Having cold feet is just a defense mechanism by the body. When the brain sense coldness creeping into the toes, it cut off the warm blood to your feet to be able to protect the rest of your body from being cold. While this method may be good for the rest of your body, it makes it very hard for your toes. You can actually prevent this from happening by following these ways:

1. Drinking enough amount of water every day to prevent the occurrence of cold feet. Making your body dehydrated is one of the main factors of having cold feet. Winter or cold weather gets the moisture out of your body. Don’t just wait to feel thirsty before drinking the right recommended fluid. By the time you actually realize that you are thirsty, the fluid level inside your body is already in an alarming condition. The loss of fluid greatly affects your circulatory system that is why your feet feel very cold. Drinking a lot of water each day is not over reacting if you want sustain the warmness on your toes.

2. Don’t wear closely tight boots. This can reduce the blood circulation in your feet. Your winter boots should be double the size of your original feet size. If you want to insulate your feet with a bunch of socks, be sure that it has enough room to feel loose.

3. Always wear a vapor barrier to seal in the moisture in your feet preventing it from evaporation. You can put a plastic unto your naked feet or just try to wear a polypropylene sock. Aside from the plastic, put on a sock right after the plastic to ensure insulation. If you do not have a waterproof boots you can put another layer of plastic after your socks.

4. Dry your feet during the night as soon as you are in a much warmer place. Just quit smoking because smoking may cause acute vasoconstriction which is characterized by shrinking of your blood vessels in your feet. The shrinking of the blood vessel will actually reduce warm blood circulation.

5. Do not forget to use an anti-perspirant on your feet to retrain the moisture. Especially to those who has wild sweat glands. Wear a warm hut to protect your head from being cold. They found out that if the brain is kept warm with insulation, your feet will also be insulated.

It is very important to distinguish cold feet from frostbite. Don’t take the risk of having cold feet because eventually, especially during very cold weather it may develop into frostbite. When you feel a sudden numbness on your foot do not make a second thought about it just warmth it as quickly as possible. A skin to skin contact is the safest way to warm you feet; this is also the right time to find out who your real friends are. Be very cautious and alert to find out the warning signs of cold feet.

Jason Ladock

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