How to protect your feet in chilly winter

In our country people enjoy different seasons every year. When winters arrive, it is very pleasant, sunshine feels good and there is abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits. You will not disagree with the fact that the pleasure of eating comes only in winters. But along with this, winters do not bring good news for our feet. Especially for the patients of diabetes and smoking addictions, winters sometimes come as a curse for the feet of such people. Feet and toes of people who are habitual of chewing tobacco- based products (pan masaala, zarda, khaini, chaini) and smoking hubble- bubble (hookah], are worst affected.

What should diabetic patients do in winter?

Due to the continuous accumulation of fat in the pure blood vessels of the feet and legs of diabetic patients, the supply of pure oxygenated blood to feet is already less and it reduces even more when the cold hits. If carelessness is shown, the toes turn black. Therefore, diabetic patients should always keep their feet clean and dry. Do not walk barefoot on the ground or walk on grass covered with dew.

People addicted to tobacco and smoking are at risk during winters

You must have noticed that often people who smoke cigarette, bidi or hookah, and chew tobacco have their one or two toes either blackened or already amputated. During chilly winters, often redness or tingling in the feet increases in such people. Sometimes the pain becomes unbearable. The blood pipes of such people’s feet are already constricted due to tobacco and on top of that, whatever remaining blood supply is completely disrupted due to exposure to cold air. This results into gangrene and wounds in the toes.

Patients of vasculitis should be more careful

The arrival of winter brings pain in the feet of patients suffering from vasculitis i.e., inflammation of the walls of the blood pipes of feet. In winter, the wall of blood pipes swells and often blood clots accumulate in them and the flow of pure blood is completely blocked and the toes may eventually be lost. Such patients should protect their feet from chilly cold waves and use some special medicines so that the blood clots do not accumulate in the blood vessels. Contact a vascular surgeon before the onset of winter and keep taking advice.

Patients of Raynaud’s disease should be more alert during winter

Raynaud’s disease means excessive sensitivity of the blood pipes of feet. As soon as the feet get cold, these blood pipes shrink and temporarily stop the flow of blood and toes then becomes blue and then pale and finally red. If this happens repeatedly, the tip of the toes become infected and eventually ulcers appear in the toes. Patients especially women suffering from Raynaud’s disease have to take special medicines so that the sensitivity of the blood pipes of feet remains controlled and they do not suffer from discoloration of toes. Such patients should always consult a vascular surgeon, especially during the winter season.

Avoid snowy mountains and icy winds

Soldiers and civilians who always or for many months live on snowy mountains often lose their toes. This phenomenon is called ‘frost bite’ in medical language. In this condition, the toes suddenly turn black. Due to extreme cold, the small blood pipes of the toes get completely blocked. People living in such adverse conditions should always avoid smoking and should not keep their feet open. The feet of soldiers posted at places like Siachen or Laddakh often fall victim to ‘frost bite’.

Points to remember

• Always keep your feet covered with cotton or woollen socks during winters.
• Never apply direct heat to the feet with an electric heater or a hot water bottle!
• Go for a morning walk for 5 to 6 kilometres only when the sun is shining!
• If black colour or black scab is seen on the feet, then immediately contact a vascular surgeon.
• Do not wear slippers and sandals but instead should always wear warm socks.
• Stop completely smoking and consuming tobacco.
• If the pain is unbearable and the colour of the toes is turning black, then consult an experienced vascular surgeon.
• If do not take precautions in such circumstances, the foot or toes may have to be amputated.

Dr K K Pandey is Senior Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.