As the chill of winter grips Britain, many are slipping on cozy socks and luxuriating in hot baths to combat the frigid temperatures. With the cold snap settling in, chilly feet have become a familiar sensation for many.

Yet, experts caution that what seems like a benign discomfort could be a warning sign of a more serious underlying condition.

Medical authorities have previously highlighted that consistently cold hands and feet might be the silent indicators of a potentially life-threatening issue.

Recently, NHS physician Dr. Amir Khan underscored the importance of paying attention to this condition for the sake of your health.

In a message to his 785,000 followers on Instagram, the familiar ITV figure noted, “I know feet can be off-putting for some, but they can reveal important health clues, from pain and swelling to numbness.”

Here are five warning signs you should be aware of…

Cold feet or toes

“This could be 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.”

Burning or tingling pain

Dr Khan also warned a burning or tingling sensation in the feet might indicate peripheral neuropathy, a condition characterised by nerve damage.

He continued: “It’s more common if you have poorly controlled diabetes but also you can get it if you have low B12 or folic acid level, if you have thyroid disease, if you drink a lot of alcohol and certain medication can it as well.”

Pain in bottom of your foot

He also revealed that discomfort in the bottom of your foot during walking could suggest plantar fasciitis – an inflammatory ailment.

“That’s inflammation of the tissue underneath your foot and it normally gives you a sharp stabbing pain in your heel,” he said.

The medic highlighted the ache can feel as though there’s a stone in your shoe, and you may have a stress fracture – when you’ve damaged one of the bones in your foot but it isn’t immediately obvious.

Sore or ulcer on your foot

Dr Khan stressed a fourth warning indicator as “really important”.

He declared if you develop an ulcer or wound on your foot that won’t heal, ensure you get it checked.

Particular skin cancers can appear as a stubborn sore.

He added: “But remember wounds need good food and oxygen and good blood flow to heal well.”

Swollen feet

Finally, a common problem people notice with their feet is puffiness.

Dr Khan remarked: “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.”

He also noted you might experience puffy feet if you’ve got problems with your liver, your kidneys or even your heart.

You can also develop swollen feet if you’re overweight or pregnant or taking certain medicines.

“I would always get unexplained swelling checked,” Dr Khan concluded.