WHAT YOUR FEET SAY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH

WHAT YOUR FEET SAY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH

Cold Feet, Many Culprits
If your toes are always cold, one reason could
be poor blood flow -- a circulatory problem
sometimes linked to smoking, high blood
pressure, or heart disease. The nerve damage
of uncontrolled diabetes can also make your
feet feel cold. Other possible causes include
hypothyroidism and anemia. A doctor can look
for any underlying problems -- or let you know
that you simply have cold feet.

 Foot Pain
When feet ache after a long day, you might just
curse your shoes. After all, eight out of 10
women say their shoes hurt. But pain that’s not
due to sky-high heels may come from a stress
fracture, a small crack in a bone. One possible
cause: Exercise that was too intense,
particularly high-impact sports like basketball
and distance running. Also, weakened bones
due to osteoporosis increases the risk.

Red, White, and Blue Toes
Raynaud’s disease can cause toes to turn
white, then bluish, and then redden again and
return to their natural tone. The cause is a
sudden narrowing of the arteries, called
vasospasms. Stress or changes in
temperature can trigger vasospasms, which
usually don’t lead to other health concerns.
Raynaud’s may also be related to rheumatoid
arthritis, Sjögren’s disease, or thyroid
problems.

Heel Pain
The most common cause of heel pain is
plantar fasciitis, inflammation where this long
ligament attaches to the heel bone. The pain
may be sharpest when you first wake up and
put pressure on the foot. Arthritis, excessive
exercise, and poorly fitting shoes also can
cause heel pain, as can tendonitis. Less
common causes include a bone spur on the
bottom of the heel, a bone infection, tumor,
or fracture.

 Dragging Your Feet
Sometimes the first sign of a problem is a change in the
way you walk -- a wider gait or slight foot dragging. The
cause may be the slow loss of normal sensation in your
feet, brought on by peripheral nerve damage. About
30% of these cases are linked to diabetes. Nerve
damage also can be due to infection, vitamin
deficiency, and alcoholism. In many cases, no one
knows what caused the nerve damage. Other possible
causes for foot dragging include problems with the
brain, spinal cord, or muscles.

Clubbed Toes
In clubbing, the shape of the toes (and
often the fingers) changes. The nails are
more rounded on top and curve downward.
Lung disease is the most common
underlying cause, but it also can be caused
by heart disease, liver and digestive
disorders, or certain infections. Sometimes,
clubbing runs in families without any
underlying disease

Swollen Feet
This is usually a temporary nuisance caused
by standing too long or a long flight --
especially if you are pregnant. In contrast, feet
that stay swollen can be a sign of a serious
medical condition. The cause may be poor
circulation, a problem with the lymphatic
system, or a blood clot. A kidney disorder or
underactive thyroid can also cause swelling. If
you have persistent swelling of your feet, see
a physician.

Burning Feet
A burning sensation in the feet is common
among diabetics with peripheral nerve
damage. It can also be caused by a vitamin
B deficiency, athlete’s foot, chronic kidney
disease, poor circulation in the legs and
feet (peripheral arterial disease), or
hypothyroidism.

Pain in the Big Toe
Gout is a notorious cause of sudden pain in
the big toe joint, along with redness and
swelling (seen here). Osteoarthritis is another
culprit that causes pain and swelling. If the
joint is rigid, it may be hallux rigidus, a
complication of arthritis where a bone spur
develops. Finally, turf toe is an ailment of
athletes, particularly those who play on hard
surfaces. It's caused by an injury to ligaments
surrounding the joint.

Pain in the Smaller Toes
If you feel like you're walking on a marble,
or if pain burns in the ball of your foot and
radiates to the toes, you may have Morton’s
neuroma, a thickening of tissue around a
nerve, usually between the third and fourth
toes. It is eight to 10 times more common in
women than in men. It is caused by injury
or too much pressure on the toes.

Itchy Feet
Itchy, scaly skin may be athlete’s foot, a
common fungal infection. A reaction to
chemicals or skin care products -- called
contact dermatitis -- can cause itching, too,
along with redness and dry patches. If the
skin on itchy feet is thick and pimple-like, it
may be psoriasis, an over-reaction of the
immune system. Medicated creams can
relieve the symptoms.

Claw Toe
This foot deformity can be caused by shoes
that are tight and pinch your toes or by a
disease that damages nerves, such as
diabetes, alcoholism, or other neurological
disorder. Your toes will be bent upward as
they extend from the ball of the foot, then
downward from the middle joint, resembling a
claw. They may respond to stretching and
exercises of the toes or you may need special
shoes or even surgery.

Foot Spasms
A sudden, sharp pain in the foot is the hallmark of a
muscle spasm or cramp, which can last many
minutes. Overwork and muscle fatigue are common
causes. Other causes include poor circulation,
dehydration, or imbalances in potassium,
magnesium, calcium, or vitamin D levels in the
body. The changing hormone levels of pregnancy
or thyroid disorders may play a role. If spasms are
frequent or severe, see a doctor. Strengthening
exercises can help with muscle fatigue.

Dark Spot on the Foot
We associate skin cancer with the sun, so
we’re not as likely to check our feet for
unusual spots. However, a melanoma, the
most dangerous form of skin cancer, can
develop in areas that are not regularly
exposed to the sun. Melanoma can even
appear beneath the nail, where it might
look like a black spot.

Yellow Toenails
Your toenails tell a lot about your overall
health. A fungal infection often causes
thickened yellow toenails. Thick, yellow
nails also can be a sign of an underlying
disease, including lymphedema (swelling
related to the lymphatic system), lung
problems, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Spoon-shaped Toenails
Sometimes an injury to the nail or frequent
exposure to petroleum-based solvents can
create a concave, spoon-like shape.
However, iron deficiency also can cause
this unusual shape.

White Nails
Injury to the nail or illness anywhere in the body
can cause white areas in the nails. If part or all
of a nail separates from the nail bed (shown
here), it can appear white -- and may be due to
an injury, nail infection, or psoriasis. If the nail is
intact and most of it is white, it can sometimes
be a sign of a more serious condition including
liver disease, congestive heart failure, or kidney
disease. Talk with your health care team about
any concerns.

Pitting of the Nails
Pitting, or punctured-looking depressions in
the surface of the nail, is caused by a
disruption in the growth of the nail at the
nail plate. It affects as many as half of
people with psoriasis.

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