Cold Feet: Why It Happens and What to Do

Written by Diana Reese

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev, MD on October 08, 2026

Why Do I Have Cold Feet?

Cold feet may be your body’s normal response to temperature. Some researchers even think it may be a trait you inherit.

But it can also be related to a medical condition that needs treatment. Conditions from diabetes to anemia can affect the temperature of your feet.

Cold Feet Symptoms

Other symptoms that may come with cold feet include:

Weakness and pain in your hands and feet
Sensitivity to cold
Color changes to your skin when you’re cold or stressed
A numb feeling as you get warm or relieve stress

Cold Feet Causes

There are lots of reasons you may have cold feet.

Complications of diabetes. If you have diabetes, you’re at risk for many problems that can affect your feet.

Peripheral neuropathy. This complication of diabetes damages the nerves in your feet. They may feel cold to you but normal when you touch them. People without diabetes can also get peripheral neuropathy. Some things that can cause it are injury, autoimmune diseases, alcoholism, lack of vitamins, bone marrow disorders, underactive thyroid, and medications.

Peripheral artery disease. This condition slows or blocks blood flow to your legs and feet. Poor circulation can make your feet cold. It’s possible to get peripheral artery disease without having diabetes. Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and age can all raise your chances of getting the condition.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, might be to blame for your cold feet. It makes hormones that affect almost all your organs. The hormones also help turn food and oxygen into energy. If you have an underactive thyroid, your thyroid doesn’t release enough hormones. It could make you feel cold all over, including your feet.

Raynaud’s phenomenon. Raynaud’s causes your body to overreact to cold. When the temperature drops, your fingers and toes may feel numb and frozen. They sometimes even change colors, first pale and then blue. As they warm up, they may sting and turn red. Cold weather, air conditioning, and stress or anxiety can bring on these attacks.

If you have Raynaud’s, you get problems with some of your arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body). The arteries in your hands and feet spasm and narrow. This keeps blood from moving well to your fingers and toes and, sometimes, your nose, lips, ears, and nipples. Raynaud’s is more common in cold climates and affects women more often than men. There are two types:

Primary Raynaud’s (also called Raynaud’s disease). This is the most common of the two types. It has milder symptoms.
Secondary Raynaud’s (also called Raynaud’s phenomenon or Raynaud’s syndrome). It may be more serious, and it strikes at an older age. Several things, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, injuries, or carpal tunnel syndrome, can cause it. Medications such as beta-blockers for high blood pressure and some migraine drugs could cause it, too.

If you have Raynaud’s, call your doctor if you get sores on your fingers, toes, or other areas. Quick treatment can help prevent damage.

Anemia. Your cold feet could be a sign that you’re anemic. That means your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells, or they aren’t healthy enough to do their job of taking oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

See your doctor if you show signs of anemia, as it can be a symptom of another illness. Treatment depends on what type of anemia you have.

Buerger’s disease. Buerger’s disease is rare, but if you smoke or chew tobacco and your feet are cold, this condition may be the reason. The disease, linked to tobacco use, causes blood vessels in the hands and feet to swell. That slows blood flow and could form clots and cause infection.

See your doctor if you have any symptoms of Buerger’s disease. It’s more common in men than women and in people under 45. The only cure for Buerger’s is to stop using tobacco completely.

High cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, you may be at a higher risk of circulation problems, which lead to cold feet. Trouble with circulation (also called arterial disease) is the result of the buildup of cholesterol and inflammation in your blood vessels.

Stress. When you’re stressed, your body pushes blood toward your core and away from your hands and feet.

Cold Feet Diagnosis

There are many causes of cold feet, and a doctor can help you narrow it down. They’ll help diagnose any possible underlying medical conditions and suggest treatments. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. They may also run tests to confirm or rule out medical problems that cause your cold feet.

Cold Feet Cause	Other Symptoms	Treatments
Peripheral neuropathy	Numb or tingling feeling in your fingers and toes that may spread to your feet and hands Freezing or burning pain that’s usually worse at night Either periodic or constant pain (equally on both sides of your body)	Lifestyle changes, such as eating nutritious meals Over-the-counter or prescription medications Alternative treatments, such as acupuncture or relaxation techniques
Peripheral artery disease	Hair loss Weakness in your muscles Shiny and smooth skin Sores on your feet or legs that don’t get better	Antiplatelet medicines Medications to lower your blood pressure Surgery, if your arteries are blocked
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)	Feeling tired Pain in your joints or muscles Weight gain Hair loss Dry skin Irregular or heavy periods Depression	Levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone medicine
Raynaud’s phenomenon	Skin color changes Numb feeling Affected areas may burn or throb as you warm back up	Avoiding getting cold Some medications used for other conditions Surgery for serious Raynaud’s phenomenon
Anemia	Feeling weak or tired Paler than normal skin Feeling dizzy or faint Jaundice Chills Headache Shortness of breath	Iron supplements Vitamin B12 supplements Blood transfusions Blood and bone marrow transplant
Buerger’s disease	Discoloration in your fingers or toes Burning or tingling pain in your hands or feet Small sores or other skin changes Pain when walking	Avoiding smoking Taking medication to control the symptoms Surgery to improve blood low

Cold Feet Treatments

Whether or not a medical problem is causing your cold feet, there are some ways to warm up:

Put on socks or slippers.
Stretch or move your feet.
Stop smoking (nicotine makes it harder for blood to reach your hands and feet).
Lower your cholesterol levels through diet and medication.
Lower your stress.
Get more iron, vitamin B12, and folate to improve circulation.

Takeaways

Having cold feet isn’t always a problem. It may be your body’s normal response to temperature. It could even be a trait you inherit. But sometimes, it could be a hint that there’s something else going on, such as:

Problems linked to diabetes (diabetes complications)
Specific conditions such as Buerger’s disease or Raynaud’s phenomenon
Anemia
Peripheral artery disease
Hypothyroidism
High cholesterol
Stress

If you have concerns, talk to your doctor.

FAQs About Cold Feet

Here are the most commonly asked questions about having cold feet.

What home remedies help warm cold feet safely?

One of the easiest home remedies to warm up cold feet involves simply putting on socks or slippers. You can also gently stretch or move your feet.

What tests might a doctor order for cold feet?

It depends on what your doctor thinks. For example, if they think it could be anemia, they may do blood tests. If they think it could be a condition such as Raynaud’s, they may do a physical exam and use a magnifying tool to get a closer look at the base of your fingernails.

Are cold feet normal in older adults?

Cold feet can be a normal part of life, regardless of age. But if your feet are cold very often or this is a new change you’ve just noticed, talk to your doctor.