Examine your feet every day as they can provide health warning signs

NEW YORK – For the past few months, my feet have been sheathed in socks and slippers like cave fish, hidden from the light. But with summer around the corner, it is time for them to emerge.

In preparation, I carefully inspect every inch of my feet to ensure they are ready to show to the world.

When I told Dr Paul Greenberg, an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University, that I give my feet a thorough once-over every spring, he told me to step it up.

Your feet should be examined daily, he said, because their condition can provide important warning signs about your overall health.

Suddenly swollen feet can indicate high blood pressure, said Dr Kirk Geter, chief of podiatry at Howard University Hospital. Swelling can also be a sign of gout or kidney problems, he added, and tingling and numbness in the feet can indicate diabetes.

So, each day, you should inspect the bottoms and tops of your feet – as well as between your toes – and wiggle your toes around, said Dr Geter. Look for cracks in the skin, redness, changes in nail colour, numbness, sores that will not heal, and swelling, he added.

“And if something doesn’t feel right or look right, then you probably need to get it checked out.”

Here are a few ways to keep your feet healthy.

Rethink flip-flops

Most flip-flops offer little to no arch, heel and ankle support, said Dr Stephanie Wu, a professor at the Dr William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago. Wearing them can exacerbate many foot conditions, such as arch pain and plantar fasciitis – an inflammation of the tight band of tissue on the bottom of the foot.

Protect yourself from germs

Exposing our feet makes them more prone to infection, said Dr Wu. And public swimming areas and locker rooms are filled with micro-organisms that thrive in warm, damp areas, she said, causing ailments such as athlete’s foot and plantar warts. She recommended wearing stable waterproof shoes in those areas.

And, as delightful as a barefoot walk on the beach can be, Dr Geter – who has extracted sea urchin spikes and shells from patients’ feet – suggested donning water shoes.

There is also the matter of hygiene. Even responsible sandal wearers can collect grime on the bottoms of their feet, Dr Geter added, so clean your feet with an antibacterial wipe to kill viruses when you return home.

Do not forget sunscreen

When applying sunscreen, make sure to slather your feet, said Dr Rosemarie Ingleton, an assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Just like skin on the rest of our body, she noted, the tops of the feet and the soles are prone to sunburn and skin cancer.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, skin cancer can develop on any part of the feet, including under the toenails. So, opt for at least SPF 30 sunscreen and remember to reapply often when you are out in the sun. NYTIMES