The Feet & Heartbeat Connection

New discoveries are being made every day in the vast world of modern medicine. Sometimes you see two different realms of medicine and might never consciously think about how they might overlap. It might surprise you to know that two realms of the medical world that overlap are podiatry and cardiology. There are several ways this can happen, actually! In many cases, it’s a cardiological condition that leads to podiatric symptoms and side effects. The biggest overlapping factor here is circulation. Many health conditions lead to circulation problems, from high blood pressure to diabetes, and nerve disease.

In the case of diabetes, many doctors see overlapping issues from the excessive swelling that can affect the feet and ankles, especially in uncontrolled diabetes. This swelling can lead to further damage to the nerves and result in chronic, non-healing ulcers. When left unaddressed and untreated, uncontrolled diabetic ulcers can leave only one choice for the doctor and patient: amputation. Given this unsettling information, it’s important to know how you can tell if the symptoms you’re seeing in your feet and ankles might indicate a larger cardiological issue.

When you face a foot or ankle injury, does it take forever to heal?

Have you ever struggled with healing from cuts, scrapes, or blisters on your feet?

Does anyone in your family have diabetes, or other conditions with comorbidities, like congestive heart failure, nerve disease, artery disease, or hypertension?

Are your feet or ankles constantly puffy, even just slightly, on a daily basis?

Contact James C. Ricketti, DPM and let us address all your foot and ankle needs. Our board-certified podiatrist will tailor treatments based on your individual needs and with our state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, we’ll help you get back on your feet in no time! Call our office today at 609-587-1674 to make an appointment at our conveniently located Hamilton, NJ office.