Keep Feet Healthy

We squeeze them into ill-fitting shoes and heels, don'tvary the heel height, between low, medium and high.
always wash them and rarely pamper them.7. Be shoe savvy. Wear high heels and pointed shoes
 for special occasions only, and always wear the right
No wonder three-quarters of adults have had footshoes for the job (so no sandals for mountain
problems in the last five years. The good news isclimbing). 
that looking after your feet can prevent most of the8. Change your socks daily.
problems.9. Wear flip-flops to avoid catching athlete’s foot
Your feet take the weight of your whole body, soand verrucas when you use public areas such as gym
foot problems can quickly lead to discomfort andshowers, swimming pools or hotel bathrooms. 
affect the way you walk. This can in turn cause10.  But don't wear flip-flops continuously when the
knee, hip and back pain.weather is hot. They don't provide support for your
So it’s well worth investing a bit of time andfeet and can give you arch pain and heel pain if you
thought into giving your feet the care they deserve.wear them all the time.
Ten top tips Â Source: Podiatrist Emma Supple
  
Your feet produce an eggcup’s worth of sweatFor those over 60, foot care becomes even more
every dayimportant. Age takes it toll: the skin thins, the joints
 begin to stiffen and the feet become more
1. Don’t go to bed without washing your feet. Ifvulnerable to the cold. Not only that, but as podiatrist
you leave dirt on the skin’s surface, it canEmma Supple says, "Physically, it gets more difficult
become irritated and infected. Wash your feet everyfor us to get to our feet, and failing eyesight
evening with soap and water.doesn’t help."
2. Dry your feet thoroughly after washing them andEmma’s advice is simple: "Go to see a
apply a special moisturising foot cream (not bodyprofessional for a foot MOT every six months and
lotion).never put up with foot pain as if it is normal. Your
3. Gently remove hard skin and callouses with afeet shouldn’t hurt." 
pumice stone or foot file on a regular basis. Foot facts
4. Always trim your toenails straight across, never at- Each foot contains 26 bones and over 100
an angle or down the edges. This can causeligaments.
ingrown toenails.- Your feet contain over a quarter of the bones in
5. Shop for shoes in the afternoon. Feet swell as theyour body.
day goes on and if shoes fit in the afternoon when- The skin on your feet has over 7,000 nerve
your feet are at their largest, you can be assuredendings.
they will be always be comfortable.- There are over 125,000 sweat glands on each foot,
6. If you have to wear heels at work, wearmore than anywhere else in the body.
comfortable shoes to and from the office and only- Your feet produce an eggcup’s worth of
wear your smart shoes in the office. Also, try tosweat every day.