As the weather turns colder there is one thing Daniella, our podiatrist sees a lot of and that is cold feet!
Every February the Scleroderma and Raynaud’s Team (SRUK) highlight these conditions which are not well known for Raynaud’s Awareness Month. Raynaud’s is a common condition affecting around 1 in 6 people, that’s approximately 10 million people in the UK. However, research shows that almost half of all adults do not know the signs and symptoms.
What is Raynaud’s?
Raynaud’s can be diagnosed by your GP some of the symptoms include:
- Cold fingers and toes
- Colour changes in your skin in response to changes such as temperature or stress
- Colour changes from white to blue/purple and then red
- Numbness, tingling or pain in the affected area
- Stinging or throbbing pain upon warming or stress relief
It mostly affects fingers and toes although all extremities can be involved including ears, nose, lips and the tongue.
How do I improve Raynaud’s?
Try avoiding cold environments and touching cold items. Relax and pace yourself as stressful situations and anxiety can lead to an attack. Eat a healthy diet, stop smoking and take gentle exercise.
“I do not have Raynaud’s although my hands and feet are always cold – could this be something else?”
If your extremities are often cold this can lead to chilblains which can be caused by poor circulation. Poor circulation in the extremities can cause them to become pale/purple/red similar to Raynaud’s, however, chilblains are caused by leakage into the skin when it re-warms causing a blemish on the skin, if this blemish is unbroken, it can be treated similar to Raynauds, although if the chilblain is broken it will require some form of dressing to be applied until it heals.
If you are worried about Raynaud’s or your circulation, why not book a complimentary consultation with our Podiatrist Daniella? She can assess you and give some more advice about each of these conditions.
If you have been taking gentle exercises such as walking, jogging or swimming but have incurred an injury or you are now struggling, why not book in with one of our other practitioners for a complimentary consult to see if we can get you fit again ready for the warmer spring and summer months!
Who else can I see for aches and pains within Body Consultancy?
As a multidisciplinary clinic, we have a range of practitioners available that are highly skilled in their specific profession. By having everyone under one roof, you know you will be getting the right care from the right professional to suit your needs.
We have practitioners in the following fields available at both our Ringwood and Verwood clinics:
We offer all new clients a 15-minute complimentary consultation, giving you the chance to meet your practitioner and discuss your problem before continuing with the examination and treatment.
You can book online here, or give us a call at 01425 473093.