The therapist named the reasons for the constant chilliness of the legs in the fall

In autumn, many people notice that their feet remain cold even in a warm apartment and after warming up. This condition is not always associated with ordinary frost: the cause may be circulatory disorders, nervous system function, hormonal changes or iron deficiency. Oksana Serebryakova, a general practitioner at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), Candidate of Medical Sciences, told Izvestia about this on September 2.

"In the cold season, the body naturally rebuilds itself.: blood vessels can narrow to keep warm, the rate of metabolic processes decreases, and lack of movement further impairs blood circulation. A sedentary lifestyle, prolonged sitting in one position, the habit of sitting cross-legged, strict diets and insufficient physical activity can increase the feeling of cold in the legs. In such cases, the discomfort usually disappears after movement, warming up or normalization of the regime," the expert said.

However, if the feet remain cold all the time — even in a warm room, under a blanket or in wool socks — this may indicate a malfunction in the body. One possible cause is Raynaud's disease. In this condition, small vessels of the hands and feet spasm in response to cold or stress. In addition to feeling cold, the skin may turn pale, turn bluish, and turn red after warming up.

Another reason may be atherosclerosis of the arteries of the lower extremities — vasoconstriction due to plaque formation. This condition may cause pain when walking, numbness, and discoloration of the skin, the doctor added.

Cold feet can also be associated with varicose veins. Violation of venous outflow can cause heaviness in the legs, swelling and discomfort.

According to Serebryakova, thyroid disorders, in particular hypothyroidism, are also found among the possible causes. With a decrease in hormone production, the metabolism slows down and the body's ability to produce heat decreases.

Constant chilliness can accompany iron deficiency anemia. In addition, a feeling of cold in the legs sometimes occurs in diabetes mellitus due to damage to blood vessels and nerve fibers. Among other possible factors, the specialist identified chronic heart failure, osteochondrosis and polyneuropathy — damage to peripheral nerves.

It's better to treat: strokes and heart attacks are not only found in the elderly

Doctors told how overweight, smoking, physical inactivity and poor sleep trigger vascular disasters.

It is possible to distinguish a common reaction to cold from a symptom of the disease by concomitant signs. The reason to consult a doctor is numbness and tingling in the legs, burning, dryness and peeling of the skin, discoloration of the feet, swelling, cramps, weakness or pain when walking.

According to the expert, it is especially important not to ignore the situation if cold feet become a constant problem and are accompanied by other changes in well-being. If such symptoms occur, it is recommended to start the examination by contacting a therapist. The doctor can prescribe basic tests that will help identify the most common causes.

The list of examinations may include a general blood test to assess the presence of anemia, tests for ferritin and serum iron, checking the level of thyroid hormones — TSH, T3 and T4, blood glucose analysis to exclude diabetes, as well as a lipid profile to assess the risk of vascular disorders.

If necessary, the therapist will refer the patient to specialized specialists: an endocrinologist in case of suspected metabolic disorders, a phlebologist or vascular surgeon in case of vascular problems, as well as a neurologist in case of possible nerve conduction disorders.

"Most often, cold feet act as a reaction of the body to diseases of the endocrine, cardiovascular or nervous system," the specialist noted.

According to Serebryakova, if the feeling of cold in the feet occurs regularly and is not related only to the ambient temperature, it should not be attributed to an individual feature of the body. In this case, it is important to undergo an examination and find out the cause.

On August 31, neurologist Rustam Bagautdinov spoke about diseases that are associated with pain between the shoulder blades. He said that acute, pulling or aching pain between the shoulder blades often occurs in people who spend a lot of time at the computer or driving. According to the neurologist, it is most often associated not with the spine, but with prolonged overexertion of muscles and fascia.