6 Foot Health Signs: What are Your Feet...
.columns">Main navigation
What Your Feet Can Tell You About Your Heart
by JB Smith, Co-Owner
Whether you’re 4’1” or 6’3”, your feet are the part of your body farthest away from your heart. And yet, they can tell you a great deal about the health of your cardiovascular system.
Do you struggle with cold feet (and not only while saying your wedding vows)? You bundle up in wool socks, and the weather begins to thaw, but despite all this, your toes still feel like icicles in your winter boots?
This may be a sign of a heart problem, such as congestive heart failure, which can wreak havoc on the circulatory system and keep blood from getting to where it needs to be. Because blood needs to travel all the way down the body, the feet are most likely to feel the effects of a poorly-circulating heart. Hairless feet or toes may also be a sign that the heart is having extra trouble pumping blood around the body and to the extremities.
Then there’s digital clubbing, which presents itself as toes that bump upward at the tips due to extreme swelling. While it’s still unclear whether this condition is directly caused by heart disease or rather is simply a sign of it, many doctors associate clubbing with serious cardiac ailments. Other warning signs are bulging or purple veins, overall paleness or difficulty finding a pulse on the top of the foot or inside of the ankle.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in our nation. To raise awareness, the American Heart Association led the effort nearly 50 years ago to develop February’s annual American Heart Month. So for the remainder of the month, make sure to keep an eye on your feet.
The feet are useful for more than how they look in a pair of new shoes and as a way to get from point A to B. Always take into account how your feet and toes feel – they might be telling you something important about your heart.
And remember that you can always take advantage of your feet as a prevention measure for future illnesses. Taking a walk of a mere 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day can greatly reduce your chance of heart disease. That’s between 15 and 20 city blocks – definitely doable on a daily basis in the right pair of walking shoes!
Connect With UsPM ISTWhat your feet say about your health (Getty Images)
Experts say the state of our
might tell us if we have other serious
They may spend most of the year hidden away under socks, but our feet are, in fact, a window to what's really happening in our bodies. "We neglect our feet and put up with signs and symptoms that, in any other part of the , would have us running to medical professionals," says London-based podiatrist Jake Heath. "Yet, noticeable changes can be indicators of wider health issues." So it might be time to take a closer look at those tootsies.
ENLARGED BIG TOE
It could be gout
Not only the preserve of men with pot bellies and a rich diet, "gout is a build-up of razor-sharp uric acid crystals in a joint," explains Heath. "This can be caused by being overweight, certain medications or a high protein diet, but it can also be genetic." For most people, the first sign comes in the form of a sore, red, swollen big toe.
What to do
If you have pain in your big toe or another joint, such as the knee or elbow, see your GP or family doctor, who can test for gout. Icing the joint and non-steroid anti-inflammatories can reduce pain. A low-protein diet, drinking lots of water and losing weight can also help.
It could be hypothyroidism
Not that moment when you slip into bed -more if you suffer from particularly chilly hands and feet. Hypothyroidism is known as an underactive thyroid gland. Cold feet can also be caused by Raynaud's ."This is where the blood vessels to the toes and fingers are hypersensitive to temperature, stress, smoking and medication," says Heath. "They constrict, reducing blood flow and making them appear white. Later, when the blood flow returns, they can be red, swollen and itchy."
What to do
Common signs of hypothyroidism are tiredness, weight gain, aching muscles and depression. If you have these too, see your GP for a thyroid function test. For Raynaud's, avoid extreme temperatures.
RED ULCERS OR NUMBNESS
It could be diabetes
Numbness or loss of sensation around the feet and red ulcers that don't heal are major clues to undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. "The start of persistent numbness andor tingling in the toes can be the sign of peripheral nerve damage associated with type 2 diabetes," says Jake. "This can increase the chance of developing severe ulcers, which may require long-term antibiotics and in extreme cases amputations."
What to do:
Diabetes symptoms include a persistent thirst, needing to urinate often, tiredness and weight loss. See your doctor if you notice these signs.
CLUB-SHAPED NAILS
It could be a lung condition
Have your nails changed shape? "Cardiovascular, lung or gastrointestinal problems can lead to the clubbed appearance of all the nails on the toes and fingers," says Heath. This could be due to a cut in the blood's oxy gen levels.
What to do
"Speaking to your GP or podiatrist about changes in colour, or shape, of nails is a good idea," says Heath.
HAIRLESS TOES
It could be vascular disease
Few of us want hairy feet. But toes totally devoid of hair can be a problem. If the heart is struggling to pump enough blood to your extremities it will cause problems with your circulation. That will make the skin look shiny and hair will not grow there. "Discoloured feet which appear red, white or purple with thick nails, loss of hair and thin or shiny skin, can all be signs of underlying circulatory issues, or peripheral vascular disease," says Heath.
What to do
See your GP or a podiatrist if you notice any of these symptoms.
THICKENED, CRUMBLING OR DISCOLOURED NAILS
It could be psoriasis
"Nail pitting may be a sign of psoriasis, a chronic skin condition caused by an overactive immune system," says Heath.Psoriasis affects 1-2% of the population and can be linked to stress, medication or genetics. Heath says half of patients with psoriasis will have nail problems. Other symptoms are flaking, inflammation and thick white, silvery or red skin patches.
What to do
Treatments include steroid creams, light therapy and oral medications. If your nails are pitted, see a GP.
SORE TOE JOINTS
It could be rheumatoid arthritis
Small joints in the hands and feet are often the first to be affected by this auto-immune condition. "People with other forms of arthritis have stiff joints in the morning but with rheumatoid arthritis it can be several hours before they ease. There can be swelling and fluid in the joint, which makes them puffy, and the toes often feel sensitive. Over time it causes severe damage to the cartilage and joints, leading to a loss of movement and intense pain," says Heath.
What to do
See your GP immediately as early diagnosis is key to preventing damage to the joints and cartilage.
For more stories, follow us on
Stay updated on the go with Times of India
App. Click
to download it for your device.RELATED
From around the web
More from The Times of India
From the WebMore From The Times of India
OR PROCEED WITHOUT REGISTRATIONShare on FacebookShare on TwitterSIGN IN WITHFacebookGoogleEmailSort By:We have sent you a verification email. To verify, just follow the link in the message
Follow / Like us at
@TOIHealthNewsMost Popular
Check out the glimpse of the latest photoshoot of the Roshans. Hrithik Roshan posing with daddy Rakesh Roshan and sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan is just amazing.Shah Rukh Khan, who loves reading (and has an enviable book collection, no less), is chivalrous to the extent of being old-fashioned, and has a warm, kind side. Catch the conversation as he talks about films, family and the priceless life lessons he gives his son Aryan and daughter Suhana, which includes telling Aryan to always keep his shirt on. Besides an engrossing chat with King Khan, the New Year issue also features lots of entertaining features that will make your New Year extra fun.
From around the Web
More From The Times of India
Navbharat TimesFeatured Today In TravelFrom our Global Partners}