Got Cold Feet?

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 going on stage, or a bride gets "cold feet" just before the wedding ceremony. Linguists trace the phrase back to either Italian playwright Ben Jonson in 1605 or German author Fritz Reuter in an 1862 novel. The earliest use of it in the English language dates back to writer Stephen Crane in his 1896 book, "Maggie: A Girl on the Streets", in which he writes, "I knew this was the way it would be. She got cold feet."

Many of us have cold feet, and we don't know why. Ron has had cold feet for many years. I always thought it might be due to his diabetes, but the doctor says that's not it. Poor circulation is often the cause of cold feet, caused often by a sedentary lifestyle and can often be remedied by walking each day. Poor circulation can also cause blood clots and may lead to other health issues.

Some people with cold feet have peripheral neuropathy, a condition where one may experience a cold feeling in the hands and feet without the hands or feet actually being cold to the touch. Other symptoms can include numbness, tingling or a burning sensation in the extremities. Peripheral neuropathy is a sign of underlying nerve damage, caused by diabetes, exposure to toxins, infections or vitamin deficiencies.

Another common cause of cold feet is an underactive thyroid. More common in woman than in men, hypothyroidism can cause cold feet and hands, fatigue, hair loss and weight gain, among other symptoms. If you take thyroid and are still experiencing cold hands and feet, you could have Raynaud's syndrome. This condition is characterized by a loss of blood flow to the hands and feet caused by spasms in the flood vessels.

Regardless of the cause of your cold feet, it's a very uncomfortable condition. I bought Ron a pair of woolen mucklucks for Christmas, which he puts on before bed every night. Within an hour his feet are nice and toasty, and he sheds the slippers. No matter how hot or cold it is outside, Ron's feet are always cold. Soaking the feet in hot water also warms them up, or using an old fashioned hot water bottle. If cold feet is a new condition for you, be sure to mention it to your doctor. It may be nothing that a little more exercise each day might cure. It seems like walking is good for so many things!