Long-distance relationships can be tricky. Your feet and ankles, for example, are about as far from your heart as any part of you can get, so circulatory problems tend to hit them particularly hard. To complicate matters, your feet are constantly working throughout the day, just like your heart. That tireless effort means they can suffer complications that worsen over time.
Georgia Podiatry wants to keep patients in the know this year, especially when it comes to lesser-known yet useful info. To serve that goal, we’ve put together this blog post concerning some of the more common circulatory issues that affect the feet and ankles. Read on to learn what you should watch for.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
When arteries supplying blood to your legs narrow or become blocked, the cold creeps in. PAD affects over 200 million people worldwide, often presenting as:
- Numbness or tingling in the toes and feet, especially in cold weather.
- Pain, cramping, and fatigue in the legs that worsens with activity.
- Diabetes increases the risk of developing this condition.
Venous Insufficiency
Think of your veins as the return highway for blood. When they struggle to pump blood back to your heart, it can pool in your legs, leading to:
- Swelling, particularly in the ankles and calves, is often worse at the end of the day.
- Discoloration of the skin, ranging from reddish-brown to purple.
- Aching or heavy feeling in the legs, especially when standing or sitting for long periods.
Diabetes
The high glucose levels that go hand in hand with diabetes can damage the lining of your blood vessels and your nerves as well. In severe cases, this can lead to:
- Loss of sensation in the feet, making injuries and infections go unnoticed.
- Charcot’s deformity, a progressive condition in which the bones of the feet and ankles weaken and misalign.
- Foot ulcers that are slow to heal and can become infected, leading to potential amputation.
If any of the issues above are causing you discomfort, don’t wait to treat them; Georgia Podiatry is here to help! Dr. Evan Brody, Dr. Harshil Patel, Dr. Erin Cupolo, and the rest of the staff at our Kennesaw and Austell locations are ready and eager to help treat your feet. Call us at 678-310-0540 to make an appointment today.