Did you know that your feet can tell a lot about your health? Find out that from the appearance of the thumb, to constantly cold feet, you can easily find out the diseases you suffer from, from ulcers to pancreatic diseases. Here are some serious diseases you can discover by looking at your feet.
Heart diseases
You might think that hairy feet are more common in men, but women also have fine toe hair. If you notice that the hair on your legs has disappeared, this could be a sign of peripheral artery disease, writes the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
This is the restriction of blood flow in the arteries of the leg and can signal more extensive arterial disease, which can cause cardiovascular disease. Other symptoms of this condition include a cold feeling in the feet or calves, numbness in the legs, painful cramps in the hips or legs, and shiny skin.
Diabetes
If you notice a sore on the sole of your foot that does not heal, it could indicate diabetes. Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar levels to rise.
One of the complications is neuropathy, where the nerves become damaged and the patient begins to lose sensation, typically in the legs.
A US study suggests that up to 5% of people with this condition will develop leg ulcers. And because they can easily become infected, 1% of those with such wounds end up having to have an amputation.
Other symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, constant thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, and weight loss without trying.
Hypothyroidism
Constantly cold feet could be a sign of a thyroid condition called hypothyroidism. This occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough hormones, writes the NHS.
Thus, it can slow down many of the body’s functions and change the way it processes fat. Because of these changes, thyroid problems can lead to high cholesterol and clogged arteries, but they could also lead to serious heart problems, such as angina or heart attack.
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, depression, and muscle cramps.
Fungal infection
If your toenails are starting to look a little yellow and thick, you could have ‘athlete’s foot’. It is a common infection of the skin of the feet, especially between the toes.
Wearing a tight pair of shoes that do not allow the feet to breathe, such as work boots, can cause the feet to sweat excessively, increasing the risk of fungal infections.
Gout
Thumbs are, by definition, large. But if your big toe looks especially big and has been that way for a long time, you could be suffering from a form of arthritis called gout.
This can cause sudden attacks of severe pain and inflammation. Left untreated, gout can lead to kidney stones and permanent joint damage.
Anemia
If your toenails look slightly indented or spoon-shaped (the ends will be pointing up), this indicates anemia, according to a report in The Permanente Journal.
Anemia is triggered by a lack of iron, often caused by blood loss or even pregnancy. Iron is used by the body to make red blood cells, which help store and carry oxygen in the blood.
Other possible symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and pale or yellowish skin, which may be more apparent on fair skin than on olive or dark skin.
2024-01-03 13:01:42
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