Why do the feet get so much colder than other parts of the body for some people?

Question

Is this because of the longer distance of the feet from the heart?

Answer 1

Its a matter of physics and physiology. First off, heat retention decreases as the ratio of body surface area to body volume increases - larger surfaces lose more heat. This is why the bodies of marine mammal that live in cold water tend to be fat and round with virtually no limbs. The highest surface area:volume ratio in humans is in the hands, followed by the feet. The lowest surface:volume ratio is the trunk of the body. So, the limbs are going to lose heat much faster than the trunk, and the hands and feet are going to lose heat faster than the arms and legs - unless the body compensates for these differences - which it does.

You body regulates blood flow to the extremities by controlling the resistance in the veins and arteries, which are lined with vascular smooth muscle. Ever notice how you face seems to be hot when you go inside after being out in the cold? - that's because your body is trying to maintain the temperature of your face by increasing the blood flow to your Rosy cheeks. The smooth muscles in the arteries and veins dilate to increase the flow, which provides additional heat from the body core and additional oxygen so the metabolic rate of the cells can increase. Exposing you head to cold air causes an immediate physiological response, but exposing you hands or feet to cold, without also cooling other parts of the body does not trigger a vascular response. This is a common trait in mammals that conserves body heat. Your body does everything it can to regulate the temperature of the brain and key organs, while allowing extremities to become cool. Your hands and feet can still function if they are cold, but your liver and brain cannot. So slightly colder hands and feet are normal when the air temperature is cool.

Some people have really cold hands and feet no matter what the temperature. When this occurs, there is something wrong. Common causes for chronically-cold extremities are Raynaud's syndrome, hypothyroidism, hardening of the arteries, and a variety of neurological conditions, including depression.

Answer 2

Your feet, in case of an emergency that required your absolute survival, are not essential. Neither are your hands. Therefore, you are designed to protect your head, spine and internal organs. People can live without a foot, but try living without a lung or liver. Also consider that your feet are mostly bone and tendons. There is no large muscle mass there. Ever shake when you are cold? That is your muscles generating heat. THAT is why your feet (like hands) are colder than the rest of your body.

Answer 3

that's a good question, but i don't think it has anything to do with distance....the reason i say this, is because often, the coldest parts of my body are usually my hands and/or nose, followed by my ears n then sometimes my feet....

if you've ever noticed, if your feet are cold, the rest of your body isn't as warm as it could/should be...but if your feet are warm, then you generally warm up....

i BELIEVE it has to do with nerve content....they say the hands (fingertips, actually) and bottoms of our feet have the most feeling (i've also heard lips is right in there w/them)....i could be so off, but that's what i believe, based on what i've heard....

i'd love to hear other people's answers in this...

:0)

Answer 4

When someone is on the point of dying the feet go cold first. I assume this is because the heart is not pumping to full capacityand gradually blood flow to the extremities is reduced

Answer 5

We as humans are endotherms, meaning we regulate our body temperature. The blood is circulated throughout body. Since we prefer to have our core body to be warmer, and that due to the thermodynamics law, heat flows from higher system to lower system, we allow the blood circulating the lower extremities to be at a lower temperature in order to reduce heat loss.

Answer 6

It's because of poor circulation. The extremeties are generally where the body shunts blood from first when maintaining body temp. Distance has nothing to do with it.

Answer 7

The above answers are pretty well on to the why, you can help the cold feeling by flexing your calf muscles and hands. The muscles will squeeze the veins and increase circulation, as well as generate some metabolic heat.

Answer 8

When a person feels cold, the blood rotates around the main organs and the legs and arms become of less importance (the main reason that finger digits and toes gets frostbite first).

Answer 9

Partially, yes...also, the feet are basically a smaller part, and small parts lose heat faster (less mass)

Answer 10

Because the people are scared?