loader image
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
90.7 F
McAllen
- Advertisement -

What Your Feet Tell You About Your Health

A podiatrist gives some insight into how your feet can tell you a lot about your health and also explains why you shouldn't delay care if you're experiencing discomfort or pain.

Translate to Spanish or other 102 languages!

They may have thought their pain was isolated to their feet and then discover it’s actually due to another medical condition. Image for illustration purposes
They may have thought their pain was isolated to their feet and then discover it’s actually due to another medical condition. Image for illustration purposes
- Advertisement -

CLEVELAND CLINIC – Did you know your feet can actually tell you about your health?

“We can definitely see evidence of different disease processes in the feet, whether it’s on the skin or in the toenails, or just in general,” explained Joy Rowland, DPM, podiatrist for Cleveland Clinic. “Say a patient presents with swelling of the skin or the feet, sometimes it’s related to heart disease, or kidney disease, or lymphedema, or vascular disease. We can also see evidence of dermatological problems like psoriasis.”

Dr. Rowland said she can also tell if someone has poor circulation or even diabetes based on the appearance of their feet, which can come as a surprise for some.

- Advertisement -

They may have thought their pain was isolated to their feet and then discover it’s actually due to another medical condition.

For example, someone experiencing numbness or tingling in their feet could have nerve damage from perhaps a back injury.

Dr. Rowland said in those kinds of situations, she will order additional tests to help confirm the suspected diagnosis.

And it’s not just your feet that can indicate something is wrong, your toenails can too.

- Advertisement -

“If you happen to come into a podiatrist’s office with thickened toenails, they’re crumbly, they’re brittle, a podiatrist can evaluate you, take a culture, and determine if you have psoriasis, if you have a fungal nail infection in your toenails, or also something called nail dystrophy,” she said. “Nail dystrophy is different from the others as it’s related to repetitive injury to the toenail. So even if you have a thickened yellow crumbly type toenail, it’s not always nail fungus.” 

Dr. Rowland said sometimes people will endure foot pain or discomfort for years before finally coming in to get examined.

She urges you not to delay as it could impact the type of treatments available.

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -

More Articles

Just Knowing Help Is There Makes All The Difference

 People who feel supported by family, friends and colleagues tend to have better mental health, perform more effectively at work and experience positive outcomes in other areas such as physical health, education and risk-taking behaviors, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

Cold, Flu, RSV or COVID? A Parent’s Guide to a Child’s Symptoms

As we head deeper into fall and toward the holiday season, your little one may start to exhibit symptoms like a runny nose, cough, or fever. But with the overlap between the common cold, influenza (the flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19, it can be difficult to know what is behind their illness and how to treat it.

Risks of Taking Weight Loss Supplements

 GLP-1 medications are continuing to grow in popularity, but not everyone is eligible for them. As a result, some are opting to take weight-loss supplements instead, which doctors warn can be unsafe. 

AMA Launches Center for Digital Health and AI

Mega Doctor News CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) announced the launch...
- Advertisement -
×