Your Feet Shows Signs of Illness

ctullochHeath Care, Medical

Your feet can show signs of illness well in advance. Medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and a lot of other disorders that are associated with the circulatory system and nerves show their initial effects on your feet.

You can tell if the person is unwell only by touching their feet. When unwell, your feet turn cold due to poor circulation. The colour of your toenail can also tell you about your upset stomach, weak liver and a lot of other stomach related issues. So, the next time you get cold feet (literally), visit a doctor and get yourself examined.

3 Did You Knows?… about Footcare.

ctullochHeath Care

You need to now just how amazing your feet are!  Feet are the windows to our overall health, our bodies foundation! 

Routine foot care can help prevent some serious conditions and maintain quality of life. 

  1. An ice massage can help relieve a painful bunion.
  2. The Thyroid gland is associated with nerves, and if not working properly can affect the sensation in your feet.
  3. Degenerative changes in your lower back can irritate the spinal cord, which could also affect the health of your feet.

Foot Facts Everyone Should Know

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Your feet work hard to support your body weight and take you wherever you want or need to go throughout the day, yet they are easily the most neglected part of the human body.  Some simple changes in our habits can help us  take better care of our feet.

Foot Anatomy

  • Each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments. You don’t have to remember the specifics, but the takeaway is to know that many structural elements come together to hold the foot together and allow it to move in various ways.
  • There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in the feet, and on average, they excrete around 1 cup of moisture in one day. Wearing socks made of natural fibres like cotton and wool instead of synthetic materials will help to create a more breathable environment.

Footwear

  • Wearing properly fitted footwear is very important to your foot health. If you are unsure of your size, you can have your feet measured before purchasing shoes. In addition, always try them on. Make sure to leave 1 inch or about a finger’s width between the longest toe and end of shoe.
  • To expand on the previous point, wear shoes that resemble the general shape of your foot. Avoid shoes with a narrow and pointed toe box, especially if you have Bunions. Keep in mind, there are shoe companies that make shoes of differing widths in addition to various lengths.
  • Wearing heels can shorten or tighten your calf muscle. A tight calf can lead to Achilles tendonitis or ankle equinus.
  • A pair of Custom foot orthotics can help to support, stabilize, and balance your feet, ultimately improving foot alignment and gait patterns. It is recommended to replace an orthotic every 2-3 years.

Footcare

  • Wash your feet daily and dry well in between the toes. Finish with daily applications of a urea-based moisturizer. This simple practice helps to reduce bacterial and fungal load and keep the skin’s integrity at its best. Your skin is the first line of defense against infections.
  • Trim your toenails straight across and not too short. This helps to reduce risk of breaks in the nail as well as Ingrown toenails.
  • The most common ailments of the foot include ankle sprains, Corns, Calluses, nail problems, and Plantar fasciitis.

Our nurses are trained to handle any and all your foot health concerns. From mild, to critical, we cover all sides of the foot needs spectrum. Call us to ask about actionable steps towards your solution today! 

Articles Worth Reading!

ctullochHeath Care

There are many articles that speak to the effect of nail polish. Here are just a few that we found informative. We encourage you to do your own research.

Health Risks Beneath the Painted Beauty in America’s Nail Salons!

Thu Quach, Research Scientist, Cancer Prevention Institute of California and Director of Community Health and Research, Asian Health Services and Consulting Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Sanford University. 2015.

Available online:

https://theconversation.com/health-risks-beneath-the-painted-beauty-in-americas-nail-salon-41660

This article lists three toxic and potentially hazardous ingredients that can be found in nail polish that have been linked to cancer and disruption of the endocrine system: toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate. According to the article, these three chemicals are nicknamed the “toxic trio” because of their serious health impacts. Nail care salon workers and clients are exposed through direct contact with the chemicals in the nail polish and through inhalation of the vapours.

Formaldehyde: Used as a nail hardening agent and also for disinfecting tools used for providing nail care. A known carcinogen.

Toluene: Is a solvent ingredient that allows the polish to spread smoothly and maintain pigments from separating in the bottle. It can affect central nervous system and caused reproductive harm.

Dibutyl phthalate: Is added to the nail polish to allow the polish to remain flexible. Exposure has been liked to reproductive problems.

 

Yes, chemicals in Nail Polish Can Leech Into Your Body.  Is it time to rethink your weekly mani ritual?

Anna Almendrala, Senior Healthy Living Editor, The Huffington Post

Available online:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nail-polish-chemicals-entering-the –body_us_5627e311e4b02f6a900f59c7

This article cites a study led by Duke University and Environmental Working Group that suggests “we absorb at least one potentially hormone-disrupting chemical every time we get a polish.” The article goes on to speak about triphenyl phosphate (TPP) which is known to be added to about 49% of the 3,000 nail polishes listed in the Environmental Working Group’s database, to make the nail polish adhere strongly to the nail.

The Duke University study- while it hasn’t proven that elevated levels of TPP actually hurt human beings, it does raise questions about the potential effects of low-level TPP absorption over time. It has identified a potential for TPP to interfere with hormones based on tests it has conducted on mice and fish.

It is interesting to note that Researcher Thu Quach (as referenced in the article) suspects that “as more companies remove the chemicals from nail polish, they’re replacing them with chemicals that may be just as harmful, or have the potential for harm- like TPP. As some chemicals are removed from nail polish, other chemicals are increasing in volume to replace them.”

 

Is Nail Polish Harmful?

New York Times. Ask Well Column. January 2, 2014. Is Nail Polish Harmful?

Available online:

https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/ask-well-is-nail-polish-harmful/

Janet Nudelman, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics states: “But certain groups maybe at higher risk. For dedicated polish enthusiastic, Ms. Nudelman recommends doing research to find the safest brands. The Environmental Working Group maintains a searchable cosmetics database at www.ewg.org/skindeep.

 

The Effects of Nail Polish on Oximetry

Cote CJ, Goldstein EA, Fuchsman WH, Hoaglin DC. Anesth Analg. 1988 July; 67(7):683-6

Available online:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3382042/

According to the abstract of the study on the effects of nail polish on pulse Oximetry, certain colors of nail polish can significantly lower oximeter readings of oxygen saturation. It is recommended that nail polish be removed routinely before pulse oximeter monitoring.

 

Surprising Things Your Nail Salon Doesn’t Want You To Know!

Available online:

https://www.footfiles.com/beauty/cosmetic-foot-care/article/surprising-things-your-nail-salon-doesnt-want-you-to-know

The article takes a look at nail salons and what has been known to be going on behind the scenes. One issue is ineffective sterilization of equipment, such as tubs, resulting in the spread of staph, boils, wart and toenail fungus to their clients. The article identifies the method of “auto clave as an effective way to sterilize equipment but identifies that only 1% of nail salons use on a regular basis”.

It is important to point out that Sole Pulse sterilizes all of its instruments using an Auto clave and uses disposable liners in its tubs if feet require soaking or washing. These are important infection control measures.