EDITOR'S NOTE: "Standing Up for Good Foot Health is Crucial for a Sound Foundation " is the second of BlackAmericaWeb.com's four-part Operation Healthy Us series. Coming Thursday: Mental health.

Click here for "Targeting Obesity is Key to Tipping the Scales Back in Our Favor."

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The eyes may be the windows to the soul, but the feet are the body’s foundation.

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, the condition of one’s feet can say lots about one’s overall health. A number of systemic illnesses, such as diabetes, clogging of the arteries in the legs, anemia, heart disease and kidney disease, are first detected in the feet. Arthritis, including gout, often attacks foot joints first. Lower backache, headaches, indigestion and a misaligned spine can often be traced to problems with your feet.

And while many people associate foot problems with certain diseases, they don’t usually know exactly how much a foot exam can reveal.

“They know diabetes, but they don’t know or don’t want to know about some of the complications,” said Kirk Geter, DPM, chief of the division of podiatry at Howard University Hospital and president of the National Medical Podiatric Association. “A loss of sensation can sometimes cause sores and breakdowns in the skin. Poor circulation can lead to gangrene and possible amputation."

Geter told BlackAmericaWeb.com people often overlook foot problems because they don’t make the connection to a bigger threat and seldom go to the doctor if the inconvenience is minor.

“They don’t want to go (to the doctor) because they don’t see anything wrong, but the doctor may be able to recommend some changes -- different shoes, changes in shoe wear,” he said.

Some people believe corns, bunions and swelling just run in their families and don’t think of visiting a foot doctor or asking their internist or family physician to examine their feet.

“You inherit the same general characteristics from your family, but if you exercise more, wear different kinds of shoes or support hose,” you may be able to avoid some of the problems that other relatives experience, said Arnold Ravick, a podiatrist in private practice in Washington, D.C., and a spokesman for the American Medical Podiatric Association.

Some problems, he said, depend on the source. Women in their 30s and 40s may experience swollen feet because of hormonal changes or thyroid problems. Skin problems, especially skin cancer, can be detected during a foot exam.

“We see a lot of skin changes because people won’t put sunblock on their feet. Their feet are exposed, especially in the summer, because they’re wearing sandals. People, especially black people, think they can’t get sunburned,” Ravick told BlackAmericaWeb.com. “It’s not true. Skin is skin.”

“Eighty percent of the population has something wrong with their feet," he said, "at some point in their lives.”

Even drivers, said Ravick, experience foot problems.

“The way you brake and put your foot on the gas, unless you drive stick, will sprain the ankle because of the way you twist it when you go from the brake to the gas," he said. "Change the position of your seat so you sit up properly. A lot of what we do is repetitive, so we see more repetitive motion injuries.”

Ravick said arthritis and joint issues often show up in foot exams as well. Some of that, he said, is related to obesity. While obesity alone doesn’t cause foot problems, “every extra 20 pounds equals a ton of pressure on your feet. It affects the mechanics of how the foot functions.”

Even osteoporosis can be commonly picked up in a foot X-ray.

Ravick recommends people ask their primary physicians to check their feet during physicals. If you’re having a hard time getting a loved one to the doctor because he -- and it’s usually a he -- fears an invasive examination from a primary or family physician, a trip to the foot doctor might be a little easier to bear, Ravick said.

“When you catch things early, you do better,” Ravick said. “We are primary care in a lot of ways because we see people first. Women are better than men (about going to the doctor), but men are better than they used to be. Younger men are less tolerant of pain. The podiatrist can seem less threatening.”

And some of the things we know we shouldn’t do but do anyway really can come back to hurt us, the doctors said.

Those killer shoes that some sisters just have to have, even if the heels are too high or they feel just a bit tight, can exacerbate underlying problems.

“They need to make sure they’re wearing the proper shoe size,” Geter said. “If you were an eight 10 years ago, you may not be an eight now. Match up shoes with the activity. If you’re going to church, out for the evening, it’s okay to wear fashionable shoes. But if you take public transportation, walk or are on your feet a lot, we tend not to match up the shoe to the activity.”

If you already suffer from conditions that cause swelling, wearing the wrong shoes can make you susceptible to blisters, cut off circulation, cause compression of the nerves that then cause toes to go numb, said Jeter. With corns, calluses and bunions, people tend to ignore them until the problem is huge and then requires medication or surgery.

If you have diabetes, hypertension or are obese, your primary physician may recommend that you get some exercise, but Geter recommends getting your feet examined before beginning an exercise program.

“You should get checked out,” he said, “because you tend to lose tissue and lose support in the heel and in the forefoot,” that fatty area just below your toes. “Bones are not as strong as they used to be. Just stepping off the curb, they could risk a fracture.”

If you have underlying health issues, Geter said, your feet should be examined more than once a year, and when you have your annual physical, don’t hesitate to ask your primary doctor to examine your feet.

“This goes for children, too,” Geter said. “Kids tend to not complain unless they have a problem” that prevents them from running or playing.

Some foot problems develop as a result of a growth spurt when some children can grow into another shoe size in three weeks.

“Sometimes you have to ask, ‘Do your feet hurt in gym or physical education?’ Make sure your children are fitted properly,” Geter said. “You gotta check to make sure there are no bruises or bumps.”

Ravick said that if you experience an unfamiliar feeling in your feet, swelling, a change in size or color of if the skin begins to peel or crack, see a doctor immediately.

“The more people talk about their health, the better they do,” Ravick said. “Foot pain is not normal.”

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The National Medical Association offers the following advice for healthy feet:

1. Examine your feet daily.

Check between toes. Use a mirror to examine the bottom of your feet and get a family member help, if you need assistance. If you see any of these signs, call a podiatrist immediately:

Swelling (especially new, increased or involving one foot)
Redness (may be a sign of a pressure sore or infection)
Blisters (may be a sign of rubbing or pressure sore)
Cuts, scratches or bleeding (may become infected)
Nail problems (may rub on skin, cause ulceration or become infected)        
Maceration, drainage (between toes)

2. Examine your shoes daily.

Check the insides of your shoes, using your hands, for irregularities (rough areas, seams) and foreign objects (stones, tacks).

3. Groom your feet daily.

Wash your feet daily.
Use lukewarm water.
Dry the feet well after washing, especially between the toes.
If your skin is dry, use a small amount of lubricant on the skin.
Use lamb’s wool (not cotton) between the toes to keep these areas dry.

4. Make sure your shoes and socks fit properly.

Make sure shoes and socks are not too tight.
The toe box of the shoe should have extra room and be made of a soft upper material that can "breathe."
New shoes should be removed after five to 10 minutes to check for redness, which could be a sign of too much pressure: if there is redness, do not wear the shoe. If there is no redness, check again after each half hour during the first day of use.
Rotate your shoes. Do not wear the same pair everyday.
Ask your podiatrist about therapeutic (prescription) footwear, which is a covered benefit for diabetic patients in many insurance plans.
Tell your shoe salesman if you have diabetes.

5. Get good medical care.

See your podiatrist on a regular basis.
Ask your primary care doctor to check your feet on every visit.
Call your doctor if you observe any of the above danger signs.

6. Avoid the following dangerous acts:

Do not walk barefoot. Sharp objects or rough surfaces can cause cuts, blisters, and other injuries.
Do not use heat on the feet. Heat can cause a serious burn, especially if the patient has neuropathy.
Do not apply a heating pad to the feet.
Do not soak your feet in hot water.
Do not use chemicals or sharp tnstruments to trim calluses. This could cause cuts and blisters that may become infected.
Do not cut nails into the corners. Cut nails straight across.
Do not smoke. Smoking reduces the circulation to your feet.