腳涼要當心！

你有沒有覺得自己像站在冰上一樣？或者，每當你的腳趾碰到你愛人溫暖的腿時，他會被冰的尖叫？如果答案是肯定的，那麼這篇文章，送給你。

有時候，不管你穿多少雙羊毛襪，腳都熱不起來。如果你相對健康，腳稍微冷一點沒什麼問題。但假如你的腳一直冰冷，那麼你的身體健康可能出了一些問題哦。

腳部缺少溫度是「冰冷腳」最直接的起因。除此之外，另一個常見的原因是血液循環不暢，即沒有充足的血液循環到腳部，使雙足溫暖。辦公室的坐式生活形態很容易造成這種原因的「冰冷腳」。不過，你可以通過每天頻繁的站立和來回走動來改善這種情況。當然，潛在的健康問題也會引起血液循環不暢。

下面，我們來看一些導致雙足冰冷的更重要的原因吧！

雷諾氏病

當雷諾氏病人在低溫或者壓力大的環境中，他們的手指和腳趾會感到冰冷麻木。梅約診所（Mayo Clinic）解釋：低溫或者壓力大的環境，會使提供皮膚血液的動脈變窄，以此限制身體某些區域的血液循環。

雷諾氏病（亦稱雷諾氏綜合征或者雷諾氏現象）常見於女性和居住在寒冷氣候區的人們。

雷諾氏病人除了感覺到冷之外，皮膚也會改變顏色。當他們暖和起來的時候，受影響區域的皮膚會先變白，再變藍，最後變成紅色。隨著皮膚變暖，雷諾氏病人可能還會感到刺痛、難受和灼熱感。

在雷諾氏病症比較輕微的情況下，可以通過多穿幾層衣服和厚襪子來保暖。但在比較嚴重的情況下，醫生可能會建議你進行藥物治療來促進血液循環。一些非處方感冒藥和處方心臟病藥物都會加重雷諾氏病症。所以，一旦癥狀出現，請及時諮詢醫生。

甲狀腺功能減退症

我們所說的甲狀腺不活躍或者甲狀腺功能減退症——是指你的甲狀腺不能產生足夠的激素使你的身體系統平穩運行。據美國「網路醫生」網站（WebMD）報道：因為甲減癥狀不易察覺，並且進展緩慢。你很可能會將病症誤認為是由衰老或者壓力引起的。

甲減的癥狀除了對寒冷敏感，還包括易疲憊，體重增加和記憶問題，皮膚也可能覺得冷、干、癢。

醫生經常通過化驗血來診斷甲狀腺問題。甲減病人可以每天服用人造甲狀腺激素進行治療。

貧血症

另外，還要記得多穿些保暖襪呀！

貧血症的治療取決於它的類型、起因和嚴重程度。但通常包括改變膳食結構，同時補充鐵、維生素B、維生素C和維生素B12等營養元素。

外周動脈疾病

外周動脈疾病也被認為是周圍血管性疾病、動脈粥樣硬化或者動脈硬化。當血管壁上堆積了大量膽固醇、脂肪或者其他物質時就會造成這種常見疾病。這些堅硬結構的沉澱物叫做斑塊，正是它們使血管壁變窄。

這種沉積經過數年時間才會使血管壁變硬，病症才會慢慢顯現。據克利夫蘭診所（Cleveland Clinic）所說：動脈硬化最早期的癥狀通常是腿部不適、疼痛以及痙攣。還包括雙足冰冷，腳部以及腳趾的紅腫、疼痛的癥狀。

當你有這些癥狀時請立即告訴醫生。因為，動脈硬化的治療方法取決於疾病發展的程度。治療方法主要包括改變生活方式和藥物治療。

多汗症

多汗症是指經常頻繁地大量出汗且一般出現在手、腳以及腋窩等部位。但你會覺得，大量出汗對於冰冷腳毫無作用。據西達斯西奈醫院（Cedars-Sinai）所說，多汗症是交感神經系統的過度活躍。

這種過度活躍會導致動脈狹窄。所以當手腳出汗時，因為血液流通不暢，導致手腳又冷又濕。這種疾病的治療往往需要用到處方葯。

糖尿病神經損傷

糖尿病性周圍神經病變是一種神經損傷，常見於那些患有慢性高血糖的糖尿病人。其癥狀包括麻木、刺痛、疼痛以及四肢冰冷。糖尿病檢測者還指出，這些癥狀在晚上通常會更加嚴重。

此類病人還要盡量避免在熱水中泡腳（可能會由於意識不到水溫而燙傷）。但是，你可以通過穿著暖和的襪子（甚至在床上的時候也穿著），並在睡覺時鋪上電熱毯來進行保暖。經常性運動對你的身體也大有好處。坐著的時候，你還可以通過扭動腳和腳趾來幫助血液循環。

其他神經系統損傷

除了糖尿病引起的精神損傷，當你受傷或者有其他潛在疾病時，也會引起周圍神經病變。據梅約醫院（Mayo Clinic）所說：這種神經疼痛，會使你感到手腳冰冷，這可能是由於缺乏維生素、腎臟或肝臟疾病、感染、新陳代謝等問題而引起的。接觸到某種毒素也會引起類似癥狀。這種狀況也可能是遺傳。在某些案例中，還沒有找到這種疾病的起因。

抽煙

由抽煙引起的血液循環問題也會造成手腳冰冷。這是一種罕見而嚴重的併發症，包括血栓閉塞性脈管炎。這種疾病會影響手臂和腿部的血管。根據美國疾病控制中心的報告：血管的腫脹會阻礙血液的流通，從而引起血栓。早期癥狀包括手腳冰冷，但是還會導致組織受損、疼痛、潰瘍，甚至肢體腐爛。

補充小知識

順便說一句，你有沒有想過「getting cold feet」這個表達方式是從哪裡衍生而來？「cold feet」作為一種表達方式意味著缺少勇氣。比如，當一個表演者即將站在擁有數以千計粉絲的舞台上時，就會「get cold feet」，或者一個新娘在她大喜日子之前也會有同樣的感覺。語言學家將這種用法的源頭追蹤到英國劇作家本·瓊森在1605年劇作中的使用，或者是德國作家弗里茨·羅伊特在1862的一篇小說中的用法。不過，這種表達方式在英語中的最早使用，大概可以追溯到作家斯蒂芬·克萊恩在1896年的著作《街頭女郎瑪姬》中。在這本書中，他寫道：「我知道這條路就是這樣的，只是他們臨陣退縮了。」

不管這種表述方式來自哪裡，也不管手腳冰冷的根本病因是什麼，總之雙足冰冷是不舒服的。在某種情況下，還預示著一些嚴重疾病即將發生。如果你認為你有這方面的傾向，請務必儘快找醫生進行檢查。

貧血症是指沒有足夠的健康紅血球將氧氣輸送到整個身體。據美國國立衛生研究院說：貧血症最常見的癥狀是感到虛弱和疲憊。除此之外，還包括手腳冰冷、眩暈、呼吸短促、頭疼以及面無血色的癥狀。

英語原文：

Do you feel like you're standing on ice, or make your partner shriek when your toes touch his oh-so-warm legs? This is for you.

Sometimes, no matter how many pairs of wool socks you wear, your feet just can't seem to warm up. If you're relatively healthy, chances are the cause of your cold feet is likely something harmless. But there are serious health conditions that can make your feet forever chilled.

The simplest reason is a lack of warmth. Another common reason is poor circulation, when not enough blood is getting to your feet to keep them warm. This can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle if you spend much of your day sitting at a desk. You can remedy that by getting up more frequently and moving around throughout the day. Circulation issues can also be caused by underlying health problems.

Here's a look at some of the more serious reasons you may be suffering from feet that always seem to be cold:

Raynaud's disease

Raynaud's disease typically causes your fingers and toes to feel cold and numb, usually when they're exposed to cold temperatures or even stress. With this condition, the small arteries that bring blood to your skin become narrow, limiting circulation in some areas, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Raynaud's disease (also called Raynaud's syndrome or phenomenon) is more common in women and in people who live in colder climates.

In addition to feeling cold, skin usually changes colors. Affected areas turn white, then blue and later turn red when they warm up. As skin warms, you may experience a prickly, painful, burning sensation.

In mild cases, you can treat Raynaud's by dressing in layers and wearing heavy socks to stay warm. In some cases, your doctor may suggest medication to help with circulation. Some over-the-counter cold medications and prescription heart medications can make the condition worse, so check with your doctor if you're having symptoms.

Hypothyroidism

An under-active thyroid — or hypothyroidism — is when your thyroid gland doesn't make enough of the hormone that helps keep many of the body』s systems running smoothly. The symptoms are subtle and come on slowly, reports WebMD. "You might mistake them for aging or stress."

Hypothyroidism symptoms include sensitivity to cold, as well as fatigue, weight gain and memory problems. Your skin might feel cool, dry and itchy.

Your doctor can diagnose thyroid problems with a blood test. Hypothyroidism is treated with a synthetic thyroid hormone taken daily.

Anemia

Anemia is when you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. The most common symptom of anemia is feeling weak and tired, according to the National Institutes of Health, but other symptoms include cold hands and feet, as well as dizziness, shortness of breath, headache and pale skin.

Treatment depends on the type, cause and severity of anemia, but it often includes dietary changes and supplements including iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and/or vitamin B12.

Peripheral arterial disease

Also known as peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, this common condition occurs when cholesterol, fat or some other substances build up in the walls of the arteries. These deposits form hard structures called plaques and cause the walls of the arteries to narrow.

It can take years for the walls of the arteries to harden and years for symptoms to show. Typically, the earliest signs are leg discomfort, pain and cramping, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Other symptoms include cool skin in the feet and redness or pain in the feet and toes.

Talk to your doctor if you are having symptoms. Treatment depends on how far the disease has advanced and can include lifestyle changes and medication.

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating that is frequent or constant and typically occurs in the hands, feet and armpits. Heavy sweating seems like it would have nothing to do with cold feet. But hyperhidrosis is overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, according to Cedars-Sinai.

That leads to narrowing of arteries, so while hands and feet are sweating, they are also getting less blood flow, making them cold in addition to wet. Prescription medications are often used to treat the condition.

Diabetic nerve damage

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can happen to people with diabetes who have chronically high blood sugar. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, burning, pain and a feeling of coldness in the feet, legs or hands. Symptoms are typically worse at night, says Diabetes Monitor.

Avoid soaking your feet in hot water to warm them up (you may not realize the water is too hot). Instead, always wear warm socks, even to bed, and use an electric blanket at night. It's also a good idea to exercise regularly and wiggle your toes and feet when sitting to help with circulation.

Other nerve damage

In addition to nerve damage from diabetes, you can also experience peripheral neuropathy as a result of an injury or some other underlying medical condition. This nerve pain, which can give the sensation of cold feet, can be a result of a vitamin deficiency, kidney or liver disease, infection, metabolic issue, or even an exposure to some sort of toxin, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition may also be genetic and in some cases the cause is never uncovered.

Smoking

Circulation issues caused by smoking can result in cold feet. One such rare, but serious, complication includes Buerger's disease, which affects blood vessels in the arms and legs. The blood vessels swell, which can prevent blood flow and can cause clots to form, according to the CDC. Early symptoms include cold hands and feet, but can lead to tissue damage, pain and painful sores, ulcers and even gangrene.

Just a footnote

Incidentally, did you ever wonder where the expression 「getting cold feet」 comes from? 「Cold feet」 as an expression connotes loss of courage, such as when a performer gets cold feet right before he goes on stage to thousands of waiting fans or a bride gets cold feet before her wedding day. Linguists trace it back to possibly English playwright Ben Jonson in 1605 or German author Fritz Reuter in an 1862 novel. The earliest use of it in the English language likely dates back to writer Stephen Crane in his 1896 book, 「Maggie: A Girl of the Streets」 in which he writes, 「I knew this was the way it would be. They got cold feet.」

No matter where the phrase comes from and no matter the underlying cause, cold feet can be uncomfortable, and in some cases, a sign that something more serious is going on. Be sure to check with your doctor if you think this might be the case.

And put on some warm socks.

原文鏈接：

http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/why-are-my-feet-always-cold

譯者：葡萄

2016.03.17

校對：Icy

2016.3.17

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