When your feet are acting up, they are trying to tell you something. Most of the pain or abnormalities in feet are a result of a problem somewhere in the rest of the body.
Sunken toenails could be a sign of low iron. This means you don’t have enough hemoglobin, which helps transport oxygen in your blood. If there are spoon-shaped indents in the nail, you might want to consider taking iron supplements.
If foot joints are sore, this could be rheumatoid arthritis. To avoid future deformity, seek help right away.
Sores on your feet that do not heal over time or go unnoticed might be telling you there is nerve damage. Diabetes could be the cause of this.
Another sign of possible diabetes is numbness. If the numbness occurs in only one foot, it could simply be a pinched nerve, but if the numbness is in both feet, it is more likely diabetes.
Even though you might not want hairy feet, some hair on the toes or feet is actually a good thing. If you have very little hair, or none at all, it might be caused by poor blood circulation.
You should be careful when your toenails start to yellow. It may be because of a smoking habit or wearing nail polish too long, but it could also be that there is a fungus growing under your toe.
Flakey skin on the foot could be a result of having athlete’s foot. You don’t have to be an athlete to get it! It is a fungal infection contracted from wet places.
If your feet are cold all the time and never seem to warm up, you might have a thyroid issue. Thyroid glands control things like energy usage, oxygen consumption, and heat production. This is most common in women, but anyone who has constant cold feet should be looking into this issue.
Abnormally shaped toes are definitely a cause for concern. If they appear to bump upwards, it could be a sign of lung disease. See a doctor right away.
Heel pain is a good indication that you have plantar fasciitis. This can occur if the ligament supporting the arch of your foot becomes too strained.
Listen to what your feet are telling you. Know the signs of more serious problems and seek help.
Note: Information and image derived from skinnymom.com and canyonranch.com
