What Can Your Feet Tell About Your Health?

by Nyk Patel Writer and Fitness Freak

Your feet is not just something that carries your entire weight. There are actually things your feet tell about your health. A mere change in your feet like your nails or skin, can already indicate some potential health issues. Even the way you feel them can say something. So, what can your feet tell about your health? Find out here.

The Role Of Your Feet

There are changes in your feet that serve as signs of possible health problems. These signs are so crucial that it could sometimes mean your life, if caught early. Podiatrists say that our feet is the first part that nerve issues affect due to being the farthest from the spine and heart.

Your feet’s sensitivity to the rest of the body should be your greatest motivation not to ignore it. The feet can easily be affected when there’s a threat to our body. It’s because the extremities aren’t the first parts to have been given blood – it’s the brain and the internal organs.

So here, we reveal the potential reasons behind what’s happening in your feet right now. If you spot one sign, it’s best to visit a doctor as soon as you can to have a better diagnosis.

Consistent cramping on foot.

What it could mean: Deficiency in nutrients and water dehydration

Frequent foot cramping is a general foot problem and could mean anything. However, the most probable scenario is dehydration and nutritional deficiencies. The latter leads to muscle cramping if you often exercise and spend too much energy. As cliché as it sounds, be sure to drink plenty of water. Don’t worry if you often go to the toilet and pee – it’s your body’s way of cleansing impurities inside.

Since muscle cramping also means you lack nutrients, you might want to start taking substances with calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Failure to take enough of these nutrients often lead to deficiency.

You can also treat cramps by soaking your feet in a warm foot bath and practice stretching your toes upwards – this is important. If you still suffer from cramps even after some relieving attempts, see a doctor because there are chances you might be suffering from a more serious nerve damage or blood circulation issues.

Hairless Toes And Feet

What it could mean: Inadequate Blood Circulation To That Area

The hair on your toes might cause you some pain while wearing sandals but having them there on your feet actually means a good thing. However, if you notice a sudden baldness in your feet means blood doesn’t flow well enough in that area, making it incapable to sustain hair growth.

Though it’s not a major threat at the moment, it’s still advisable to have it checked by a doctor. Possible diagnosis might include your heart not being able to pump sufficient blood to your feet.

Constant Cold Feet

What it could mean: Hypothyroidism

If you feel like you have an eternally cold feet, then you might be suffering from hypothyroidism. This condition is a primary catalyst of a cold feet – it’s like your feet just can’t get warm. Even worse, hypothyroidism can contribute to depression, sudden weight gain, unexplained fatigue, and hair loss. This is another thing your feet tell about your health.

When you suspect this is your case, have a doctor check it immediately. Surely doc has something that could warm your feet after a simple blood test. Don’t worry; taking a daily medication can get rid of that condition.

Non-healing Wound

What it could mean: Skin cancer or Diabetes

Now this one’s a major symptom. You might want to head to your doctor right away if you have a wound or sore somewhere in your feet that just won’t heal even after a long time of being there. Stubborn sores are major signs of diabetes – and it’s quite serious. Glucose can end up on your feet and excessive number of that substance can damage your nerves. It could scrape, sore, or cut without you even feeling it. Worse scenarios start when the sore area gets infected – it may call for amputation.

A non-healing sore is also a tell-tale sign of skin cancer. Make sure to inspect your skin or have them checked more regularly as Melanoma can pop anywhere on your body. It can also occur in between your toes.

Numb feet

What it could mean: A pinched nerve or peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy could be the problem indicated by numbness in your feet. In a deeper sense, peripheral neuropathy is a complication caused by chronic alcoholism or diabetes. It can also be a side effect of chemotherapy.

A pinched nerve in the back, ankle, and foot can make you suffer from neuroma or numbness in only a single foot. This is like a payback for all the years of patronizing tight shoes. And yes, this includes your beloved stilettos.

Big Toe Suddenly Gets Large

What it could mean: Inflammatory issues like gout

Having an unexpected enlarged toes could mean serious trauma, infection, inflammatory arthritis, or gout. If you have a sudden painful joint that is red, hot, and swollen, take time to visit your doc immediately.

Pain in the Heel

What it could mean: Plantar Fasciitis

You’re not alone. That sharp pain on your heel, particularly in the bottom part, that occurs when you try stand up is a clear indication of plantar fasciitis. It means the ligament supporting your arch is having some kind of a strain. Your podiatrist can help by advising you with some workout routine and changes in footwear.

Bunions

What it could mean: Hereditary Flawed Foot Structure

Well, now you can stop blaming your shoes no matter how restrictive or painful they are to wear. Bunions are actually an inherited faulty foot structure. So technically it’s not your closet full of shoes that started it. However, inappropriate shoes can aggravate the existing condition. The sad truth is – only through surgery can you really correct a bunion.

Summary

As unsuspecting as it seems, there are a lot of things your feet tell about your health. Take time to observe your feet and incorporate the knowledge you just learned here.