Why Winter Worsens Circulation: Understanding Leg Pain, Numbness & Slow Wound Healing

Winter brings pleasant weather for many, but it can be challenging for people with existing circulation issues. Cold temperatures can make your legs feel heavy, numb, or unusually painful. Even small wounds may take longer to heal. These changes are not "just the weather"; they are linked to how your blood vessels react to the cold. Understanding how it affects your body can help you protect your circulation and avoid complications during winter.

When temperatures drop, your body automatically constricts the blood vessels in your hands, feet, and legs. This response helps preserve heat for vital organs, such as the Heart and brain. According to the British Heart Foundation, cold weather narrows blood vessels, increasing resistance and making it harder for blood to reach the body's extremities.^[1]

This narrowing means:

• Less oxygen reaches your muscles

• Blood flow slows down

• Pain or heaviness increases if your arteries are already partially blocked

People with high blood pressure may experience more strain during winter because blood pressure naturally rises in cold temperatures.^[2]

If your leg arteries are narrowed due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD), winter can make symptoms flare up. Reduced blood flow means your muscles receive less oxygen when you walk, climb stairs, or even stand for long periods. This can trigger cramping, tightness, or a burning sensation, called claudication.

Colder temperatures worsen cardiac symptoms by tightening the arteries further and increasing demand on the circulatory system.^[3] As a result, activities that felt normal in warmer months can suddenly become painful.

Feeling tingling and numbness, commonly known as pins and needles, in winter often occurs because the nerves are not getting enough warm, oxygen-rich blood. When blood vessels shrink in the cold, the supply to the nerves in the legs and feet drops too.

It may lead to:

• Temporary numbness

• Tingling sensations

• Difficulty sensing temperature

• Slower reaction in the toes and feet

In people with diabetes or neuropathy, these symptoms may appear more strongly because their nerves are already sensitive or damaged.

Slow-healing wounds are a major concern during winter, especially in senior adults and people with diabetes. Here's why it happens:

• Reduced blood flow delays the delivery of oxygen and nutrients needed for healing.

• Dry skin cracks easily, increasing the chance of new wounds.

• Lower immunity in cold months makes infection more likely.

Research shows that poor circulation significantly delays wound recovery because tissues cannot repair themselves efficiently without a proper blood supply.^[4] Even a small cut on the leg or foot may take longer to close when circulation is impaired.

Winter-related circulation issues can affect anyone, but the risk is higher in people who have:

• Diabetes

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Smoking history

• Heart disease

• Obesity

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Advanced age

Older adults tend to feel the impact more strongly because their blood vessels naturally lose elasticity over time.

You can keep your legs and feet healthier in cold months by making a few simple changes:

• Keep your legs, feet, and hands warm with layers

• Stay active to keep your blood moving

• Avoid sitting or standing in one position for too long

• Drink enough water

• Avoid smoking, as it further narrows blood vessels

• Manage blood sugar if you're diabetic

• Moisturise daily to avoid skin cracks

• Eat heart-friendly foods rich in omega-3s and fibre

Even short walks or light stretching every couple of hours can make a big difference.

You should speak to a doctor if you notice:

• Leg pain that starts while walking and improves with rest

• Persistent coldness in one leg compared to the other

• Slow or non-healing wounds

• Colour changes in the toes or feet

• Numbness or loss of sensation

• Swelling

• Sudden severe pain

These could be signs of PAD or other circulation problems that need proper evaluation.

When circulation issues become severe, medical treatment may be needed to open up narrowed arteries and restore blood flow to the legs. Minimally invasive procedures, performed through tiny incisions, are often used to clear blockages.

Some of Meril's technologies used to treat these issues:

• Mozec PTA – used to widen narrowed arteries in the legs and improve blood flow.

• Mozec PEB PTA– helps keep the artery open for longer by reducing re-narrowing after treatment.

• Credence BtK – designed specifically for restoring blood flow in the smaller arteries below the knee, often used in patients with critical limb ischaemia or non-healing foot wounds.

These treatments may help reduce pain, restore mobility, and support better wound healing by improving oxygen and nutrient supply to affected tissues. Your vascular specialist will guide you on the most suitable option.