Why cold feet in bed can be dangerous
Created: 12/01/2022 16:33
By: Nina Dudek
Cold feet in bed are not only uncomfortable, they can also have dangerous causes.
© Craig Robinson/PantherMedia
Anyone who is constantly freezing at night or has cold feet should definitely get to the bottom of the causes.
Because there could also be health problems behind it
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Especially unpleasant in the cold season, but not nice the rest of the year either: icy cold feet in bed.
Especially a phenomenon in women, since they generate less heat due to the lower muscle mass and this is "saved" especially in the blood flow to the extremities.
The icicle toes like to wander over to the partner.
And nothing works without a hot-water bottle if you (or your wife) tend to freeze at night.
In this guide you can find out what can be behind the phenomenon of “cold feet”, why men are also affected and what you can do about it.
Table of Contents
Causes of cold feet: low blood pressure (hypotension) & poor circulation
Vascular diseases as a cause of cold feet
Cold barrels due to vitamin deficiency?
Is the thyroid the cause of cold feet in bed?
What to do against cold feet in bed?
Causes of cold feet: low blood pressure (hypotension) & poor circulation
As the
Apotheken Umschau
reports, low blood pressure and poor circulation are among the most common causes of ice toes in bed.
Reasons that you should definitely have clarified!
But even a dangerous symptom could be a health cause of cold feet and hands.
It is important that a doctor clarifies what form of hypotension it is.
There are two types of low blood pressure:
Essential hypotension:
uncomfortable but usually harmless, common in very slim young women or tall young men, and the elderly.
Secondary hypertension:
can e.g.
caused by heart problems, nerve disorders or metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes) or hormone disorders - medical action is required here.
In addition to constantly cold feet and hands - even under a thick blanket in bed - the symptoms of low blood pressure can be stressful: Especially when getting up, those affected often suffer from flickering in front of their eyes, dizziness, drowsiness and are tired, listless and tired even after sufficient sleep have trouble concentrating.
Even heart palpitations and inner restlessness can occur.
Especially in winter, thermal blankets without electricity are welcome companions.
According to Stiftung Warentest, electric blankets can even save electricity and energy costs!
In this way, people with low blood pressure can ensure cozy warmth in bed or on the sofa – and their feet also benefit from it.
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Vascular diseases as a cause of cold feet
The
Apotheken Umschau also
reports that vascular diseases can be a common cause of cold feet - and these should definitely be treated!
If cold hands and feet are accompanied by blue-red discolored fingers or toes, it could be the so-called "Raynaud's syndrome".
Here, too, a visit to a specialist brings certainty and clarity as to what type of Raynaud's symptom it may be:
Primary Raynaud's syndrome
: mostly younger women between 15 and 40 years are affected;
there is no causal disease for this vascular disorder, especially in the fingers, but also in toes and feet.
Secondary Raynaud's Syndrome
: This can affect both men and women of all ages. It is often caused by neurological diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome or multiple sclerosis, but spinal cord tumors and autoimmune diseases such as connective tissue diseases (collagenosis) and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause cold hands and feet.
According to
Apotheken Umschau
, in addition to Raynaud's syndrome, the vascular disease arteriosclerosis also plays an important role when it comes to researching the causes of cold, tingling feet.
A vascular specialist must clarify whether increasing deposits and constrictions in the vessels are the cause of the symptoms.
Anyone who smokes a lot, moves little and has several pounds too much on their ribs belongs to the risk group.
If your blood lipid levels or blood pressure are elevated or if you suffer from diabetes, this could also lead to vascular diseases - and thus indirectly have something to do with cold feet.
Cold barrels due to vitamin deficiency?
In fact, freezing nights and ice-cold feet and/or hands could also be due to a lack of vitamins.
A cause that, if left untreated, can lead to long-term health damage.
A magnesium deficiency, but also too little vitamin B 12 can lead to cold feet.
But why?
Magnesium deficiency can cause circulatory problems in the long term, which in turn lead to cold feet.
Vitamin B 12 is responsible for the formation of red blood cells.
If there is too little due to a vitamin B 12 deficiency, less oxygen is transported in the body and the reduced blood flow leads to freezing.
Is the thyroid the cause of cold feet in bed?
Cold feet can be one of many symptoms of an underactive thyroid.
© Science Photo Library/Imago
The thyroid is the "control center" for the human hormonal balance.
An underactive thyroid can lie dormant undetected for a long time.
But if the so-called Hashimoto's thyroiditis goes unnoticed and therefore untreated, the production of thyroid hormones decreases more and more.
Symptoms include cold feet and hands, but because the signs are so varied, it's important to get them checked out by an endocrinologist.
Typical symptoms of an underactive thyroid are:
Sensitivity to cold, cold hands and feet
fatigue exhaustion
Weight gain made worse by dieting
Hair loss, dry, pale skin & brittle nails
Heavy menses
susceptibility to infection
Frequent headaches
What to do against cold feet in bed?
Cold feet while sleeping are not uncommon.
But you can take action against it.
© Lev Dolgachov/PantherMedia
Anyone who has ice-cold feet over a longer period of months should definitely have this medically clarified for the reasons mentioned above.
In addition, you always have the opportunity to take active action against this unpleasant phenomenon yourself.
Obvious but always effective:
sleeping with socks
Get your circulation going:
Endurance sports such as jogging, cycling and swimming raise your blood pressure and promote blood circulation – right down to your toes.
Kneipp treatments, contrast showers, a visit to the sauna
(followed by a cold shower) or dry brushing promote blood circulation, strengthen the circulatory system and the immune system.
Improve the pumping function of the leg veins
with gymnastic exercises such as squats, tapping on your toes, but also climbing stairs.
Don't skimp on the duvet:
high-quality winter duvets, preferably models with a special insert to prevent cold feet, can work wonders for cold feet in bed.
Order AERO duvet now
