Health from Head to Toe

More than just the window to the soul, your eyes can also shed light on health problems – from heart disease to diabetes. A regular eye exam does more than test your vision and checks for common eye problems. Some symptoms detected during your yearly exam could indicate:

• Gallbladder and liver disease. Jaundice, or the yellowing of the eyes, can be a sign of severe problems with your gallbladder or liver, including infection or cancer in one or both organs.
• Heart disease. Small plaque deposits in the eye can indicate decreased blood flow due to heart disease.
• Diabetes. Vision experts recognize that blood vessel leaks and retinal swelling are signs of diabetes. In 2017 more than 400,000 cases of diabetes were discovered through eye exams.
• High blood pressure. The vessels in your eyes are as affected by high blood pressure as the vessels in your heart. Some signs are blood in the eye (like when you sneeze too hard) or swelling.
• Colon polyps. Gardner syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, causes multiple growths in the colon and bony tumors in the skull. This disease can be detected if there are dark areas or lesions on the retina.

On the other end of the body, your feet are your foundation. Caring for them is one of the easiest ways to maintain your independence. These basic foot care guidelines can help keep your feet:

• Clean and smooth. Wash your feet every day, and finish with a foot cream to keep your skin moisturized.
• Stay dry and comfortable. Towel dry between your toes after you wash, and wear moisture-wicking socks.
• Check up and shape up. Don't wait until you have foot pain to check your feet for problems. Look every day for blisters, bruises, sores or swelling. Your feet also benefit from daily exercise — whether it's walking or simply stretching your toes.
• Choose well. Select shoes that fit well and support the arch and heel of the foot. Stick to low heels, and avoid flip-flops, which change the way you walk and don't protect you from foot and ankle injuries.

Certain foot problems can signify a more significant complication, such as diabetes, poor circulation or arthritis.

Talk with your doctor if you notice a sore on your foot that does not heal, unusual coldness or cramping in your feet, a change in the shape or structure of your foot or pain when you walk that stops when you rest.

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