive care. Afterward, essential oils such as pine, lavender, rosemary, thyme, or mint can be used to promote circulation.
