2 Subtle Foot Changes That May Signal Heart Trouble
It’s officially Heart Awareness Month, and we at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists are pumped to share everything we know about your feet and circulation. Here’s something to be aware of: feet can signal cardiovascular issues in much more subtle ways that have nothing to do with fluid retention. In fact, there’s one sign that often goes unnoticed: missing toe hair.
Missing Toe Hair
It sounds like a joke or a strange quirk of aging, but the sudden loss of hair on your toes and lower legs is a credible clinical sign of Peripheral Artery Disease, which is a direct extension of heart disease. Your hair follicles are tiny, living organs that require a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to produce hair.
Because your toes are the furthest point from your heart, they are the first to lose their supply when your arteries begin to narrow due to plaque buildup.
So, if you used to have hair on your toes and now they are smooth and shiny, it’s a sign that your circulation is under fire.
Shiny, Brittle Skin and Slow Growth
We must talk hair loss’s partner-in-crime: atrophic skin changes. When coronary or systemic arterial issues compromise the blood flow to your feet, the skin itself begins to change texture. You might notice that the skin on your feet and shins looks unusually tight or has a waxy, polished sheen. This happens because the skin is essentially malnourished.
Along with the hair loss, you might notice that your toenails have become brittle or have stopped growing entirely. If you find that you haven’t had to trim your toenails in months, or if they have become thickened and yellowed without a fungal infection, your heart and arteries might be struggling to pump blood effectively.
Why This Matters for Your Heart
The reason these signs are so important is that atherosclerosis is rarely localized. If the arteries in your legs are narrowed enough to kill off toe hair, there is a very high statistical probability that the arteries serving your heart are in a similar state.
Medical research shows that patients with PAD have a significantly higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
By paying attention to these subtle signs in your feet, you can catch cardiovascular issues in their early stages.
If you’re experiencing foot pain, discomfort, or changes in how you walk, come see the expert team at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. With locations in Tucson and Oro Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., are here for you. Call us at (520) 575-0800 or contact us online!
