Why Foot Health is So Important
It’s safe to say that most of us don’t spend much time thinking just how crucial a role our feet play on a daily basis, but they do in fact put on a lot of wear and tear throughout our lifetime. Not only do they hold up our body weight for long periods of time throughout the day, but they take on a lot of stress as well. When we go out for a jog, other exercises, or perform other activities that we may enjoy, our feet literally absorb tons of pressure and strain. Keep reading to discover why foot health is so important.
The overall health of your feet affects you more than you may know, and is not something that you should tiptoe around, no pun intended. It’s your body’s very foundation. Unlike a car, that is able to get new tires when the old ones wear out, we only come with one set of feet, and it’s critical that we take good care of them. Would you believe that the health of your feet can directly affect your overall health as well? It’s true. Here’s why your overall foot health is so important.
Did you know that your feet are made up of more than 50 bones between the two of them? That accounts for over ¼ of all the bones in your body, and that’s not all. Your feet also consist of about 200 muscles, 60 joints, along with ligaments and tendons that allow you to be mobile. With so many intricate foot members to look out for, a foot injury or fracture is very likely if you don’t take proper care of your feet.
It may sound like the other way around, but remaining active and moving around is actually a good thing for your feet, and for other parts of your body. If you are experiencing pain in your feet that is keeping you off of them for a long period of time, like a painful callus or arthritis, it can directly affect your weight, energy, loss of muscle mass, pain in your ankles and legs, or even cause serious heart problems. If this is you, think about getting in to see a foot specialist, because staying on your feet will keep you healthier.
I confess I LOVE red nail polish. These are not my feet, I would fall in flip flops, but they sure look cute! Wearing the right footwear that’s comfortable is also extremely important. See to it that you’re wearing tennis shoes or work shoes that fit your feet properly while providing the right amount of support.
Wearing high heels or flip flops for daily activities can be rough on your feet, and something you need to reconsider. Having the right shoes for your feet can keep bunions, hammertoe, corns, blisters, and calluses from unpleasantly showing up.
Maintaining good foot hygiene is another thing for you to think about. Even if you don’t shower on a daily basis, it’s a good idea to wash your feet every day. That’s because your feet sweat and take on moisture, along with bacteria. Not washing them with soap and warm water regularly can allow athlete’s foot, foot fungus, or other problems to develop.
I have really dry feet, similar to the picture below with cracked heels. My whole life I have walked around barefoot. I’m just not a slipper or shoes in the house person. Of course, if I go to the grocery store I wear shoes. Two of my favorite foot creams are these: O’Keeffe’s Healthy Feet Foot Cream or Vermont’s Original Bag Balm
Another thing to consider is that our feet are parts of the body that are the furthest away from the heart. Your heart has to pump blood throughout your arteries all the way down to your toes, which is a huge task. If you are Diabetic, I highly recommend you get a referral from your regular doctor regarding which foot doctor or other specialist would be appropriate to do a pedicure or to treat your feet for current problems.
People who have diabetes or other medical conditions like peripheral arterial disease, may not be receiving the blood and oxygen to their feet that they need. This can cause major complications and other health issues all throughout your body and may lead to amputation. That’s why it’s important that people that struggle with these conditions should get their feet checked regularly by their doctor.
A few years ago, a friend called me from an airport as she was preparing to fly back east for a family visit. Well, she is a Diabetic and said her one foot really hurt. She had scratched her foot and really didn’t think much of it. Her husband thought her foot looked like it was just bruised. She sent me a picture of her sore foot, which I can’t really share on my website. I immediately called her and told her to get to a hospital, that I thought she had gangrene growing on her foot.
By the time she got on the flight and flew to her destination, she was rushed to a hospital that thankfully dealt with trauma patients. She did in fact have gangrene and she ended up staying back east in a hospital for almost 2 months. It was touch and go whether she would lose her foot, toe, or several toes. She was truly blessed and did recover, but her foot will never be the same. We really can’t take our “feet” for granted.
To keep your feet healthy it’s imperative to maintain good hygiene. Make sure that you wash and clean them with soap and warm water regularly, and don’t walk around outside barefoot. Failing to do so can cause foot fungus to grow and cause discomfort and discoloration.
Keep them dry and change your socks every day to keep athletes foot away. It’s also important to keep your toenails trimmed and don’t try and take care of corns and calluses on your own. It’s best that you get in to see a foot specialist for those and other serious concerns that you might have. Please keep prepping, we must. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Feet in field of yellow flowers Deposit photos_6408634_s-2019, Person Walking in Tennis Shoes Deposit photos_28423393_s-2019, Dry Cracked Feet Depositphotos_8214700_s-2019, Podiatrist Treating Patient Depositphotos_241085064_s-2019, Feet in Flip Flops Depositphotos_26222199_s-2019
Great advice, Linda. I’m going to quit wearing flip-flops, and buy some supportive shoes!
Hi Roxanne, I LOVE flip flops but now I’m afraid I may fall. I’m still a barefoot girl! LOL! Stay well, Linda
Open toed shoes have cost the life of many a person. Flip-flops worn outside the shower should be a criminal offense lol. Air them out but that footwear isn’t the solution but rather the soon to be problem.
I’ve had jungle rot in the army which has led to other foot fungus issues on and off through the years. As I’ve aged dry cracked feet have become more of an issue in the winter too.
You’ll never see one movie fighting zombies, shooting terrorist or running from the plague walking on their hands. There’s a reason for that.
You gotta take care of the wheels or you won’t be operational.
Hi Matt, man, that statement “You gotta take care of the wheels or you won’t be operational” nails it!! Thank you! The flip flops should be a criminal offense, now I have the giggles! You made my day! Linda
I live in a Senior apartment complex and it is amazing how many women here (all over the age of 62) who wear flip flops AND fall. One neighbor fell and broke her wrist; another one seriously damaged one of her hips (not needing replacement yet); and another one broke her ankle. All because A) they were wearing flip flops or open toe slip on sandals and B) they did not pick up their feet!
Something that amazes some of my neighbors is that I can have my back to them and know who it is by the fact that they shuffle their feet! I know that is probably coming in a number of years but to this day, I can feel my mother tapping the back of my head if I shuffled my feet!
Another thing that I have noticed is that people often purchase shoes that are too narrow across the toes. I quit wearing shoes that are “cute” just because they don’t fit my short, wide, flat feet! My doctor sent me to a podiatrist one time and he wanted me to wear an arch support. I made it 2 hours in before I HAD to remove the insert. I tried the next day and my feet were killing me. I have always had flat feet and trying to “force” my feet to adjust to something un-natural was, well, un-natural!! I told that podiatrist that I simply was not going to be able to create an arch just because he wanted me to. Foot comfort was #1 for me. Anyway, getting shoes that are comfortable and fit well is sometimes difficult and expensive but I am worth it!
Hi Leanne, I’m with you, the shuffle is not good! It’s all about comfort now! I’ve also found I need to slow down and not hurry so much. I have fallen twice in the last few months and I had a hard time getting up. It’s something I hate to admit but it’s my life now. So, I slow down when I can and race through Costco holding onto a shopping cart. Oh, how life has changed. Good shoes are key, for sure. Yes, we are worth the price of good shoes! LOL! Linda
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
I’m Linda Loosli. I’m the owner and editor of Food Storage Moms. I’m so happy you’ve found us. Our goal at Food Storage Moms is to help “one family at a time.”
Download my FREE Emergency Binder.
This Site is affiliated with CMI Marketing, Inc., d/b/a CafeMedia (“CafeMedia”) for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and CafeMedia will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. To learn more about CafeMedia’s Privacy Policy, click here.
Food Storage Moms, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Why Foot Health is So Important
Research & References of Why Foot Health is So Important |A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source
0 Comments