7 Foot Problems That Can Be Serious

If you want to know the state of your health, try looking down. “There’s no question it’s extremely important that people pay attention to their feet,” says Terry Philbin, D.O., spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and a foot and ankle specialist at the Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center in Westerville, Ohio. The condition of your feet can give you clues to a host of medical issues, such as diabetes, arthritis, and even heart disease. Read on to find out what to look for and what it may mean. 1. Pain “There’s no pain that should be ignored,” says Jane Andersen, D.P.M., a podiatrist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Any type of pain—new or prolonged—warrants a visit to your primary care doctor or podiatrist. Pain in the feet can signal a host of conditions, from fractures to plantar fasciitis (inflammation in the tissue that connects your heel bone to toes), to arthritis. Noting the time of day when the pain occurs can give you a hint as to the cause.  Pain in the morning, when you first get up, can point to arthritis or plantar fasciitis. With both conditions, pain will recede as the foot loosens up throughout the day. A common cause of heel pain, plantar fasciitis often affects runners, and people who are overweight. Wearing high heels, or shoes that don’t have enough arch support also raises the risk. Dr. Andersen often se...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news