Warning: Cold Feet May Be a Sign of Vascular Disease

Foot coldness is often seen as a complaint that people attribute to the cold weather, but if one foot is consistently colder than the other, it may be an early sign of an underlying vascular disease.According to Dr. Oğuz Arslantürk, Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, foot coldness does not always indicate a serious disease, as it can be caused by cold weather, inactivity, stress, anemia, or an underactive thyroid gland. However, if the cold foot is accompanied by cramp-like pain in the calf while walking, paleness, non-healing wounds, reduced hair growth, or skin color changes, it is essential to evaluate the arteries supplying the legs. This could be a sign of peripheral artery disease (narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs).Arslantürk explained that peripheral artery disease develops due to the accumulation of fat and calcium plaques in the arterial walls, which narrows the arteries supplying the legs, leading to reduced blood flow. "As the blood flow decreases, paleness, coldness, and pain while walking may occur. However, many patients may not exhibit noticeable symptoms for a long time, which is why the disease is often diagnosed late."

Because vascular stiffness is a widespread disease that affects not only the legs but often the entire vascular system. A recent comprehensive study of approximately 500,000 heart attack patients found that individuals with leg vascular disease had a higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared to those without the disease.

He emphasized that the most significant modifiable risk factor for peripheral artery disease is smoking and that diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, advanced age, and chronic kidney disease also increase the risk.