10 subtle signs of disease your feet can reveal
You notice: Dry, flaky feet
It could be: Thyroid problems, especially if moisturiser doesn’t help. When the thyroid gland (the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck) isn’t working properly, it doesn’t produce thyroid hormones, which control metabolic rate, blood pressure, tissue growth and skeletal and nervous system development. “Thyroid problems cause severe dryness of the skin,” says foot specialist Marlene Reid. “When we see cracking on the feet, or if moisturiser doesn’t improve dryness over a few days, we usually refer patients to their primary doctor to make sure their thyroids are okay.” Brittle toenails can also signal thyroid complications.
You notice: Bald toes
It could be: Arterial disease. If the fuzz on your toes suddenly disappears, it could signal poor blood circulation caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which builds up plaque in the leg arteries. “Signs of PAD can include decreased hair growth on the feet and ankles, purplish toes and thin or shiny skin,” says podiatric surgeon Suzanne Fuchs. Symptoms are subtle, but doctors can check for a healthy pulse in the foot. In severe cases, they may spot PAD on an X-ray. “If I take an X-ray of a broken foot, and I see a hardening of the arteries, 99 per cent of the time the same thing is happening in the heart blood vessels,” says podiatric surgeon Gary A. Pichney.
You notice: Ulcers that don’t heal
It could be: Diabetes. Uncontrolled glucose levels can damage nerves and cause poor circulation, so blood doesn’t reach all areas of the body, including the feet. When blood doesn’t get to a wound caused by, say, irritating shoes, the skin doesn’t heal properly, and that’s how diabetic blisters and ulcers can develop. “Many, many people with diabetes are diagnosed first because of foot problems,” says Reid. Other signs of diabetes may include persistent tingling or numbness of the feet. If you suffer from these foot problems, ask your doctor about getting your blood sugar levels tested.
You notice: An enlarged, painful big toe
It could be: Gout. Gorged on wine and steak? The painful aftermath could be gout, a type of arthritis that often affects the joint of the big toe. Foods high in purine, a chemical compound found in red meats, fish and certain alcohol, can trigger an attack by raising levels of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is normally excreted through urine, but is overproduced or under-excreted in some people. “You’ll see the deposition of the uric acid in the joint, most commonly the big toe or the ankle,” says podiatric foot and ankle specialist Bob Baravarian. “The patient will wake up with a hard, red, swollen joint. It’s extremely painful.” A doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs for short-term relief and medicines to reduce uric acid production. You may also need to follow a low-purine diet for long-term prevention.
You notice: Small, red lines under the toenail
It could be: A heart infection. Red streaks underneath the toenails or fingernails could be broken blood vessels known as splinter haemorrhages. While problems like psoriasis, fungal infection, or even just experiencing trauma to the nail can cause splinter haemorrhages, it can also be a sign of endocarditis, or an infection of the heart’s inner lining, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. (Keep in mind this is a rare condition.) People who have an existing heart condition are at higher risk of developing endocarditis. The infection can result in heart failure if left untreated. If you notice splinter haemorrhages on your toenails or fingernails, and haven’t experienced any recent trauma to the nail, see your doctor to check your heart and blood circulation.
You notice: Clubbing
It could be: Lung cancer or heart disease.
Another symptom that appears in both toes and fingers, clubbing is often associated with lung cancer, chronic lung infection, or heart conditions caused by birth defects or infection of the lining of heart valves and chambers. Clubbing often occurs in these conditions because of the lower amount of oxygen in the blood. The tissue swells and results in the ‘clubbed’ appearance – rounder, wider fingers and toes. Though patients are typically aware they have a disease that is causing the clubbing, it’s best to get checked if you see any abnormalities.
You notice: Pitted toenails
It could be: Psoriasis.
If you find tiny holes, grooves or ridges in your toenails, you may have nail psoriasis. Though most people who experience nail psoriasis also have skin psoriasis (an autoimmune disease that makes skin patchy and irritated), five per cent of people with nail psoriasis aren’t affected elsewhere. “If you’ve never been diagnosed with psoriasis, but your toenails have little pits in them, you should get them checked out,” says Pichney. Other symptoms include white patches and horizontal lines across the nails. To treat psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe topical creams or steroids injected under the nail.
You notice: Spooned nails
It could be: Anaemia or lupus.
Do you have a depression in the toenail deep enough to hold a water droplet? Also known as koilonychias, spoon-shaped toenails or fingernails are most commonly associated with an iron deficiency, research shows, but it can also come from malnutrition, thyroid disorders or injury. Spooned nails occasionally appear in infants, but normalise in the first few years of life. If you notice spooning, contact your physician, who will obtain a blood test to identify the exact cause.
You notice: A straight line under your toenails
It could be: Skin cancer.
A dark, vertical line underneath a toenail could be acral lentiginous melanoma, or hidden melanoma – a form of the skin cancer that appears on obscure body parts. (Other hidden melanomas include eye melanoma and mouth melanoma.) “It will be a black line from the base of your nail to the end of the nail,” says Pichney. “It should be seen by a podiatrist or dermatologist. You want to make sure it’s not cancer, but it may be a fungus, which is usually yellow-brown and sporadic throughout the whole nail.”
You notice: A suddenly high arch
It could be: Nerve damage.
“Most high-arched feet are associated with some form of underlying neuromuscular condition,” says Pichney. “If someone experiences thinning of the arch muscles in the foot, it could be an indication of a neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).” An inherited disorder that damages the peripheral nerves (those outside the brain and spinal cord), CMT can also cause changes in gait, numbness in the feet, difficulty balancing, loss of muscles in the lower legs, and later on, similar symptoms in the arms and hands. See your doctor if you notice abnormalities. “For anything that’s different or changes when it comes to the foot, see your podiatrist right away,” says Reid.
This article originally appeared on Reader's Digest.
Image: Shutterstock