Noel Wicks, a pharmacist and advisor to Excilor, has shared the importance of getting up close and personal with the much-maligned body part.
So, what should we look out for?
He told the Express about how the feet could w:ar:n you about two serious conditions, but your socks and shoes could be hiding important information.
He shared: āWe need to keep an eye on our foot health, including our toenails, because it can impact on our overall health and be a sign of [serious] health issues.ā
As the blood vessels that supply the toes are small, itās easy for them to get clogged up.
This can lead to cold, painful, swollen, or even numb feet.
As per Noel, this can be a w:ar:ning sign of heart disease which shouldnāt be ignored.
Itās not just your skin to be aware of, but also your toenails.
We know, try not to cringe.
āThickening and brittleness of toenails may also occur with heart disease.ā, he said.
What is peripheral arterial disease?
According to The NHS, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), also known as peripheral vascular disease, is what happens when fatty deposits in the arteries restrict blood supply to your leg muscles.
The NHS site says: āMany people with PAD have no symptoms. However, some develop a painful ache in their legs when they walk, which usually disappears after a few minutesā rest. The medical term for this is āintermittent claudicationā.
āThe pain can range from mild to severe, and usually goes away after a few minutes when you rest your legs. Both legs are often affected at the same time, although the pain may be worse in one leg.ā
Other symptoms to be mindful of are tingling, burning, dry skin, pain, cracked skin, and blisters or sores that donāt heal.
Also, you need to be aware of fungal infections and athleteās foot, as they can also point towards something serious.
Sorry if youāre eating ā but make sure to keep an eye out for thick yellow nails too.
They can all point to heart issues, or diabetes.
What other symptoms should you look out for?
Other symptoms you should be aware are chest pains, heart palpitations or shortness of breath.
For diabetes, you might feel tired all of the time, have unexplained weight loss, or feel particularly sleepy after eating your meals.
Itās high time you should put embarrassment to one side and get used to properly checking your feet.
