Why a trip to a podiatrist could save your life!
- Michelle Reynolds
- Dec 5
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 9
Save your life? Really? After all we only cut toenails and remove corns right?
Well actually no...
During your initial consultation, and annually after that, we perform a thorough assessment, a little like your annual dental check up. During this check up we assess the condition of your skin on your legs and feet – looking for things like eczema, psoriasis, infections, skin cancers; the quality of the blood flow to your feet and the neurological status of your feet – i.e. how well can you feel things, are your toes numb and vulnerable to injury?
As a result there are a few ways in which podiatrists can detect potentially life threatening conditions during this assessment.
Here at Michelle Reynolds Podiatry we assess your circulation – blood flow to your feet – using a hand held machine called a doppler. This uses ultrasound technology and allows us to listen to your pulse at several points in the feet. One of our podiatrists recently wrote a blog about dopplers, read it here https://www.michelle-reynolds-podiatrist.co.uk/post/doppler
As well as assessing the quality of these pulses we are also able to hear if the pulse has a regular or irregular rhythm. The heart should beat at an even rhythm which we can hear when listening to your pulses.
Sometimes this rhythm is irregular, which in some people can be normal. However it can indicate a condition called Atrial Fibrillation (AF), and it is for this reason that every time we detect an irregular heart rhythm we refer you to your GP for a more thorough assessment and support.
AF is a common heart condition that causes an irregular heart rate which is often abnormally fast. AF is a risk factor for stroke. In fact it can make you up to 5 times more likely to have a stroke and around 25% of people who had an AF related stroke were unaware they had AF! There are approximately 12,500 AF-related strokes in England every year. AF related strokes are generally more severe than non AF strokes.
AF is known to affect around a million people in the UK, with a further estimated 425,000 thought to be undiagnosed. Almost one in 10 people aged over 65 are affected by the condition, which can have these symptoms: chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. However AF commonly displays no symptoms.
AF can happen to anyone, including people who are otherwise fit and well. It usually affects adults and your risk goes up with age. It’s more common in people with conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnoea or overactive thyroid. It’s also more common in smokers and those with excess alcohol consumption. In many patients no underlying cause can be found for the irregular rhythm.
Irregular heart beats are fairly common, but need assessing to determine the underlying diagnosis. As a result, upon hearing any irregularity your podiatrist will write and refer you to your GP who will make all the necessary checks, implement any treatment if required and refer on to a specialist where appropriate.
For more information about atrial fibrillation and how it can cause a stroke visit here:
and
Who knew your podiatrist could help prevent you having a stroke!
If you require a podiatry appointment you can contact us via email info@mrpodiatrist.co.uk or call 0161 427 4937