18 Things Your Feet Say About Your Health

By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com

Want to make a ten-second check on somebody’s well-being without feeling their forehead? Sneak a peek at their feet. “You can detect everything from diabetes to nutritional deficiencies just by examining the feet,” says Jane Andersen, DPM, president of the American Association of Women Podiatrists and a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association.

The lowly left and right provide plenty of insightful data: Together they contain a quarter of the body’s bones, and each foot also has 33 joints; 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments; and countless nerves and blood vessels that link all the way to the heart, spine, and brain.

Unresolved foot problems can have unexpected consequences. Untreated pain often leads a person to move less and gain weight, for example, or to shift balance in unnatural ways, increasing the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

So when the feet send one of these 18 warning messages, they mean business.

15 Things Your Walk Reveals About Your Health >>

Inflammation: The Hidden Time Bomb Within You >>

12 Foods With Super-Healing Powers >>

18 Things Your Feet Say About Your Health originally appeared on Caring.com.

1 of 6

Read more: Conditions, General Health, Hands & Feet, Health, feet

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sofia N.

1:30PM PDT on May 22, 2012

Thank you for sharing.

send a green star

Debbie C.

4:27AM PDT on May 11, 2012

6 years ago, I started having 'numb' feet. They felt like I had a severe case of frostbite!! Then, I started getting the pins & needles and stabbing pains in my feet.

My family doctor sent me to an Orthopeadic doctor and he said I needed back surgery!! I fought him and finally gave in 2 years ago. The surgery did nothing to help my back, or my feet.

Then, I was sent to a Neurologist. He stuck me with some very long needles and did some other testing. He discovered I am diabetic with peripheral neuropathy!! Medication helps some days, but not all of them!!

Sarah M.

3:24PM PDT on Mar 29, 2012

thanks

Jennifer W.

10:13PM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

helpful, thanks

Kara E.

10:34AM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

So true this article. I got plantar fasciitis in my right foot (self diagnosed) & instead of going to the doctor right away, any doctor even an acupuncturist who i tried getting an appt w/but they were booked or on vacation. I should have been persistant. This was in Nov 2011 & now I have it so bad on my right foot it is hard to walk & other foot now has problems too! This rang true the most for me "Untreated pain often leads a person to move less and gain weight" sure enough because I haven't been able to exercise since then I have gained a lot of weight back. My pants are starting not to fit me anymore - Yikes. Thank goodness I went to the doctor last week, but so far it has only helped me a little and we have to try something else to totally fix it. SO go to the doctor if you are having feet issues. Do not wait it will only get worse on your feet and other parts of yur body.

Judy A.

10:05AM PDT on Mar 26, 2012

Never realized alot of problems could hit the feet.

richa b.

2:31AM PDT on Mar 16, 2012

thank you!

2:30AM PDT on Mar 16, 2012

Nicole G.

1:57PM PDT on Mar 15, 2012

Thanks!

KS G.

5:50AM PDT on Mar 15, 2012