How to keep feet warm in winter? Check the tips

Has the cold started to bother your feet? It is normal for people with cold feet and fingers to feel tingling and even pain during the coldest months of the year. To help you get through this winter more comfortably, in this article we have separated simple methods to warm your feet easily.

Keep reading: Is it true that more people get the flu in the cold?

Why do feet get cold?

Normally, the extremities of the body, such as the ears, nose, hands and feet are colder due to circulation, which is impaired in low temperatures. This happens due to a survival strategy of the human body, which focuses on circulating blood in more essential areas, such as the torso and brain. This strategy is amazing for human evolution, yet many people suffer from icy extremities.

Despite being a natural process, excessively cold extremities can also be a sign of health problems. Check out some examples below:

• Stress: stressful situations stimulate the release of cortisol, a hormone that decreases blood circulation in the extremities;
• Smoking: the use of cigarettes causes blood vessels to constrict, which makes it more difficult for blood to pass through;
• Anemia: with a decrease in red blood cells (which form blood), there is less oxygen distribution throughout the body, which makes the extremities icy;
• Hypothyroidism: this disease causes the body's metabolism to slow down and, as a result, blood circulation is impaired;
• Atherosclerosis: this disease is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the vessels and, like cigarettes, makes it difficult for blood to pass through.

How to warm your feet?

If you don't have the conditions mentioned above and your feet are still cold, here are some tips to warm them up:

• Try to stretch before bed and also right after waking up;
• Warm up the environment, avoid leaving doors and windows open when the temperature drops;
• Protect your feet with thick, high-heeled socks. Also, don't forget to wear sturdy, open-toe shoes;
• Put thermal bags next to your feet when the cold is more intense.