What your feet can tell you about your general health

What your feet can tell you about your general health

Your feet can tell you a lot about your general health. Your feet are quite complex, with their structure including bones, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, nails, skin and nerves, to name but a few!

Here are some of the main ways which your feet can give an indication of your underlying general health.

1. If your feet are numb or tingling all the time

Numbness and tingling in the feet can have several underlying causes.

• Diabetes – raised blood sugars caused by diabetes can lead to nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) in the long term.
• Vitamin deficiencies – Mainly vitamin B12, but also other B vitamins such as B6 and B1.
• Nerve entrapment higher up the kinetic chain – for example, lower back issues causing nerve compression.

Any persistent numbness and tingling in the feet should be checked by a health professional to determine the underlying cause. Loss of sensation in the feet can lead to undetected skin damage.

2. If your feet are cold all the time, or red/blue in colour.

Cold feet can be caused by several health conditions.

• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) – This is a condition where the arteries are narrowed, causing reduced blood flow. Smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are common causes.
• Diabetes – This is also one of the risk factors for PVD as described above.
• Raynaud’s – This is a condition which causes the small blood vessels in the extremities to close, reacting to cold temperatures. You may notice your toes, or other areas of the feet go white, then blue/purple, then red.

A Podiatrist can use a doppler to listen to the pulses in the feet and determine if there is any reduction in blood flow.

3. If you have a red, swollen joint in your toes or feet.

Red, swollen and hot joints in the feet can be caused by a few underlying conditions.

• Gout – we see a lot of this condition in clinic. Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood, which is then deposited in the joint as small crystals. Symptoms are intense pain, swelling and heat in the joint.
• Types of arthritis – Rheumatoid and Psoriatic arthritis often show symptoms in the feet.
• Infection – ingrown nails and infected wounds on the feet can cause redness and swelling.

If you have pain, redness and swelling in your feet, seek advice from a medical professional such as a Podiatrist or GP.

4. Changes in nail growth

The rate of nail growth, and the colour and texture of the toenails can also be an indicator of certain health conditions.

• Horizontal ridges in the nails – these are known as Beau’s lines and can indicate previous trauma or interrupted nail growth from underlying conditions, or periods of ill health in the previous months.
• Spoon-shaped nails – These can be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia.
• Pitting of the nails – This can be associated with autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis.
• Vertical dark streaks in the nail – These can sometimes be a sign of melanoma.

5. Changes in your gait pattern or frequent tripping.

This can sometimes be a sign of underlying neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, previous strokes, amongst many others. If you notice changes in how you walk, or if you begin to feel unsteady, or trip often, it is best to seek advice from your GP.

If you would like to discuss any foot-related concerns with us, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Often, symptoms are nothing to worry about, but we’re always happy to assess and advise.

You can get in touch here