By Elizabeth Rogers
Your feet are the mirror of your health. Find out what signs and symptoms you should be aware of, and how they might impact your health and well being.They’re farthest from your heart, but they shouldn’t be the farthest thing from your mind.
Like the rest of our body, our feet under go some changes as we get older. They’re more prone to chronic problems and pains, and any existing conditions can get worse. In addition to years’ worth of wear and tear, bad habits and chronic conditions like diabetes can take their toll. Because what happens to our body also happens to our feet, they can provide early indications of trouble.
“Your feet are a mirror of your health,” says Dr. Sheldon Nadal, a Toronto-based podiatrist with 30 years experience treating foot problems. “If you have poor circulation, if you smoke, if you have a circulatory disease or poor nutrition, it’s going to affect your feet.”
So what signs should we look out for? We spoke with Dr. Nadal about some of the common foot problems and symptoms that affect adults. Here’s what your feet may be trying to tell you.
The symptoms: what do they mean?
Dry or cracking skin. The face isn’t the only place you’ll see the signs of aging. As we get older, skin becomes thinner and drier on the feet too. While dry skin isn’t a crisis, those cracks and cuts can open the way to infection. In most cases, some regular moisturizing will do the trick, but beware of any wounds that won’t heal — they could be a sign of a more serious illness like diabetes.
Peeling and itching. Dry skin can also be a symptom of a fungal infection like the dreaded athlete’s foot, especially when accompanied by peeling, itching, scaling and inflammation. Fungus often shows up in the warm, moist area between the toes where it can easily spread to the nails if left untreated.
Fungus can be easy to pick up, especially if you like to go barefoot on the beach or in the locker room. Your best defence is to keep your feet protected with footwear and keep your feet dry with fresh socks and talcum powder as needed.
Thick, yellow nails. It could be the normal affects of aging, but it could also be a sign of nail fungus. Embarrassment aside, fungus can be difficult to treat because topical medications like creams often aren’t effective and oral medications can have potentially harmful side effects like liver damage. However, new laser treatments are revolutionizing the treatment of fungus — minus any pain or risks.
Another culprit of yellow nails? The chemicals in nail polish can cause damage. It’s a good idea to give your nails a breather, Dr. Nadal advises, especially during the winter when toes aren’t on display. A little sunshine won’t hurt either — the UV rays can even help kill unwanted organisms.
Black or dark toenails. Often the result of an injury, the colour is caused by a bruise under the nail. Unfortunately, the bruise can lead to other problems like a fungal infection or a sore that could become infected. Discoloured nails should be checked out, especially if you have diabetes.
Ingrown toenails. Improper grooming techniques, injury, hereditary and structural problems can all cause the toe nail to curl under and dig painfully into the skin. Poorly fitting shoes are also a cause, so it’s no surprise this problem shows up more often in women than men. Luckily, it can be treated in office by a podiatrist.
In most cases, it’s an issue that can easily be prevented. Make sure to trim your nails properly — always cut straight across rather than rounding edges — and that your shoes fit properly, especially in the toe area.
Pain. There’s one rule when it comes to pain: “Don’t ignore it; it’s not normal,” says Dr. Nadal. Foot pain can have many causes from arthritis to plantar fasciitis, but you’ll need some expert advice to determine the problem and find a treatment.
Osteoarthritis is a common problem, but it’s not the only cause. Pain and inflammation could also be due to a systemic condition like rheumatoid arthritis. Injury and repetitive stress can also cause tendonitis. A proper diagnosis is important because you may need more than painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can target inflammation, but many podiatrists such as Dr. Nadal also use drug-free treatments like sound wave therapies.
What Your Feet Reveal About Your Health
