A TV doctor has urged people not to dismiss warning signs appearing in their feet. Dr Amir Khan took to social media to highlight what your feet might be revealing about your overall health.

He listed several symptoms, including cold feet or toes, burning or tingling sensations, pain in the soles of your feet, slow-healing wounds, and swelling. While some of these indicators point to minor ailments that may not need medical attention, Dr Khan cautioned that others could signal more serious underlying conditions. In some cases, he recommended consulting a healthcare professional.

Dr Khan explained: "If you suffer from cold feet or toes and that's unusual for you, that could be a sign of circulatory problems, a condition called peripheral vascular disease. This means there's a problem with the very small blood vessels in your feet and it's restricting the blood flow to your feet. It can be a sign of poorly controlled diabetes, high cholesterol, and is more common if you smoke.

"If you have burning or tingling pain in your feet, then this could be a sign of a problem with your nerves, a condition called peripheral neuropathy. It's more common if you have poorly controlled diabetes again, but also you can get it if you have a low B12 or folic acid level, if you have thyroid disease, if you drink a lot of alcohol, and certain medication can do it as well."

The NHS explains that peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves in the body's extremities, such as the hands, feet and arms, become damaged. The symptoms vary depending on which nerves are affected.

In the UK it's estimated that nearly 1 in 10 people aged 55 or over are affected by peripheral neuropathy. It's crucial to consult a GP if you experience the early symptoms.

It's also advised that those at highest risk of peripheral neuropathy, such as people with diabetes, undergo regular check-ups.

"Now, if you have pain in the bottom of your foot when you try and walk and you can't remember injuring it, well, that could be a condition called plantar fasciitis," Dr Khan continued. "That's inflammation of the tissue underneath your foot and it normally gives you a sharp, stabbing pain, usually in your heel.

"It can feel a bit like a stone in your shoe. You may also have something called a stress fracture where you've broken one of the bones in your foot, but you might not remember it because it's not obvious through injury, but it's from overuse activities that put too much pressure on your foot. Or you may have some arthritis in your foot or maybe even an inflamed tendon."

According to Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, plantar fasciitis is a fairly common foot condition that affects between 10 and 15 per cent of people. The trust explains: "It can occur at any age. It is sometimes known as "policeman's heel". When placed under too much stress due to abnormal loading, the plantar fascia stretches causing micro tearing and degeneration of the tissue.

"It can lead to pain in the heel, across the sole of the foot, and sometimes into the arch area of the foot too. These micro tears repair with scar tissue, which is less flexible than the fascia and can cause the problem to persist for many months. However, approximately 90% of cases are treated successfully with conservative treatment."

The trust notes that whilst there's no established cause, the condition is most prevalent in individuals aged over 40, affecting both active and sedentary people alike.

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Dr Khan emphasised another crucial point: "This is really important. Have you got a sore or ulcer on your foot that won't heal?" He urged people to seek medical attention, explaining: "Always get that checked. Some skin cancers can present with a sore that doesn't heal. But remember, wounds need good food and oxygen and a good blood flow to heal well. And if you have poor circulation, diabetes, again that isn't well controlled, all of these can negatively affect those things and prolong the healing process, as well as increasing your risk of infection.

"Super common. Have you got swollen feet? Well, this can happen if you spend lots of time on your feet through the day and it's much more common in the summer months. Usually, it's nothing to worry about and all you have to do is elevate your feet when you get home.

"But you can get swollen feet if you have problems with your liver, your kidneys, or even your heart. You can get swollen feet if you're overweight or pregnant or taking certain medication. You can get swollen feet in arthritis, infections, and sometimes even with a blood clot, even especially if it's one-sided.

"And I would always get unexplained swelling checked. In fact, any symptoms with your feet that's unexplained and going on, get them checked."