Brrrrrr!
When you are exposed to cold for a prolonged amount of time, your body tries to preserve heat. Blood vessels near the surface of your skin narrow to push more blood to your core to keep your heart and lungs warm. This of course helps with hypothermia but the flipside is that it puts your extremities at risk for frostbite.
Frostbite can occur within minutes or even in warmer temperatures if there is a strong wind chill. Having wet feet makes things worse. If your feet have been exposed to cold for a long time, you will start to feel pain, prickling or burning sensations. Numbness typically follows. Your skin will change color from pale or red to bluish-grey to black. There are different categories of frostbite as well.
Superficial frostbite, while still serious, doesn’t damage tissue underneath. Blistering can still occur making getting proper care very important. Deep frostbite involves muscles, nerves, tendons and bones. The impact on long-term foot health is serious. The healing process can be lengthy and injury to tissues can result in gangrene, which is when the tissues can’t survive.
Be on watch!
There are some who may be at a higher risk for frostbite. Children, elderly, diabetics, people who work outside, winter sports athletes, smokers, those who consume excessive alcohol and those who have previously had frostbite need to be on watch.
If frostbite occurs, follow the following steps:
- Start treatment as soon as possible
- Keep feet dry and gradually warm feet back up
- Don’t rub or massage feet
- Avoid direct heat such as a stove, fire or heating pad. *Especially important with diabetics when numbness in feet increases risk of burns.
Dr. Jeff Bowman, podiatrist at Houston Foot Specialists can provide further tips to prevent injuries such as frostbite and expert care if you are currently dealing with injury. Call today (713) 467-8886 or check out our website at www.houstonfootspecialists.com, and keep your feet healthy this winter.
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