4 Health Issues Your Feet May Reveal

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At NY Foot Health, we’ve shared what amazing structures your feet are. With 52 bones, 60 joints, and over 200 muscles, they enable you to walk, run, climb, squat, and pretty much do everything you need to do daily. Did you also know, however, symptoms in your feet may reveal secrets about the health of the rest of your body? Below are 4 issues your feet can reveal.

  1. Diabetes—two conditions associated with diabetes can manifest in your feet. Poor circulation may cause your skin to become discolored, and it also can slow healing. A sore or ulcer on your foot that takes an unusually long time to get better may point to diabetes. The other condition, neuropathy or nerve damage, may result in decreasing or changing sensations in your feet such as tingling, numbness, or burning.

  2. Melanoma—although rare, it is possible for this deadly cancer to develop in the skin of your feet. It may appear as a brown or black streak under a nail, which patients may mistake for a bruise. It is also possible to get other forms of skin cancer on your feet, so when inspecting your body for changing moles or freckles, be sure to look between your toes and on the soles of your feet.

  3. Peripheral Arterial Disorder (PAD)—sometimes cold feet mean you need another pair of socks, but it may indicate something more serious if it’s a chronic problem. When arteries become partially blocked due to plaque and cholesterol, it decreases the blood flow. Since your feet are the part of your body furthest from your heart, reduced circulation may leave your feet feeling cold.

  4. Kidney Failure—swollen ankles have many potentially benign sources such as footwear that doesn’t fit properly, pregnancy and dehydration. However, it can also be a sign of your kidney’s not functioning correctly, which causes your body to retain sodium. Excess fluid in the body tends to pool in the ankles and feet thanks to gravity.

What’s important to know is that any unusual symptoms experienced in your feet and ankles should be reported promptly to the podiatrist. If you currently don’t have a podiatrist, using our online directory can help you find one near you. To learn more about the health of your feet, contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.

diabetes, circulationNYSPMAdiabetes, peripheral arterial disease, skin cancer, ulcer