4 Heart Conditions Your Feet Are Warning You About
February is American Heart Month, so there’s no better time for us at New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group to speak on the specific cardiovascular conditions that have unique ways of talking through your feet. Understanding these signs can help you catch a heart issue early.
*Of course, always consult with a trusted doctor before taking any of this information to heart.
Congestive Heart Failure and Pitting Edema
Congestive Heart Failure occurs when the heart muscle becomes too weak or stiff to pump blood efficiently. And, because the heart cannot keep up with the return flow of blood from your limbs, the blood backs up in your veins.
The unique sign here is bilateral pitting edema. Unlike a swollen ankle from a sprain, CHF typically causes both feet and ankles to swell simultaneously.
If you press your finger into the skin near your ankle bone and it leaves a dimple or a pit that takes several seconds to disappear, it is a hallmark sign that your heart is struggling to manage fluid volume.
Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Coldness
Atrial Fibrillation is a rhythm disorder where the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating effectively. This can cause blood to pool and form small clots. And if one of those clots travels out of the heart and down into the leg, it can cause an acute arterial occlusion.
The warning sign in your feet for AFib is sudden and dramatic. The 6 Ps often describe it:
- Pain
- Paleness
- Pulselessness
- Paresthesia (tingling)
- Paralysis
- Being perishingly cold.
If one foot suddenly turns white, goes cold, and becomes incredibly painful while the other remains normal, it might be an emergency often traced back to an irregular heart rhythm.
Endocarditis and Janeway Lesions
Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. This serious condition can send small bits of bacteria and clotted blood through your bloodstream.
These can show up on your feet as Janeway lesions, which look like small, red, or bruised-looking spots on the soles of your feet. They are usually flat and, interestingly, they do not hurt.
If you notice strange spots on your soles while dealing with a fever or fatigue, it could be your heart signaling a deep-seated infection.
Coronary Artery Disease and Dependent Rubor
While Coronary Artery Disease specifically refers to the arteries in your heart, it is a systemic issue. If the arteries in your heart are narrowing due to plaque, there is a high chance the same is happening in your legs, known as Peripheral Artery Disease.
The sign to watch for here is dependent rubor. If you are sitting with your feet dangling and they turn a deep, dusky red or purple, but then turn ghostly pale the second you elevate them, it is a sign that your arterial system is severely narrowed and struggling against gravity to get blood to your toes.
If you’re worried about your foot pain, come see the expert team at New Jersey Podiatric Physicians & Surgeons Group. With more than 30 locations, from Newark, NJ, to Cape May, NJ, we value convenience and excellent service for our patients. To schedule an appointment, first find a podiatrist in your area.
