Do Women Get Cold Feet More than Men?

We’ve all heard the expression, but this isn’t about your wedding day or your job interview. It’s about those literal blocks of ice at the end of your legs.

Dr. Robert J. Faux and the good people at Foot Scientific can’t help you when it comes to fear of commitments, but they sure can help you combat distal hypothermia (getting those little piggies warmer).

According to Dr. Faux, cold feet is among the most common foot complaint. This is often NOT because there is anything wrong or cold with your body but because your strong, warm heart is so far away from your feet.

However, there are general medical issues that can be problematic, and if so, the following conditions should be explored:

• A poor circulation condition such as atherosclerosis
• Disorders of the nervous system
• Low thyroid condition

Now if you are a woman reading this, you probably won’t be surprised to find that you are nine times more likely than a man to develop cold in your extremities. Consider these theories:

• Women’s bodies generally favor blood supply for internal insulation, while men’s muscle mass is more heat generating, having better supplied blood vessels in general.
• On the other hand, women’s skin is thinner at the feet than men’s skin, having less subcutaneous insulation.
• Women can more easily suffer from iron deficiency. Iron carries oxygen in the blood and its lack can challenge blood flow.
• Women have less water than men as a percentage.

If you are aging, Dr. Greg Anderson, Podiatrist, reminds us to consider these factors:

• Blood flows through us with less dynamic force.
• Capillaries to the skin are less developed.
• Nutrition is not as well processed which causes breakdowns in skin circulation.

7 Hot Tips for 10 Cold Toes

We all get older, and half of us are women. Now what?

1. Shoes - Dr. Faux emphasizes how much good can come from simply choosing the right shoes. You know how those tight-toed shoes feel colder? That’s simply a circulation issue.
2. Socks - Natural fibers that are not as tightly woven as synthetics can hold the warm air around your feet better than the thinner socks. Also, change your sock more often. Your feet quickly create moisture, and dry socks are, of course, warmer socks.
3. Hydration – You would most likely benefit by drinking a lot more water than you do. Your toes will thank you for the increased circulation pressure and delivery of nutrients and warmth.
4. Water Bowl/Water Massager - Electric blankets: Nice. Battery heated slippers: VERY nice (3volt.net).
5. Wear a Hat – As funny as it seems, a lot of people say wearing a warm hat helps their feet stay warm as well. We know that overall body temperature is effected by a good hat given much of our body heat is lost from our heads running at 10,000 jigawats of brain power.
6. Lotions or Ointments - Some lotions or ointments create a bit of a tingle, but they do help. You might want to check out lanolin.
7. Get Those Feet Moving – Exercise expands capillary growth to the extremities as blood is forced to create expanded channels while you’re moving around. Even with these tips work or not, Dr. Faux suggests that you seek medical attention if you notice any changes in color, sores or ulcers, or any unexplained pain in your feet.