As humans, we are always caught up in our daily living activities, from going to work, shopping, socializing, and so forth. With these busy lifestyles, most of us tend to neglect or forget to take good care of our feet. Feet issues can adversely compromise one’s mobility and their potential to live a normal life. If these issues are disregarded, they can lead to serious health problems.
For instance, something as simple as failing to trim your toenails can cause nail deformity and damage the skin to the adjoining toes. This is because long nails tend to harbor pathogens and dirt. Habitually wearing the wrong shoes could also lead to foot joint problems or even infections such as athlete’s foot. If your feet are not at their best, you can hardly function. The reasons to take good care of your feet are literally endless. Here are some tips on how to keep your feet well and healthy.
Maintain Proper Hygiene and Sanitation
A Majority of foot problems are caused by poor hygiene and lack of proper grooming. For happy, healthy feet, ensure you clean them with soap and dry them thoroughly after taking a shower. Don’t be in a hurry to dry the feet, especially between the toes. Wearing your socks or shoes on moist feet could cause athlete’s foot, which is not only painful but very itchy. Men should wear cotton socks, to suppress fungal growth and moisture.
When walking in highly trafficked areas such as the gym, it is best to keep your feet on. This is because as highlighted at https://www.healthysole.com/hai-transmission, surface contact is among the ways pathogens are transmitted. The soles of the shoes also carry pathogens, transmitting them to the surfaces you step on. This is why regularly sanitizing floors and other surfaces can help lower the risk of foot infections and other topical ailments.
Exercising
The feet are very central in a person’s life. They contribute largely to the physical and emotional well being, they help us to balance, walk, and even stand. Poor foot health can enormously hinder your productivity either at home or at the workplace. It can drastically affect your physical movement, which could lead to further health issues like obesity or diabetes. Engaging in simple exercises will definitely give you pretty healthier feet. Exercising the feet can tremendously improve your overall foot health. It also reduces the risk of injury and improves your cardiovascular health. Some simple foot exercises you can try include walking, tip-toeing, toe rises ankle pumps. Exercising your feet will enable them to gain more strength, and improve flexibility.
Trim Your Toenails Regularly
When was the last time you trimmed your toenails? Well, one thing is for sure. A majority of people overlook the importance of trimming their toenails. Failure to trim your toenails can result in an ingrown toenail in your skin, which causes immense pain in the foot. It can also lead to a grave infection. Here are some tips for toenail trimming.
- Avoid cutting your nails too short or keeping them too long
- Trim them to an appropriate length and file them
- Use a disinfected clipper to trim the nails
- Disinfect the clipper before and after trimming your nails
- Store your trimmer in a clean place
Buy the Right Shoe Size
When it comes to buying shoes for your feet, comfort should surpass style. Buying a smaller fit, for instance, will irritate and swell your feet. This can cause detrimental damage to your feet and open up a door to other problems in your body. For the women, don’t buy high heels or stilettos simply because it’s trendy and pretty. It might end up doing more harm than good. Buy a comfortable heel or flat shoe for days when you’ll need to walk a lot. A shoe that fits too tight can also cause blisters, corns, neuromas, or bunions. For workouts, you will be better off with a breathable, moisture-wicking, supportive, and comfortably-fitting pair of shoes.
Finally, visiting your doctor at least once a year for a foot check-up is a good way to reservice and treat your feet. A doctor is better placed to detect red signs such as nerve damage, which you may not notice easily. The doctor will test the pulse on your feet and catch any other damage like blisters, calluses, and corns. However, even as you visit the doctor, do not forget to do your own regular check-up daily. This helps you to keep watch for any sign of damage or health problems.
