Changes in the feet, such as swelling, coldness, pain or thickening of the nails, can reveal health problems – from poor blood circulation and vitamin deficiencies to more serious diagnoses.

Many people live in an illusion and ignore the problems they have with their feet. However, with the arrival of warmer days and the frequent wearing of sandals and slippers, any deficiencies become much more apparent.

Emma McConnachie, a podiatrist at the Royal College of Podiatric Physicians (RCP) in the United Kingdom, told The Times that while most problems are harmless and easily resolved, noticing irregularities in the function, appearance or feel of your feet can reveal a lot about your health. your overall health.

“We should all get our feet checked regularly. Pain, discomfort or any changes can be the first indication that something more serious is going on in the body,” warns McConnachie.

Aside from common symptoms like calluses, blisters or lumps, it’s important to pay attention to other signs.

Swollen feet (peripheral edema) can be a mild and harmless, common during the summer heat or during pregnancy. A high-salt diet and prolonged sitting or standing can further worsen the condition by slowing down the lymphatic system, causing fluid to pool in the lower limbs.

Sudden changes in one or both legs, such as significant swelling or mottled/marbled skin, may indicate circulation problems and high blood pressure. If the swelling is sudden, severe, painful or doesn’t go away after a few days, the British Heart Foundation warns it could be a sign of heart, kidney or liver disease.

Thick, yellow or pitted nails

Thickening, discolouration or pitting of the nails could be a sign of nail psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that causes inflammatory changes in the skin and nails. According to the Psoriasis Foundation, this condition affects up to half of people with psoriasis, but it’s also an early sign of psoriatic arthritis. Unfortunately, it is often misdiagnosed as a common fungal infection. It is important to see a GP, especially if the nail starts to separate from the nail bed.

Big toes bear a lot of weight – we use them for balance and reflection with every step. If the pain in the big toe is sudden and extremely severe, it could be gout. It is a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Attacks can last up to two weeks, and early treatment can permanently damage the big toe joint. Chronic stiffness and pain in the big toe that is worse in the morning may indicate hallux rigidus – a form of arthritis in the big toe joint.

Pressure on the nerves from wearing tight shoes or standing in one position for long periods of time is the most common cause of short-term numbness (when your foot “falls asleep”). However, if the tingling sensation occurs frequently, it may be a sign of Morton’s neuroma (a thickening of the nerve tissue in the foot) or tarsal tunnel syndrome (pressure on the nerves in the ankle). Also, a lack of vitamin B12 can lead to nerve problems and a tingling sensation.

If your feet are cold even in the heat of summer, it can often be Raynaud’s syndrome, a condition in which blood flow to the extremities is reduced due to a drop in temperature or stress.

Persistently cold limbs can also be a symptom of hypothyroidism – reduced thyroid function. thyroid. When the thyroid produces less hormone than needed, metabolism slows down, resulting in poorer blood circulation in the arms and legs.

Source: prizrenpost