When you drop weight, the numbers on the scale aren’t the only things that change. Thermoregulation, or the modulation of body temperature, changes as your metabolic process and body fat portion shift. Put on an additional layer of clothing and drink a steaming cup of herbal tea to keep yourself warm.
Weight Loss and Body Temperature
Easy Thermodynamics
The body of an obese or overweight individual has a small area to volume ratio. Heat is kept in the body and lost through the skin. Consequently, big people retain a warm body temperature quickly, and heat dissipates across their skin slowly.
On the other hand, a thin individual with a big area to volume ratio gains and loses heat rapidly. An obese person likewise has a higher portion of body fat– an insulator– which assists in heat retention.
Low-Fat, Low-Temp
Diets that are exceptionally low in fat can cause a sensation of cold. While it’s good to eliminate junk food and potato chips, you should not eliminate fat from your diet completely. Make certain to include healthy fats, such as olive oil, fatty fish, avocado and nuts, in your meal strategies.
Cold Fingers Symptoms and Signs
Cold sensations to the feet can come from bad blood circulation, conditions of the nerve system, cold direct exposure injuries such as frostbite, and reduced metabolic process from a low thyroid condition.
Relying on the cause of the symptoms, coldness in the feet can be accompanied by other symptoms, including pain, numbness, changes in skin color, or a pins and needles tingling sensation.
Other diseases that can cause cold feet symptoms include diabetes, arteriosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and neuropathy of any cause.
In individuals with diabetes mellitus, chronic unusually elevated blood and urine sugar, causes narrowing of arteries and blood vessels that impair blood supply to tissues resulting in cold feet symptoms.
Arteriosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease arise from chronic elevation of blood cholesterol levels that causes blood vessel narrowing.
Raynaud’s phenomenon features narrowing of tiny capillary as a response to nerve sensitivity to cold direct exposure, which causes cold feet symptoms. Frostbite causes permanent damage to capillary that are injured from freezing of tissues.
Cold sensations to the fingers can come from poor blood circulation, conditions of the nerve system, cold exposure, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and low thyroid condition (hypothyroidism). Cold fingers may be related to
- hand pain
- wrist pain
- swollen fingers
- tingling fingers
- thickness of the fingers, and discoloration of the fingers.
Why are My Feet Always Cold?
Often, no matter the number of sets of wool socks you wear, your feet just can’t seem to warm up. If you’re relatively healthy, chances are the cause of your cold feet is likely something harmless. However there are serious health conditions that can make your feet permanently chilled.
The most basic reason is an absence of warmth. Another typical factor is poor flow, when insufficient blood is getting to your feet to keep them warm. This can be caused by an inactive lifestyle if you invest much of your day sitting at a desk. You can remedy that by getting up more frequently and moving around throughout the day. Flow concerns can also be caused by underlying illness.
Here’s a look at some of the more serious factors you may be struggling with feet that constantly appear to be cold:
Raynaud’s Disease
Raynaud’s disease usually causes your fingers and toes to feel cold and numb, generally when they’re exposed to cold temperature levels or perhaps stress. With this condition, the small arteries that bring blood to your skin end up being narrow, limiting blood circulation in some areas.
Raynaud’s disease is more typical in women and in individuals who reside in chillier environments.
In addition to sensation cold, skin generally changes colors. Impacted areas turn white, then blue and later turn red when they heat up. As skin warms, you may experience a prickly, painful, burning sensation.
In mild cases, you can treat Raynaud’s by dressing in layers and wearing heavy socks to stay warm. In many cases, your doctor may recommend medication to assist with blood circulation. Some over-the-counter cold medications and prescription heart medications can make the condition worse, so consult your doctor if you’re having symptoms.
Hypothyroidism
An under-active thyroid– or hypothyroidism– is when your thyroid gland does not make enough of the hormone that helps keep many of the body’s systems running efficiently. The symptoms are subtle and begin slowly. You might error them for aging or stress.
Hypothyroidism symptoms include sensitivity to cold, along with fatigue, weight gain and memory problems. Your skin might feel cool, dry and itchy.
Your doctor can identify thyroid problems with a blood test. Hypothyroidism is treated with an artificial thyroid hormone taken daily.
Anemia
Anemia is when you do not have enough healthy red blood cells to bring oxygen throughout your body. The most typical symptom of anemia is feeling weak and worn out, according to the National Institutes of Health, however other symptoms include cold hands and feet, as well as dizziness, shortness of breath, headache and pale skin.
Treatment depends on the type, cause and severity of anemia, however it typically consists of dietary changes and supplements consisting of iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and/or vitamin B12.
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Likewise called peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, this typical condition takes place when cholesterol, fat or some other substances develop in the walls of the arteries. These deposits form hard structures called plaques and cause the walls of the arteries to narrow.
It can take years for the walls of the arteries to harden and years for symptoms to show. Normally, the earliest signs are leg discomfort, pain and cramping. Other symptoms include cool skin in the feet and redness or pain in the feet and toes.
Speak with your doctor if you are having symptoms. Treatment depends on how far the disease has actually advanced and can include lifestyle changes and medication.
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating that is frequent or continuous and usually happens in the hands, feet and armpits. Heavy sweating looks like it would have nothing to do with cold feet. However hyperhidrosis is overactivity of the understanding nervous system.
That results in narrowing of arteries, so while hands and feet are sweating, they are likewise getting less blood circulation, making them cold in addition to damp. Prescription medications are typically used to treat the condition.
Diabetic Nerve Damage
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can take place to individuals with diabetes who have chronically high blood glucose. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, burning, pain and a feeling of coldness in the feet, legs or hands. Symptoms are usually worse at night.
Avoid soaking your feet in hot water to warm them up (you might not understand the water is too hot). Rather, constantly wear warm socks, even to bed, and use an electric blanket at night. It’s also a good idea to work out frequently and wiggle your toes and feet when sitting to assist with circulation.
Other Nerve Damage
In addition to nerve damage from diabetes, you can also experience peripheral neuropathy as a result of an injury or some other underlying medical condition. This nerve pain, which can give the sensation of cold feet, can be a result of a vitamin deficiency, kidney or liver disease, infection, metabolic problem, and even an exposure to some sort of toxin, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition might likewise be genetic and sometimes the cause is never ever discovered.
Smoking Cigarettes
Flow issues caused by smoking can lead to cold feet. One such unusual, however serious, problem includes Buerger’s disease, which impacts capillary in the arms and legs. The blood vessels swell, which can prevent blood circulation and can cause embolisms to form, inning accordance with the CDC. Early symptoms include cold hands and feet, but can lead to tissue damage, pain and painful sores, ulcers and even gangrene. Don’t smoke!
Health Tips
While some physical changes are a regular part of weight loss, a continuous sensation of cold combined with other symptoms might indicate an eating disorder.
If you have an intense worry of weight gain and a distorted body image, and you discover yourself practicing unhealthy habits such as prolonged, exhausting workout and purging or refusing to eat, talk with your doctor instantly.
Make certain to consult your doctor if you believe this may be the case.
Good luck! Have a nice weekend!
