When it comes to heart health and potentially clogged arteries, you probably think about things like chest pain, shortness of breath, or high blood pressure.
But feet – the sneaky messenger of the cardiovascular system – are one of the first in your body to send early warnings for serious conditions like clogged arteries and heart disease.
When it comes to your health, your feet might be telling you more than you think. Often overlooked, your feet can actually signal serious cardiovascular issues, such as peripheral artery disease (PAD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) – two forms of atherosclerosis, where plaque buildup restricts blood flow in the arteries.
What is PAD?
Peripheral artery disease is a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, most commonly affecting the legs and feet. This condition occurs when plaque – a mixture of fat, cholesterol, and other substances – builds up in the arteries, causing them to stiffen and narrow, limiting blood flow.
How PAD affects the feet
WebMD reports that your feet can provide the first signs of PAD through symptoms like:
- Cold feet: Poor circulation makes it hard for warm blood to reach your extremities, causing persistent cold feet, even in hot weather!
- Slow-healing wounds: Minor cuts or blisters may take an unusually long time to heal, indicating insufficient blood supply.
- Pain while walking: Aching or cramping in the feet and legs during physical activity, which subsides when resting.
- Discoloration: Feet may appear pale, blue, or have a purplish hue due to reduced blood flow.
Ignoring PAD symptoms can lead to severe complications, including critical limb ischemia, which may result in infection, gangrene, and even amputation if left untreated. Moreover, having PAD often suggests that atherosclerosis is affecting other vital arteries, including those leading to the heart and brain.
What is CAD?
Coronary artery disease is a type of atherosclerosis that affects the arteries supplying blood to the heart. When these arteries become clogged with plaque, the heart receives less oxygen-rich blood, increasing the risk of heart attacks.
Surprisingly, CAD can also show symptoms in the feet:
