If you’re dealing with cold feet, there are several simple things that can help—but persistent cold feet aren’t always just a circulation issue.
🦶 Tips to improve circulation and keep feet warm
Walk regularly. Even gentle walking gets the leg muscles working and promotes blood flow. Regular exercise is also an important part of managing peripheral artery disease.
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American Heart Association
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Move your ankles and toes. If you’ve been sitting for a while, periodically flex your feet, rotate your ankles, and move your toes.
Keep your whole body warm. Wear warm, comfortable socks and shoes, and avoid prolonged exposure to cold.
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Bradford Care NHS Trust
Don’t smoke. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and smoking substantially increases the risk of peripheral artery disease.
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American Heart Association
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Maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking are important risk factors for peripheral artery disease.
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American Heart Association
Avoid very tight socks or shoes. They can make your feet feel colder and can cause pressure injuries.
Don’t warm numb feet with very hot water, heating pads, or hot-water bottles. Reduced sensation or poor circulation can make burns easier to miss.
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Bradford Care NHS Trust
⚠️ When cold feet deserve medical attention
See a healthcare professional if your feet are persistently cold, particularly if one foot is noticeably colder than the other, or you also have leg pain when walking, numbness, skin-color changes, reduced hair growth, or wounds that heal slowly. These can occur with peripheral artery disease.
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www.heart.org
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Sudden severe coldness, numbness, severe pain, or blue/black discoloration of a foot is an emergency.
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nhs.uk
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