MANY people dislike feet – some even have a fear of them.
But your feet could provide early clues to health problems in other parts of your body.
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One symptom in your feet to be wary of could also be caused by cold weather.
NHS doctor Amir Khan, who’s a resident doctor on ITV’s Lorraine, issued a stark warning what having cold feet could mean.
Addressing his half a million followers on Instagram, he said: “If you suffer from cold feet or toes and that’s unusual for you, that could be a sign of circulatory problems – a condition called peripheral vascular disease.
“This means there’s a problem with their very small blood vessels in your feet and it’s restricting the blood flow your feet.
“It can be a sign of poorly controlled diabetes, high cholesterol, and is more common if you smoke.”
Many people with PAD have no symptoms, but the first sign many people develop is a painful ache in their legs when they walk.
This pain usually disappears after a few minutes’ rest.
Both legs are often affected at the same time, but the pain can be worse in one leg.
According to the NHS, there are eight other symptoms of PAD:
- hair loss on your legs and feet
- numbness or weakness in the legs
- brittle, slow-growing toenails
- ulcers (open sores) on your feet and legs, which do not heal
- changing skin colour on your legs, such as turning paler than usual or blue – this may be harder to see on brown and black skin
- shiny skin
- in men, erectile dysfunction
- the muscles in your legs shrinking (wasting)
Symptoms usually develop slowly over time – if they develop quickly or suddenly it could be a sign of something more serious and require immediate medical attention.
There’s no cure for PAD, but lifestyle changes and medicine can help reduce symptoms.
If it’s left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as gangrene, heart attack and stroke, and amputation.
When to see a GP if you suspect symptoms of PAD
If you experience recurring leg pain when exercising you should see a GP.
Many people mistake this pain as a part of growing older, but a healthy person shouldn’t experience leg pain.
PAD is usually diagnosed through a physical examination by a GP, and by comparing the blood pressure in your arm and your ankle.
If there’s a difference between the two, this may indicate PAD. This is known as the ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI).
Source: NHS
Other signs in your feet to look out for…
Burning or tingling pain
Dr Amir shared some other concerning signs that can appear in your feet, one of which is burning or tingling pain.
According to the GP, this could be a sign of a problem with your nerves, a condition called peripheral neuropathy.
He explained: “It’s more common if you have poorly controlled diabetes, but also you can get it if you have low B12 or folic acid level, if you have thyroid disease, if you drink a lot of alcohol and certain medications can do it as well.”
Pain in the bottom of your foot
If you have pain in the bottom of your foot when you try and walk and can’t remember injuring it, it could be a condition called plantar fasciitis.
Dr Amir said: “That’s inflammation of the tissue underneath your foot and it normally gives you a sharp stabbing pain usually in your heel.
“It can feel a bit like a stone in your shoe.”
Sore or ulcer that won’t heal
One sign that’s really important to remember is if you have a sore or ulcer on your foot that won’t heal.
Always get this checked, urged Dr Amir. He added: “Some skin cancers can present with a sore that doesn’t heal.
“But remember, wounds need good food and oxygen and a good blood flow to heal well.
“If you have poor circulation, diabetes that isn’t well controlled, all of these can negatively affect those things and prolong the healing process as well as increasing your risk of infection.”
Swollen feet
Finally, Dr Amir warned about having swollen feet, a “super common” symptom.
He said: “This can happen if you spend lots of time on your feet through the day and it’s much more common in the summer months.
“Usually it’s nothing to worry about and all you have to do is elevate your feet when you get home.
“But you can get swollen feet if you have problems with your liver, your kidneys, or even your heart.
“You can have swollen feet if you’re overweight or pregnant or taking certain medication.
“You can get swollen feet in arthritis, infections and sometimes even with a blood clot even especially if it’s on sided.”
If any symptoms with your feet are unexplained, always get them checked out by your GP.
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