Located at the extremities, the feet hold many secrets to the condition of our health. Are we paying attention to them?
THE feet are one of the most overlooked parts of the body. Although it begins “work” as soon as you wake up in the morning, and performs a thousand functions until you go to sleep at the end of the day, the feet are almost always taken for granted… until something goes wrong. Although they are located the furthest from the heart and internal organs, the feet house one quarter of the body’s bones, 66 joints, 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments, and countless nerves and blood vessels that are connected to the heart, spine and brain.
That’s why healthcare professionals can actually gauge your health status based on your feet’s condition. The problem is that many foot problems are brushed aside or borne in silent suffering, especially by the elderly. Young ladies also tend to ignore foot pain, assuming it results from sexy stilettos. The repercussions can be serious. For instance, painful feet could lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which results in weight gain, hypertension and other conditions.
Some people with foot pain unconsciously develop unnatural gaits as an effort to shift balance to the good foot, which could increase the risk of falling. Foot symptoms can also be an indicator of serious health conditions. Take a few minutes to examine your feet and see if you notice these abnormal signs.
Cold feet
We’re not talking about stage fright – it’s the constant feeling of cold in your feet that makes you wear socks day and night, regardless of the weather. If you are also suffering from hair loss, fatigue, weight gain, moodiness and dry skin, you could be suffering from hypothyroidism, where your thyroid gland is not producing enough hormones to keep your body cells functioning normally. A simple blood test will get you an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will advise whether you need medications to boost your thyroid function.
Frequent cramps
It could appear as harmless pins and needles, or severe muscle contractions in the calves or toes that wake you up in the middle of the night. They may disappear when you stretch your toes upwards, or soak your feet in warm water, but frequent cramps should not go unnoticed. Cramps could be a result of dehydration, meaning you’re just not drinking enough. Conversely, if you have been sedentary and have just started exercising, your muscles could be protesting!
More serious cramping could indicate potassium, calcium and magnesium deficiencies, or blood circulation problems. Pregnant women in their third trimester are more prone to cramps due to decreased blood circulation to the feet. Frequent and severe cramps should be examined for nerve damage caused by diabetes or other circulatory conditions.
Painful large toe
It usually happens suddenly – you wake up with an acute pain at the big toe. The problem is usually gout, characterised by a swollen, hot, red big toe. Gout occurs when there is too much uric acid in the body, which results in the formation of needle-like crystals in the bloodstream. See a doctor for advice on whether you need gout medications and a change in diet. You will need to avoid high-purine foods such as tomatoes, anchovies and others.
Pain at the heel
Feel a sharp, shooting pain at your heel every time your foot touches the ground? It’s probably plantar fasciitis, where the ligament supporting your foot arch is strained and inflamed. It could result from excessive walking, especially on hard surfaces, and wearing worn-out shoes or slippers with poor arch support. Plantar fasciitis is most common among those who have just returned from hiking trips.
Stubborn sores
Sores at the feet that do not heal are a real cause for concern as they are a main warning sign of uncontrolled diabetes. Diabetes affects the nerves in the body. Long-term uncontrolled diabetes results in nerve damage, usually starting with the feet as they are located furthest from the heart. The sores begin as a minor cut or blister. Left untreated, sores could develop into gangrenous ulcers, which can get infected.
Severe gangrene is the most common cause of non-wartime leg amputations in Malaysia. Non-healing sores could also indicate peripheral arterial disease, which results from poor blood circulation.
Numbness
To know if your feet are numb, poke your feet with something sharp. If there is no sensation on both feet, chances are you have peripheral neuropathy. This can be caused by uncontrolled diabetes, chemotherapy or alcoholism. Numbness at only one foot may mean a pinched nerve caused by tight shoes. In this case, the numbness and soreness could extend up the ankle or back.
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.
Itchy, peeling skin
This could indicate either a fungal infection, known as “athlete’s foot” because it is most common among athletes, eczema or psoriasis. Athlete’s foot can be easily treated with anti-fungal cream and keeping the feet dry as much as possible. Eczema and psoriasis are a little more complicated. Both are auto-immune conditions, and it helps to find out the triggers that set off an attack of itchy and peeling skin. Many psoriasis patients may later develop psoriatic arthritis.
Hairless feet and toes
They may not look pretty, but hair on your toes indicates that you are getting enough blood circulation down yonder. Bald toes mean insufficient blood is being pumped to your extremities, which suggests heart disease.
Abnormally-shaped toe nails
Telltale signs at your toe nails should not be ignored as they can indicate serious health conditions. For instance, whitish nails could be caused by injury, infection or psoriasis. They could also be a sign of liver disease, heart problems or diabetes. People with psoriasis usually have pitting and yellowing of the nails too.
Anaemia may show up in the form of spoon-shaped or concave nails. Other signs include brittle nails, fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness when standing for a long time. Clubbed nails (that curve downwards at the ends) could signal lung disease, heart disease or gastrointestinal problems.
Swollen feet
Most women recognise water retention, which is common during pregnancy and the pre-menstrual period. However, persistent water retention should be checked by a doctor, as it could indicate poor circulation, lymphatic disorder, kidney problems or an underactive thyroid.
A blood clot, which could be potentially dangerous, may also manifest as swollen feet, so don’t assume it is just pesky hormonal imbalance! So, when the feet send one of these warning messages, they mean business, and it’s best to get it checked by your doctor before attempting any treatment.
The Star Newspaper, May 3 , 2014
Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar
