Why keep your hands and feet warm in cold weather?

Why is it that when you are under a blanket and feel a little hot, you just put your feet out and it is the perfect temperature. Or if you are cold, put on socks and feel your body warm up immediately. So why do your feet have such a big impact on your body temperature?

Hands and feet are peripheral parts of the body, so the temperature is usually lower than other parts. That is why in cold weather, many people have cold hands and feet, even when the body is warmed in blankets and feet are in socks for a long time.

Feet help us keep our body temperature stable.

Doctors say: For most patients with cold hands and feet in cold weather, there is nothing to worry about, just take some simple measures and keep your hands and feet warm.

Here is the answer from Professor Jim Cotter, University of Otago

"It is true that feet have a big influence on body temperature, especially during sleep.

For some reason, our feet help us keep our body temperature stable.

Like the hands, the feet have a large surface area and specialized blood vessels that only open to allow large amounts of blood to pass through, so they dissipate heat more quickly when needed. When not needed, these blood vessels constrict.

If the feet get too cold, they will activate pain receptors, causing discomfort.

This, combined with the fact that the hands and feet are at the end of the limbs and have no muscles (muscles radiate heat), results in their temperature dropping more rapidly than other parts of the body.

So, by using specific nerves controlled by the thermostat in the brain, we can virtually change the temperature of our feet, thereby precisely regulating our body temperature.

As for the "instant warmth when wearing socks", it's more of a feeling than a reality (though in some cases it is).

Warming your feet actually has obvious benefits.

If the feet get too cold, they will activate pain receptors, causing discomfort; so warming the feet will actually bring obvious benefits.

This is also related to the saying, if you are cold, put on a hat. Because the head loses a lot of heat when we are cold and it cannot retain heat forever.

Whether we are comfortable with the current temperature is also important.

Wearing a hat is a huge help, both in feel and in practice, it also makes the thermostat less restrictive of blood flow to the legs, so the legs stay cool and more comfortable."

In cold weather, you need to pay special attention to keeping your hands and feet warm.

How to keep your hands and feet warm in cold weather

- Always keep your hands and feet warm: In cold weather, you need to pay special attention to keeping your hands and feet warm, especially your feet, with socks and gloves that keep you warm and absorb sweat.

Minimize exposure to cold environments, drink cold water, and absolutely do not let your feet or come into contact with cold ground or water.

- Soak in warm water before going to bed: Soaking your feet and hands in warm water mixed with a little salt for 10 to 15 minutes before going to bed is an effective way to keep your feet and hands warm and stimulate blood circulation.

You can add some chamomile or lavender essential oil to the foot and hand soak to help blood circulation more easily. Then, dry quickly with a soft towel, apply lotion to ensure a good night's sleep through the cold winter night.

Be careful not to wear socks, sleeves or clothes that are too tight because this is not good for blood circulation in the body.

According to Phunutoday