You may know that it’s important to take care of your feet to ensure that you are able to keep moving, but did you know that your foot health is connected to your overall well being in many ways and that your feet can even provide early indicators of problems in other parts of your body? Here, we’ll take a look at the problems your feet can indicate and we’ll consider how you can improve your general health and wellbeing by looking after your feet well.
Here at Foot Solutions, we love to help our customers find great footwear to protect and support their feet as they enjoy active lifestyles. Keeping active is the best way to maintain strength and stamina as you age, and knowing that you are also doing your best to improve your general health and overall wellbeing can put your mind at ease. And don’t forget that prevention is better than cure! We can help you to prevent injuries and stop problems from developing, and if you are already experiencing any problems with your feet, talk to our experienced team to find out how we can help.
Foot Health can Indicate Health Problems
It’s fascinating to learn that approximately 25% of the total number of bones in your body are in the feet! Each foot has 26 bones, as well as several muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons, all of which come under significant pressure as you move around. This means that there is a huge potential for damage to the feet, and this can be very painful and limit your mobility.
There are many links between foot health and overall wellbeing, and it is useful to understand that a pain or sensitivity in the feet could indicate a problem elsewhere. Some of the changes in our health can be gradual and very subtle, but knowing your feet well and being aware of new symptoms can alert you to problems earlier, which can help you to seek effective treatment.
Here are some of the most common problems with the feet that can indicate general health concerns:
- Stiffness. If you notice that your feet feel stiff, this could be a sign that you have arthritis in other joints in the body, and you should see your doctor or ask for a referral to a rheumatologist for further examination. It can help to record where in your feet you are experiencing the pain or stiffness, and whether it is on both sides or just one.
- Swelling. Swollen feet may indicate several complex health problems, including high blood pressure or disease in the kidneys or heart. Some swelling may be considered normal, especially if the weather is hot and you have been standing for long periods of time, but if you notice abnormal or significant swelling, you should seek medical advice to rule out underlying health issues.
- Numbness or tingling. If you notice numbness, or a tingling or burning sensation in the feet, this could be a symptom of nerve damage, particularly if it is a persistent problem. This is more common in people with diabetes and neuropathy, whether related to diabetes or not, and you should seek medical advice if you are experiencing this for the first time or if the problem is getting worse. If you are diabetic, you should be working with professionals to keep abreast of any problems that develop in your feet, and you should notify them immediately if anything changes.
- Cold feet. Heart disease is one of the biggest killers worldwide, and an early sign of blocked arteries in the heart or the carotids is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), which often affects the feet. This is usually characterised by cold feet, or one colder foot, as circulation is slowed. You might also notice that your toes or feet look pale, blue or discoloured, or that your toenails are thick and yellow and do not appear to grow. Wounds or sores on the legs or feet that do not heal, or heal very slowly, can be another symptom, as can persistent leg cramps, tiredness, heaviness or pain in the feet and legs, especially if these wake you up at night.
Taking Care of Your Feet
Being aware of the symptoms to look out for is a great way to prepare yourself to identify potential health problems and take better care of your general health. However, you may be able to prevent the symptoms from developing at all by taking better care of your feet and your general health in these simple ways:
Eating a healthy diet. The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ may be overused, but it is true to a certain extent. If you are eating a diet that is rich in whole foods and mostly consists of fresh, home cooking, you are more likely to experience good physical and mental health and to maintain a healthy weight. Don’t be tempted to give yourself a punishing schedule of cabbage soup, as this will be off-putting and hard to stick to, but take the time to balance your tastebuds with your heart health and ensure you balance plenty of delicious options with a tasty treat now and again!
Exercising. Exercising is a key factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and increasing your physical activity with age is a good way to build bone health and increase longevity. Making choices that give you more movement in your daily life can be a really good way to increase your activity levels, such as getting off the bus a couple of stops early or treating your cleaning routine as a workout and going all out. This is also excellent for your mental health, which will benefit from regular bouts of activity and movement throughout your day.
Stopping smoking. If you smoke, your health is at risk. It can be difficult to stop smoking, especially if you have been a smoker for many years, but it is a vital way to protect your health and your general wellbeing and you will find many different options for support available from your doctor or pharmacist. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and cancers significantly, and giving up will have an immediate positive effect on your health.
Wearing good shoes. The footwear you choose will have a big impact on your feet and the way you move around. Comfortable, supportive shoes will be the best option for your body and at Foot Solutions, you don’t have to compromise on style or comfort. We have shoes for exercising, work and play and we can help you to find the best fit for your feet. Finding new shoes that will protect your feet from injury or pain can be game changing, and we often work with customers who have been living with pain in their back or legs for many years. Shoes that can turn this around make all the difference, and we love to hear great feedback about the difference this can make in their lives.
If you have not exercised recently, you should check with your doctor before taking on a new regime. If you are buying new shoes, you should always have them fitted by a professional fitter and consider custom orthotics to improve the fit if your feet do not feel comfortable or adequately supported.
Foot Health and Mental Health
Mental health is a very important aspect of general health and there appears to be a growing awareness of this in our society. If you have injured or damaged your feet, you will be unable to exercise effectively and this can increase feelings of anxiety and depression, as well as limiting your interactions with others, which can have the same results. If you are in pain often, or if you are uncomfortable as you walk around, you are likely to feel more negative about your daily life, and this can be problematic for your mental wellbeing.
Taking care of your feet can help you to banish stress and enable to you relax more effectively, so it can become a positive process of self care. You may find that sitting with your feet up helps to reduce daily swelling, or that giving yourself a regular foot massage helps you to feel more positive. Give yourself some time to consider the ways in which you can nurture yourself and your foot health, and you are sure to notice the benefits in your general health as well.
Visit Foot Solutions Today
Here at Foot Solutions, our range includes sandals, training shoes and work shoes and we have many years of expertise that enable us to find the best fit for you. We are committed to sharing the secrets of better foot health and we will be happy to help you find effective solutions for any foot problems you may be experiencing.
You can pop in and visit us in store anytime to find out more about our shoes and discover services such as custom orthotics and gait analysis. Take care of your feet to enjoy good foot health all year round and make the most of your general health, too.
