Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Apr 29, 2009: Happy Feet

Often feet give us the first signs of serious illness. Arthritis, diabetes, and nerve and circulatory disorders show their initial symptoms in the feet. It’s important to pay attention and take good care of your feet, both for comfort and for overall health.

Did you know your foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles? In fact, one-fourth of all the bones in the body are in the feet. The best exercise for all those bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles is walking. Our bodies are built from the ground up, so to speak. A good goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day. That’s about 3.5 miles, and you might be surprised how close you already come just living your life. You can invest in a pedometer that counts your steps for about $10. You can also get a step-counter as an iPhone app.

You may be as shocked as I was to learn that there are 250,000 sweat glands in a pair of feet. That’s why your shoes get stinky if you don’t air them out. A couple of simple rules may help. Don’t wear the same shoes two days in a row. Buy shoes that are a little bigger than you’re used to, especially in the toe area. Wear cotton socks. J. C. Penney is one of the few stores with inexpensive 100% cotton socks.

Here’s another factoid: the skin on the sole of the foot is four times thicker than the skin on the rest of the body. I’m not sure how that translates to foot care, but it’s interesting.

A few simple health precautions will pay dividends in healthier feet. Wash your feet every day with a mild soap. Use a fungicidal soap if you have foot odor or fungus. The skin between the toes is more prone to infection. Dry your feet carefully, especially between the toes. If you put lotion on your feet, avoid this area. Trim your toenails straight across. Let blisters dry out on their own. Just cover them with a dry, sterile bandage. Never pop them, as this can lead to infection.

Check your bare feet every day. Treat minor cuts and blisters right away. If you notice an ulcer, red spot, swelling, or sore, consult a doctor. Remember that foot problems can be early warning signs of serious illness. Take care of your feet, and keep your whole body healthy.

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