Your feet work hard for you every day, but are you paying attention to what they’re trying to tell you? Health experts warn that two silent foot killers can sneak up without noticeable symptoms, leading to infections, amputations, or even life-threatening complications.
Experts say that changes in your feet – whether it’s color, temperature, or even nail texture – can be early indicators of serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. These seemingly small changes might be your body’s way of waving a red flag.
So, if you’ve been ignoring them, it’s time to start paying attention!
Feet and heart disease
Your feet are the farthest body part from your heart, meaning they are often the first to show signs of poor circulation.
Noel Wicks, pharmacist and health advisor told the Express that the tiny blood vessels in our toes are particularly vulnerable to fatty blockages—a common early sign of heart disease.
“We need to keep an eye on our foot health, including our toenails, because it can [have an] impact on our overall health, and be a sign of [serious] health issues,” Wicks said.
Symptoms
WebMD reports that you might experience symptoms like:
- Cold feet: Poor circulation makes it hard for warm blood to reach your extremities, causing persistent cold feet, even in hot weather!
- Slow-healing wounds: Minor cuts or blisters may take an unusually long time to heal, indicating insufficient blood supply.
- Pain while walking (Claudication): Aching or cramping in the feet and legs during physical activity, which subsides when resting.
- Discoloration: Feet may appear pale, blue, or have a purplish hue due to reduced blood flow.
- Cramping: Cramping in hip, thigh, or calf muscle while climbing stairs or walking.
These symptoms might seem harmless at first, but they shouldn’t be ignored. If you notice them, especially if they persist, a visit to your doctor is highly recommended.
Feet and diabetes
Your feet don’t just warn you about heart disease – they can also be one of the first places to show signs of diabetes.
Diabetes affects blood circulation and nerve function, which often causes early symptoms in your feet before anywhere else in your body. From tingling sensations to slow-healing wounds, paying attention to foot health can help you detect diabetes before it leads to serious complications.
According to the CDC, “With diabetes, a foot ulcer could get infected and not heal well. If an infection doesn’t get better with treatment, your toe, foot, or leg may need to be amputated (removed by surgery). This is done to prevent the infection from spreading and to save your life.”
Shockingly, in the U.S., 80% of lower limb amputations – a toe, foot or leg – “are a result of complications from diabetes,” the CDC explains.
Symptoms
- Pain in your legs or cramping in your buttocks, thighs, or calves during physical activity.
- Tingling, burning, or pain in your feet.
- Loss of sense of touch or ability to feel heat or cold very well.
- A change in the shape of your feet over time.
- Loss of hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs.
- Dry, cracked skin
- A change in the color and temperature
- Thickened, yellow toenails.
- Fungus infections such as athlete’s foot between your toes.
- A blister, sore, ulcer, infected corn, or ingrown toenail.
Many people don’t realize they have diabetes until they start experiencing foot problems. That’s why it’s crucial to take these signs seriously.
If you think you’re developing symptoms of diabetes, consult a doctor immediately. Managing diabetes early can prevent serious complications like foot ulcers, infections, and even amputations.
Your feet can be the first indicator of serious underlying health problems, from diabetes complications to artery blockages. The sooner you catch these warning signs, the better your chances of preventing irreversible damage.
So next time you kick off your shoes, take a moment to really look at your feet – they might just be trying to tell you something important!
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