Posted by 15 things your feet say about your health – KRCRTV.COM
iStock / LisaIsonYour feet can say a lot about your health. So when your feet send one of these 15 warning messages, pay attention, according to Caring.com.
SXCHairless feet or toes — Poor circulation, usually caused by vascular disease, can make hair disappear from the feet, according to Yahoo!.
SXCBeing unable to lift your foot up from the heel — According to Yahoo!, foot drop is a sign of nerve or muscle damage that can originate as far north as your back, shoulders or neck.
SXCNumbness in both feet — P eripheral neuropathy, or damage to the peripheral nervous system, is the likely cause if you can’t feel your feet or have a heavy pins-and-needles sensation. Chemotherapy may also be to blame.
SXCToes that turn red, white and blue — Raynaud’s disease causes the extremities to first go white, then turn blue, and, finally, appear red before returning to a natural hue in cold weather. Raynaud’s is usually not dangerous, but can be a sign of an autoimmune disease in some people.
SXCPitted toenails — Many little holes, either deep or shallow, can show up on the toenails of up to half of all people with psoriasis. More than three-fourths of those with psoriatic arthritis can also have pitted, pocketed toenails.
SXCA sore that won’t heal on the bottom of the foot — Yahoo! says this is a major clue to diabetes, as elevated blood glucose levels lead to nerve damage in the feet and minor scrapes or irritations often go unnoticed.
SXCSore toe joints — This can be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis, which is often first felt in smaller joints like the toes and the knuckles of the hands.
SXCToes that bump upward at the tips — “Digital clubbing” happens when the tips of your toes swell to the point that they appear to bump upward at the ends, and can be a sign of serious lung disease, heart disease and certain gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn’s disease.
SXCThick, yellow toenails — A fungal infection such as o nychomycosis could be running rampant underneath the nail surface.
SXCToenails with sunken, spoon-shaped indentations — This is often a sign of anemia, which often shows up as an unnatural, concave or spoonlike shape to the toes’ nail beds, especially in moderate-to-severe cases.
SXCSuddenly enlarged big toe — It’s likely the old-fashioned-sounding disease known as gout, a form of arthritis that’s usually caused by too much uric acid.
SXCCold feet — It could be nothing, but cold feet may also be a sign of a thyroid issue, especially in women over 40. Poor circulation may also be to blame.
SXCFrequent foot cramping — It can be something as simple as exercise or dehydration, but your diet may lack sufficient calcium, potassium or magnesium if it happens often.
iStockDry, flaky skin — Even if you have naturally dry skin, don’t dismiss this symptom on your feet. Athlete’s foot usually starts as dry, itchy skin that progresses to inflammation and then blisters.
FreeImages.com/Aron BaloghFeet that are really painful to walk on — Extreme pain along the sides of the feet, in the soles or “all over” can be an undiagnosed stress fracture or plantar fasciitis. Such fractures may be caused by an underlying problem such as osteoporosis.
iStock/courtneykClick here to read more about these warning signs at Caring.com.
