AI summary
Summary of article:
The article explains that hair loss, numbness and tingling in the feet, severe pain and swelling in the big toe, and dark spots on the toenails can correspond to health problems such as circulation, nerves, metabolism, heart and kidney and skin cancer, respectively, and they should be treated as soon as possible when they occur.
Foot problems often start with small causes, such as standing for long periods of time or wearing poorly fitting shoes; But sometimes leg symptoms may indicate a more serious health problem in an unrelated part of the body.
Baylor College of Medicine, HoustonBone Associate Professor William Granberry said the feet are often an overlooked appendage, even in medical school. He described his experience as a new student in medical school, saying that he spent just one day learning about legs, which were not attractive and were only mentioned.
But your feet can actually tell a lot about your overall health. Everyday Health reports that here are five symptoms you should pay attention to and what to do if you notice them.
Hair growth is related to good blood circulation,Florida Podiatrist and surgeon Nishit Vora said the arteries carrying blood from the heart to the toes can be imagined as tributaries of a lake. If tributaries away from the lake begin to become blocked, hair growth will not receive the blood supply it needs.
Decreased circulation in the lower extremities may indicate a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD). Genetic factors, smoking, eating too much unhealthy saturated fat, and being over the age of 65 can increase your risk of developing PAD.
If you are losing hair in and around your legs and the skin looks thin and shiny, you should inform your doctor, who may order an arterial ultrasound. They look at those arteries to see if there are blood clots or other blockages that are blocking blood flow to the legs and feet, Vora said.
Peripheral artery disease can usually be controlled with anticoagulants or cholesterol-lowering medications, but severe cases sometimes require surgery.
The sensation of pins and needles in your feet or toes may indicate a nerve disease called neuropathy, in which the nerves become damaged. Numbness usually starts from the toes and moves upward because the nerves are smallest there, Vohra said.
There are many causes of neuropathies, including diabetes. The outer layer of the nerve has a protective covering that allows signals to be transmitted quickly to the leg and back to the brain. Vora said that excess glucose in the blood of diabetic patients can damage this protective covering, causing it to gradually shrink, making it unable to conduct nerve signals and causing the feet to become numb.
It is important to tell your doctor if you notice any changes in your feet or experience other symptoms of diabetes (such as increased thirst or urination). You can check your blood sugar level with a simple blood test.
If your big toe is hot, red, and swollen, you may have arthritis. Research shows that the incidence of arthritis, which inflames the joint of the big toe and causes severe pain, is steadily increasing, especially in men. Granberry said a common symptom is that you have to take your legs out of the sheets because it still hurts if the sheets press against your legs.
Gout is also known as the “disease of emperors” because it is associated with high alcohol intake and a rich diet, historically a luxury only the upper class could afford. Foods and beverages such as beer, red meat, shellfish, sugary drinks and sweets are rich in purines, chemicals that break down into uric acid; Uric acid can form crystals in the joints if the kidneys are unable to filter it. Granberry said the temperature in the big toe is low and blood circulation is slow, so crystals tend to form there.
