For the past few months, my feet have been sheathed in socks
and slippers like cave fish, hidden from the light. But with summer around the
corner, it’s time for them to emerge.
اضافة اعلان
In preparation, I carefully inspect every inch of my feet to
ensure they are ready to show to the world.
When I told Dr. Paul Greenberg, an assistant professor of
orthopedic surgery at the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University,
that I give my feet a thorough once-over every spring, he told me to step it
up.
Your feet should be examined daily, he said, because their
condition can provide important warning signs about your overall health.
Suddenly swollen feet can indicate high blood pressure, said
Dr. Kirk Geter, chief of podiatry at Howard University Hospital. Swelling can
also be a sign of gout or kidney problems, Geter added, and tingling and
numbness in the feet can indicate diabetes.
So, each day, you should inspect the bottoms and tops of
your feet — as well as between your toes — and wiggle your toes around, Geter
said. Look for cracks in the skin, redness, changes in nail color, numbness,
sores that won’t heal, and swelling, he said.
“And if something doesn’t feel right or look right, then you
probably need to get it checked out,” he added.
Here are a few summer-specific ways to keep your feet
healthy.
Rethink flip-flops
Most flip-flops offer little to no arch, heel and ankle
support, said Dr. Stephanie Wu, a professor at the Dr. William M. Scholl
College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and
Science in Chicago. Wearing them can exacerbate many foot conditions, such as
arch pain and plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the tight band of
tissue on the bottom of the foot.
If you do wear flip-flops, don’t mow your lawn in them.
Emergency room visits involving injuries “where people decide to mow their
lawns wearing flip-flops, trip, and end up running the lawn mower over their
foot” aren’t uncommon, Wu said.
Protect yourself from germs
Exposing our feet in summer makes them more prone to
infection, Wu said. And public swimming areas and locker rooms are filled with
microorganisms that thrive in warm, damp areas, she said, causing ailments such
as athlete’s foot and plantar warts. She recommended wearing stable waterproof
shoes in those areas.
And, as delightful as a barefoot walk on the beach can be,
Geter (who has extracted sea urchin spikes and shells from patients’ feet)
suggested donning water shoes.
There’s also the matter of hygiene. Even responsible sandal
wearers can collect grime on the bottoms of their feet, Geter said, so clean
your feet with an antibacterial wipe when you arrive home to kill viruses.
Don’t forget the sunscreen
When applying sunscreen, make sure to slather your feet,
said Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, an assistant professor of dermatology at Mount
Sinai Hospital. Just like skin on the rest of our body, she said, the tops of
the feet and the soles are prone to sunburn and skin cancer.
According to the American Podiatric Medical Association,
skin cancer can develop on any part of the feet, including under the toenail.
So, you should opt for at least 30 SPF sunscreen and remember to reapply often
when you’re out in the sun.
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