Submitted by Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates
You exercise regularly, eat well, maintain an active lifestyle, and take your medications as prescribed every day. You’re doing everything you can to age gracefully and beautifully, but are you overlooking an aspect of self-care that’s fundamental to overall good health — your feet?
By the time you’re 50, your feet will have carried you for 75,000 miles, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. You can be in otherwise great shape, but if you don’t take care of your feet, you can end up feeling every one of those long miles! Feet that hurt or don’t look their best can undermine your overall physical and mental well-being.
Foot care should be something you practice on a regular basis. Some common foot problems you can treat on your own, while others might need professional care. Did you know, according to a recent study by Kramer Labs, fungus conditions are the second most-common foot ailment among adults 45 and older, right behind corns and callouses? As you age, conditions such as nail fungus, athlete’s foot, corns and callouses become more prevalent.
Here are some foot care tips and treatment options:
- Toe fungus is more common in older people, so be alert for signs. A nail that turns white, green, yellow, or brown, or becomes thicker and pulls away from the skin could have a fungal infection. Toenail fungus is an infection that occurs when there is an opening within or under the nail plate allowing fungus to enter into the body. It can take a long time to develop and is usually not painful in the beginning, so it’s easy to ignore and hope it will go away — which it won’t! There are many different treatment options available including prescription creams and topical medications as well as laser treatments.
- Athlete’s foot is also a common foot problem among older people. If you already have poor circulation, diabetes, or psoriasis, you may be more likely to develop this fungal condition. Watch for signs of athlete’s foot such as itching, redness and burning, flaking, peeling, and cracking of the skin. Keep nails short, dry, and clean; change socks daily and avoid walking around barefoot in public places. If you do develop athlete’s foot, at-home treatment is usually successful. However, see your podiatrist if the condition is recurring or does not get better.
- All those miles your feet have walked over your lifetime can add up to calluses and corns — especially if you’ve worn shoes that don’t fit very well. According to the APMA, simple ways to treat corns and calluses include soaking your feet, filing the corn or callous, and wearing padding in comfortable shoes. However, if yours are causing you pain or you have diabetes, poor circulation, or another serious illness, you should have your feet checked by a doctor.
- If you run, jog, or power walk for your health, it’s important to wear good shoes and be aware of the signs of heel spurs. A heel spur is a bony growth that develops on the underside of the heel bone as a result of strain on the muscles and ligaments of the foot. Spurs may cause you no problems or can be quite painful. Common remedies can include simple stretching exercises, switching to better-fitting shoes, and over-the-counter pain relievers. For severe or persistent pain, you should consult your doctor.
Taking steps to take care of your feet can help you maintain your overall health, and have your feet feeling as young-at-heart as the rest of you.
Dr. Jarod Spencer has joined Dr. Lockwood and the team at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates. If you have any foot problems, contact them at 309-661-9975 or visit them online at www.HeartlandFootandAnkle.com. Their office is located at 10 Heartland Dr. in Bloomington.