From your head to your toes, there are red flags you might not know about that could indicate a health problem.
Feet
Let’s start with your feet. While they can’t talk in the literal sense, they can say a lot about what’s going on inside your body.
“We can definitely see evidence of different disease processes in the feet, whether it’s on the skin or in the toenails, or just in general,” explained JoyRowland, DPM, a podiatrist for Cleveland Clinic. “Say a patient presents with swelling of the skin or the feet, sometimes it’s related to heart disease, or kidney disease, or lymphedema, or vascular disease. We can also see evidence of dermatological problems like psoriasis.”
CLEVELAND CLINIC: Diabetes-RelatedFoot Conditions | Foot Pain
Rowland says she can also tell if someone has poor circulation or even diabetes based on the appearance of their feet, which can come as a surprise for some.
They might have thought their pain was isolated to their feet and then discover it’s actually due to another medical condition.
For example, someone experiencing numbness or tingling in their feet could have nerve damage from perhaps a back injury.
Rowland says in those kinds of situations, she will order additional tests to help confirm the suspected diagnosis.
And it’s not just your feet that can indicate something is wrong, your toenails can too.
“If you happen to come into a podiatrist’s office with thickened toenails, they’re crumbly, they’re brittle, a podiatrist can evaluate you, take a culture, and determine if you have psoriasis, if you have a fungal nail infection in your toenails, or also something called nail dystrophy,” Rowland said. “Nail dystrophy is different from the others as it’s related to repetitive injury to the toenail. So even if you have a thickened yellow crumbly-type toenail, it’s not always nail fungus.”
Rowland warned sometimes people will endure foot pain or discomfort for years before finally coming in to get examined, but she urges you not to delay as it could impact the type of treatments available.
Tongue
Now, take out a mirror and stick out your tongue. It may sound silly, but there’s a reason to do it regularly. What you see could say a lot about your overall health.
“Most normal tongue colors are pink, though shades may vary from a lighter pink to a darker pink. You’ll see papillae and taste buds, and those are the little bumps. Those belong on the tongue and are part of the taste receptors and how we enjoy our food,” explained Dr. Marianne Sumego, a primary care physician with Cleveland Clinic.
When it comes to tongue color, Sumego said any color aside from pink may signal something’s wrong:
- A yellow tongue can indicate poor oral hygiene
- A red tongue may mean you have a vitamin deficiency
- A blue tongue can develop due to something as serious as a lack of oxygen in your blood
With all this in mind, Sumego said it’s important to see a medical provider if you notice any color changes -- or if lesions start to appear on your tongue.
“Check for any lesions on the tongue, particularly those that are plaque-like, or smooth patches. One is called leukoplakia, which causes painless white or gray patches to develop,” Sumego explained. “There’s also erythroplakia, which causes red lesions. If those aren’t healing or changing, then consult your physician or dentist.”
Sumego stresses it’s best to check your tongue regularly and follow up on anything that looks unusual.