Six Tips for Healthy Holiday Feet
Sore feet should never be on the guest list to your holiday parties. Keep your feet health and enjoy a pain-free holiday season with these six tips.
Festive Footwear
The holidays are a busy time and your feet need extra attention to carry you through this season’s shopping and events. Narrow shoe, high heals and new shoes that aren’t worn in yet can irritate feet and cause blisters, calluses and even ankle injuries. Find a shoe that is supportive with a low heal that properly fits your foot’s length, width and depth while standing.
Pedicure Safety for your Mistletoes
Nail salons are the perfect place for relaxation and pampering but they can also be a breeding ground for bacteria—including MRSA. Be vigilant when selecting a salon, look around and verify they follow proper sanitation practices as licensed by the state. You may also consider bringing your own pedicure instruments with you to your next appointment.
Watch Out for Snow and Ice
Snow makes for a picturesque backdrop for the holidays but it can create hazardous conditions. When walking outside, always be mindful of snow and ice patches along your way. The ankle joints are vulnerable to serious injury from a spill on ice. If you happen to fall, take a break from activities until you can see me or your podiatrist. Use RICE therapy—rest, ice, compression and elevation—to help reduce pain and control swelling around the injury.
Avoid Overindulging in Holiday Treats
Your feet can be affected by enjoying too much of certain foods. Foods and beverages high in purines including shellfish, red meat, red wine and beer can trigger gout—an extremely painful condition when uric acid builds up and crystalizes around your joints. Uric acid is sensitive to temperature changes so the big toe is most often affected first as it is the coolest part of the body.
Don’t Let Jack Frost Nip at your Toes
Dropping temperatures can be detrimental to your foot health. It’s important to wear insulated, water resistant boots and moisture wicking socks to prevent frostbite, chilblains—an inflammation of the small blood vessels when hands or feet are exposed to cold air—or other cold-weather related injuries to the toes or feet.
Watch Your Feet
Keep an eye on your feet and regularly check them for any evidence of ingrown toenails, bruises, swelling, blisters, dry skin or calluses. If you notice any problems, pain or swelling, make an appointment with my office as soon as possible.
Dr. Ruth Ann Cooper
Regenerative Medicine is using medical procedures that promote self-healing. Swift treatment for warts was approved by the FDA in late 2018. The procedure was developed in Scotland and has been used in the United Kingdom for several years. I have been using the Swift treatment for warts for several months. What is Swift and how does it work? Swift microwave is designed to promote your local immune response and allow your body to heal itself. Swift treatment results in a degree of localized tissue stress promoting a healing response, recruiting antibodies and stimulating a heat shock production. Swift treatment of warts has shown positive results for my patients. I have seen as many as twenty-three warts resolve as a result of the Swift treatment. No medication, no bandages and non-invasive. You can find out more on the Plantar Wart Therapy page on my website.
Dr. Ruth Ann Cooper
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