It is said that our eyes are the windows to our souls; however, are our feet also believed to be the windows to our overall health?
Every part of our bodies can tell us about upcoming health problems and how healthy we are. Our feet are the same. They can provide crucial clues, whether it’s about more serious health issues like diabetes or heart disease or about nutritional deficiencies. Our legs contain one-quarter of our body’s bones. In addition to numerous blood vessels and nerves that connect to our spine, heart, and brain, each of our feet has more than thirty joints.
Let’s take a look at what our feet say about our health.
16 Crucial Warning Signs Your Feet Could Be Telling You
1. Itchiness in your feet
Itchiness in your feet can be a sign of liver disease, especially cholestatic liver disease. It can lead to a buildup of bile in the body if the liver’s bile ducts become blocked or damaged, which causes extreme itchiness.
2. Loss of hair on your feet and legs
Hair on toes is clearer in men, yet ladies likewise have fine hair on their toes. If you notice a shortfall of hair on your feet, it could flag peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD is the blockage of blood supply in the leg arteries which can lead to heart disease.
3. An ulcer that won’t heal on your foot’s bottom part
If you have a wound on your foot that won’t heal, it could mean you’re at risk for diabetes. Around 15% of individuals with diabetes experience an ulcer or open sore on the lower part of their foot.
4. Cold feet
Cold feet could be a sign of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), also known as poor circulation. It can likewise be a side effect of thyroid dysfunction.
5. Toenails that become thick and yellow
If one or more of your toenails begin to thicken, change color, or separate from the skin, you may be suffering from a fungal infection. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressant medications increase the risk of fungal infections in people with autoimmune diseases.
6. Enlarged big toe
If your big toe enlarges, it indicates gout. A buildup of uric acid in the body’s coldest part, your big toe, is what causes gout, a type of arthritis.
7. Numbness in both feet
Peripheral neuropathy may be the cause of your feet feeling like “pins and needles” all the time. Diabetes-related nerve damage that begins in the feet and gradually spreads to the legs is known as diabetic neuropathy.
8. Pitted toenails
Psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis can be identified by pitted toenails.
9. Toenails with spoon-shaped indentations
Toenails with spoon-shaped indentations or submerged toenails may indicate anemia or chronic iron deficiency. Koilonychia, also known as concave nails, can also occur due to trauma, exposure to petroleum products, or high altitude.
10. Joint stiffness or pain
Toe joint pain or stiffness may indicate a degenerative joint disease. Rheumatoid joint inflammation commonly begins in the little joints of the hands and feet and causes pain during joint movement.
11. Failure to raise the front part of the feet
This condition, known as “foot drop,” is caused by weakness or paralysis in the muscles that lift the foot. It could occur due to multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy, polio, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and other muscle or nerve disorders.
12. Red or blue toes
Toes that become blue when exposed to cold could indicate Raynaud’s illness. This is a problem with the skin’s blood vessels.
13. Thin, Red Lines
A sudden appearance of small, red lines under the toenails could indicate endocarditis, a heart infection.
14. Dry Feet
Extreme skin dryness is a crucial sign of thyroid issues.
15. Cramps
The causes of foot cramps include dehydration, and a lack of calcium, magnesium, potassium, or both.
16. Dark Spot on the Foot
Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, can develop in body parts that are not much exposed to direct sunlight. Melanoma can even occur as a black spot beneath the nail.
Final Takeaway – Have Your Feet Assessed Today!
Your feet, for reasons unknown, can be a shockingly successful diagnostic tool for the determination of health risks! Therefore, pause and question yourself: what do my feet indicate about my health?
It’s time to check if your feet are contributing to any larger health problems. Get in touch with your doctor right away to get your feet the care they deserve. Connect with Microgen Health. Not only can a prompt examination and treatment make it easier to get rid of your pain, but it can also help you find risks and avoid future threats to your physical health. Watch out for your feet. Take care of those dedicated body parts. They could very well have something critical to tell you.
