How Foot Pain Can Signal Serious Health Issues

by Kristen White Blogger

The body is a single complex unit comprised of smaller complex components that work together and are dependent on each other for proper health and operation. Feet endure the brunt of pressure and stress, as they are responsible for a person’s mobility, keeping the body upright and participation in sports and exercise activities. When these appendages develop pain in any area, it is important to get it checked out as soon as possible to determine if the issue is minor with an easy correction or an indicator of something more serious going on in the body.

Heart disease can show symptoms in the feet with a weak pulse, swelling, hurting and tired after a period of walking even if a short distance. Since this condition can have more serious consequences, paying attention to the signals in your feet can help reduce the risk of a heart attack. The best podiatrists in Houston advise patients to come in as soon as pain develops so that it can be professionally evaluated for an accurate diagnosis. Foot pain can be a result of wearing shoes that are too tight or do not have enough arch support but individuals will not know the difference by simply looking at them.

Arthritis is another common cause of pain in the lower appendages and peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves in the foot, which creates discomfort when walking, standing or using them for any activity. Injury is typically an obvious event but individuals can stub their toe and not realize that it may be broken or sprained which can become a more serious issue if left untreated. Callouses, blood blisters, unkempt nails and bunions are all foot issues that can set the stage for other problems or indicate that there is an issue with the individual’s habits, lifestyle or health.

Bunion surgery in Houston is an extreme response to the problem but very common as patients choose to deal with the pain instead of getting it checked out early on. Infections in the toes can signal that this is a problem elsewhere in the body or start here and then spread outward so they should be treated immediately. Diabetes is another popular condition that requires monitoring of the feet as symptoms from the disease typically spread into this area in the form of neuropathy and can end with surgery.

Every day you put your feet under a great amount of pressure and stress so it is only fair that when they start signaling there is an issue, then you need to take them to a doctor to be looked at and a treatment plan developed. Solutions can be as simple as changing shoes, resting and icing them for a period of time, getting arch supports, understanding how to keep them maintained to prevent infection or catching a more serious condition in its early stages because they are related. No matter the problem, find the best podiatrist in Houston and have them perform an exam to give you peace of mind and the right facts about your body.