Your cold legs can be more than just weather problems – heart risk warnings (image credit: istock)
If your feet or legs often feel unusually cold, even when the weather is hot, it may be time that you pay close attention. However, it is easy to brush the chili fingers as a poor circulation or just “how your body is,” doctors warned that cold climax – especially when combined with pain or swelling – can indicate a more serious issue.
“Cold lower ends may be a sign of underlying vascular or heart disease, especially peripheral artery disease (PAD) or heart failure,” Dr. Raghuram Sekhar, advisor, vascular and endovskular surgery. “These two conditions are not only co -existence in many patients, but they also spoil the effects of each other.”
Cold legs and peripheral artery disease
The pad occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the legs are compressed or blocked due to cholesterol buildup. This leads to a decrease in blood flow, which makes the organs feel colder than normal.
“When the arteries in the legs are closed, it limits oxygen -rich blood to the feet,” Dr. Sekhar says. “It can make the legs cool, and painful, and can also delay the treatment of any wounds or wounds on the feet.”
He says that pads are not only about the discomfort of the foot – it has the implications of its broad heart. “The same cholesterol plaque that narrows the arteries of the foot can affect the heart and brain. So it is important to find an initial detection to prevent heart attacks and strokes.”
Cold loops and heart failure
Heart failure, another condition associated with cold legs, reduces the heart’s ability to effectively pump blood. “When the heart is weak, the body prioritizes sending blood to important organs like brain and kidneys,” Dr. Sekhar tells. “This means that hands and feet can get less blood, causing them to feel cold or even yellow or blue.”
Specific symptoms of heart failure include fatigue, shortness of breath, inflammation in the lower limbs, and sometimes, a persistent cough. If there are cold legs with these signs, it can only exceed a circulation issue.
Warning signs to see
Dr. Sekhar recommends looking out for the following:
Foot pain, especially while walking
Swelling of legs and ankles
Wounds or wounds on the feet
Skin coolness or dissolution
“These symptoms should not be ignored, especially by high risk people – smokers, diabetic patients, or people with high cholesterol,” they explain.
What can you do
Fortunately, both pads and heart failure can often be managed effectively with timely intervention.
“Walking regularly in simple lifestyle, eating balanced diet, quitting smoking and managing weight can be a big difference,” Dr. Sekhar advises. “In some cases, drugs or surgical procedures may be required to improve blood flow.”
He also emphasizes the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach. “While vascular surgeons handle pads interference, a patient-centric team that includes cardiologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists and sometimes neurologists or cardiac surgeons provides the best results.”
So next time your feet feel icy without any clear reason, do not ignore it. Dr. “This may be your body’s way to say that your heart or arteries need help,” says Sekhar.
Now get the latest news with health and braking news and top headlines worldwide.