6 Incredible Facts Your Feet Can Tell About Your Health

One morning you wake up and see that your legs are swollen or red. If this situation is familiar to you, you should know that any changes in feet shape or smell can be caused by a certain underlying disease. That’s why it is important to notice such signs and discuss them with your foot doctor. In this article, we gathered six incredible facts your feet can tell about your health. 1. Swelling In most cases, swollen feet cam indicate prolonged standing, sitting, or poorly fitted shoes. However, swelling can manifest a serious medical condition especially if it doesn’t subside after a couple of days. This means that it is high time to make an appointment with your foot doctor. Feet are far from the heart and that’s why they can show that you may have blood circulatory disorder. Swollen feet may indicate excessive fluid buildup in the body as a result of heart disease or liver or kidney failure. Arthritis and other joint diseases can also result in feet swelling. 2. Tingling Tingling and numbness in the feet or toes, which worsen at night can be a symptom of vitamin deficiency. This means that tingling or numbness may be a sign that you need more B12 or folic acid. Moreover, this condition can manifest s high blood sugar or diabetes. Tingling and restless legs syndrome may be a result of iron deficiency or low levels of iron in the body. 3. Cold feet and toes Cold feet can manifest poor blood circulation that can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle. It is important to understand that poor blood circulation (even for a few hours) can lead to a blood clot. If you can’t warm your feet, you may have thyroid dysfunction, Raynaud’s disease (caused by cramping in the blood vessels), or peripheral neuropathy that is caused by underlying nerve damage. If your feet and toes are persistently cold, it is better to consult your doctor as soon as possible. 4. Discolored or deformed toenails Despite the fact that the toenails may not always be perfect, they should be pink and the nail should grow straight. If your toenails look “sunken”, it could be a sign that you have iron deficiency or anemia. Discolored or overgrown from the nail bed toenails can indicate a fungal infection. Conditions like warts, tumors, injuries, poor circulation, and psoriasis can also lead to nail deformities. 5. Unpleasant odor Despite the fact that armpits have more sweat glands than other body parts, your feet can also sweat a lot. Accumulation of sweat on feet can often lead to an unpleasant smell. Persistent unpleasant odors can mean that you have hyperhidrosis. This condition is not dangerous, but you can feel quite uncomfortable. If your feet have unpleasant smell due to sweat, you should clean them more thoroughly. You can use soap and water, then let your feet dry in the air. It is also important to change socks every day. Moreover, you can buy special socks that absorb sweat. However, smelly feet can also be a result of a fungal infection, so consult your doctor if none of the other tips lead to a fresher foot odor. 6. Bluish hue Bluish feet can manifest serious health issues. Bluish discoloration of the skin is called cyanosis. Cyanosis is a condition that means that your blood does not receive enough oxygen. This may be a sign of a chronic disorder of your blood, lungs, or heart. In the most severe cases, bluish feet may be a sign that you are close to a heart attack. That’s why you shouldn’t neglect bluish feet. Moreover, if in addition to blue feet you suffer from shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, or fever, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible.