WEB DESK: A disease might be cured if diagnosed at early stage. For this purpose, you have to examine your body really carefully although it is not possible at home  and only an expert can determine those symptoms.

However, there are ways through which a person can tell if there's anything wrong within their body as these signs appears externally. Like face, eyes and nail, you feet can reveal about diseases all you need is to pay attention.

Bald toes

Arterial disease could be diagnosed if the fuzz on your toes disappears. It indicates poor blood circulation which is caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD). DPM, a podiatric surgeon at North Shore University Hospital in New York, Suzanne Fuchs says,"Signs of PAD can include decreased hair growth on the feet and ankles, purplish toes, and thin or shiny skin." It's symptoms are precise but it could be found out by examining healthy pulse in the foot or even spot PAD on an X-ray. Gary A. Pichney, DPM, a podiatric surgeon of The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center, further says,"If I take an X-ray of a broken foot, and I see a hardening of the arteries, 99 percent of the time, the same thing is happening in the heart blood vessels."

Ulcers that don't heal

It might be Diabetes. Nerves damage causes by poorly treated glucose levels and it cause poor blood circulation as well. Hence. blood doesn't reach the feet. It creates hurdle in healing a wound if in case caused by irritating shoes. Marlene Reid, DPM, a foot specialist in Naperville, Illinois says,“Many, many people with diabetes are diagnosed first because of foot problems.” 

Dry, flaky feet

Thyroid problems might make your feet dry and flaky. If you apply moisturizer and still feel dryness then get your medical checkup done. As when the thyroid gland stop functioning as it should - it stops producing thyroid hormones which is essential for metabolic rate, blood pressure, skeletal and nervous system development and tissue growth. Marlene Reid, DPM, a foot specialist in Naperville, Illinois says,“Thyroid problems cause severe dryness of the skin, adding,“When we see cracking on the feet, or if moisturizer doesn’t improve dryness over a few days, we usually refer patients to their primary doctor to make sure their thyroids are OK.” 

Tiny, red lines under the toenail

Tiny red lines under toenail could be a heart infection. It could be broken blood vessels which are called splinter hemorrhages. It happens when tiny capillaries under nails damaged by small blood clots. These red lines indicates endocarditis, an infection of the heart’s inner lining. This is alarming as if this condition is left untreated - it might cause heart failure.

Source: Reader's Digest