- Vertical black streaks on toenails may indicate trauma or skin cancer
- Swelling can be a sign of heart problems or lymphatic drainage problems.
You might not think it, but your feet can tell you an amazing amount about your health.
From nasty cracked heels and calluses to more serious problems like swelling, they often show signs of disease before the rest of the body.
What does cold feet mean?
And does swelling really indicate a heart problem?
Falkirk podiatrist and spokesperson for the Royal College of Podiatry, Emma McConnachie, revealed to MailOnline that your feet really speak for your health.
retracted toes or claw toes
May be a sign of ill-fitting footwear or neurological changes
“The smaller foot may begin to lift over time as the tendons on the top of the foot tighten,” McConachie told MailOnline.
The most common causes of this are footwear with a poorly fitting toe or slip-on shoes that grip the shoe with the toe.
However, retracted toes can also be the result of nerve damage caused by conditions such as stroke.
A stroke causes an imbalance in the muscles of the foot and toes, causing the strong muscles of the foot to over contract and the weak muscles of the toes to bend abnormally.
“People who have had a stroke may have different foot shapes than they used to. See a podiatrist to determine the cause of toe changes and what you can do to help them Please Confirm.
Studies show that conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes can also lead to peripheral nerve damage in the feet.
Vertical black streaks on the toenails or black spots under the nails
May be a sign of hyperpigmentation, trauma, or skin cancer
Toenail discoloration is not uncommon.
The most common cause of black spots on nails is trauma, advised McConnachie.
This can result in bruising and pooling of blood under the nail, which can range from “a few spots to the entire nail.”
Often this grows over several months as the nail grows from the cuticle to the tip of the toe.
However, if straight vertical streaks of dark brown or black discoloration appear on the nail, this may indicate melanochia. This can be caused by injury or illness.
“The darker your skin, the more likely you are to have black streaks on your nails.
Black streaks could also be a sign of melanoma, a type of skin cancer that starts in skin cells called melanocytes, warned McConachie.
This is of particular concern when seen on people with lighter skin, she added.
But dark marks are usually a sign of trauma, she advised.
thick yellow toenails
It may be a sign of: Fungal infection
Toenails naturally thicken over time. Especially if you take your shoes off thousands of times a day, your nails will thicken.
“People who wear steel toe caps or who are very active often have thicker toenails,” McConachie said.
However, in some cases, the toenails can become very thick, yellow, orange, brown, or brittle. This is a symptom of athlete’s foot, medically known as tinea pedis.
One of the most common foot ailments, research shows that fungal infections affect about 15% of people worldwide each year.
The fungus thrives in warm, moist, damp places. This means that your feet have around 250,000 sweat glands, providing an ideal breeding ground and thus a perfect environment.
Fungal infections are highly contagious and can spread anywhere on the skin, including the scalp, hands and even the groin. is particularly prone to
“Your podiatrist can advise if you have a fungal nail condition and which treatment options are right for you.
swelling
It can be a sign of: heart problems or lymphatic drainage problems
Our feet naturally swell a bit at the end of each day and especially on warm days, but any sudden change in size in one or both feet should be checked by a professional, McConachie advises. Did.
“It could be that your body is fine with the swelling, or it could be an indication that your lymphatic system isn’t working at its optimal level,” she added.
The lymphatic system, which protects us from infection and disease, is a network of lymph nodes connected by thin tubes.
About 800 lymph nodes in the body swell as they rid themselves of abnormal substances and fight infections.
According to the NHS, lymphedema, a long-term condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues, can develop when the lymphatic system does not function properly.
But swollen legs can also indicate a heart problem, added McConachie.
Fluid builds up in the feet and ankles when the heart is not pumping enough blood, such as in heart failure.
“Swollen feet and ankles can have many causes, many of which are easily manageable,” she added.
Calluses on the toes, heels, or balls of the feet
shoes that don’t fit
One of the most common foot problems for both men and women is callus growths, also known as hard skin or dead skin.
It often affects the toes and dry, cracked heels. This could be because the shoes are too tight or the wrong shape for your toes, McConachie advised.
Common offenders include mule-style shoes that slip on heels.
“It’s perfectly normal to have calluses on your feet. Our bodies detect areas of high pressure and build dead skin to protect the area.
However, McConachie warned against trying to remove it yourself with a sharp tool.
“When it builds up in large amounts or in certain areas, it can be painful,” she added.
“A podiatrist can remove it safely and painlessly and can advise you on why your podiatry is happening.”
cold feet
It may be a sign of: Poor circulation
Cold feet may be a normal body reaction to body temperature, but they may also indicate an underlying problem.
“Cold feet are usually due to poor circulation in your body, which may mean that warm blood isn’t reaching your feet on a regular basis,” McConachie advised.
As the farthest point in the body from the heart, poor blood flow means it takes longer for blood to reach your legs.
“In recent months there has been a dramatic increase in reports of frostbite (small, itchy swellings of the skin that occur as a response to cold weather) seen by podiatrists across the UK,” she added.
“This is related to weaker home heating at a time when the cost of living is rising.
“If you’re going to keep the room temperature cool, be sure to insulate your legs and feet,” McConachie said.
“You can keep your feet warm by wearing multiple layers, and bed socks and warm slippers can keep your feet warm when you’re at home.”
cracked heel
It may be a sign of: Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism (when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones) can cause the skin on your feet to become dry and cracked, McConnachie said.
Studies show that most people with this condition, medically known as hypothyroidism, report rough, gritty, and dry skin, especially on their feet.
This is because the glands can thicken and dry out the skin.
But cracked heels “are much more likely due to dehydration of the skin in that area,” McConnachie advised.
“Once you start applying cracked heel cream twice a day for a few weeks, you should notice a big difference,” she recommended.
“Avoiding open-backed shoes and not walking barefoot should also help.”
Slow healing of wounds and cuts on the feet
It may be a sign of: Diabetes
Tiredness, thirst and hunger are all common symptoms of diabetes.
Lesser known, however, are leg injuries that take a long time to recover from.
This is because consistently high blood sugar levels can cause problems with your circulation, nerves, and immune system, all of which can interfere with good wound healing.
Diabetic neuropathy – a condition that damages nerves in about half of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes – can also affect scarring and healing.
“Even in the healthiest people, wounds on the feet often take longer to heal than on other parts of the body,” McConachie said.
“But if you notice that the wound is taking a long time to heal, go to a podiatrist and have it checked.
“Type 2 diabetes is one common underlying condition that can cause this, but there are many other conditions, so there are many possible factors that contribute to slow healing.”
