The month of April is recognized as foot health awareness month. Having healthy feet is important to maintaining the health of your entire body. Your feet are often overlooked because they aren’t in easy reach, like other parts of your body, and are often covered up with shoes. However, by keeping your feet healthy you can avoid possible foot problems that can impact your overall health. As we age, it becomes even more essential to take care of our feet. Here is a look at some of the causes of foot problems, common foot ailments and some tips to maintaining foot health.
Reasons foot health is important:
- Your feet support the rest of your body (knees, hips, spine)
- Feet problems can affect the rest of your health
- The health of your feet can indicate how your overall health is doing
- You can catch any problems sooner and avoid complications
- What can cause stress to your feet:
- Exercise
- Certain shoes
- Standing and walking
- Certain health conditions
- Foot injuries
- Common foot problems:
- Here is a list of some common foot problems and foot related complications: Blisters, bunions, ingrown toenails, fungal infections, warts, diabetic neuropathy, Athlete’s foot, heel spurs and more. See the full list here: https://www.healthline.com/health/foot-problems#common-conditions
- Recommendations for keeping healthy feet:
- Foot pain should not be ignored
- See your doctor and/or podiatrist for any and all foot concerns
- Wear appropriate shoes for your feet
- Inspect your feet regularly
- Keep your feet clean and dry
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise them appropriately
- Trim your nails regularly
Below are the sources used, along with additional resources for foot health:
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/foot-health/foot-health-basics.aspx
- https://www.apma.org/AboutUs/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1207&navItemNumber=24270
https://www.healthline.com/health/foot-problems#common-conditions
