Items filtered by date: September 2016

According to research recently conducted by John Hopkins published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, “morbidly obese individuals were more than two times more likely to have heart failure than comparable people with a healthy body mass index.” It is estimated that about 5 percent of Americans living in the U.S. are considered morbidly obese, having a body mass index of greater than 35. It’s important to stay in shape through dieting and exercising in order to prevent the onset of life-threatening health issues such as heart disease.

Any additional problems in the feet of those with obesity can be detrimental to foot health. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Obesity and your Feet

Since your feet are what support your entire weight when standing, any additional weight can result in pain and swelling. Being overweight is one of the main contributors to foot complications.

Problems & Complications

Extra Weight – Even putting on just a few extra pounds could create serious complications for your feet. As your weight increases, your balance and body will shift, creating new stresses on your feet. This uneven weight distribution can cause pain, even while doing the simplest tasks, such as walking.

Diabetes – People who are overweight are at serious risk of developing type-2 diabetes, which has a drastic impact on the health of your feet. As you get older, your diabetes might worsen, which could lead to loss of feeling in your feet, sores, and bruises. You could also become more prone to various infections.

Solutions

Footwear – Specially made footwear that supports your joints, arches, and ankles, and allows room for good circulation is a great option to mitigate pressure and pain. A podiatrist will help you decide what works best for your specific needs.

Exercise – Exercise will help alleviate the pain and give your feet the strength it needs to support your body. Exercise also increases blood flow to your feet, allowing them to remain healthy and strong.

Most importantly, seek the help of a podiatrist for foot care if something is wrong or doesn’t seem to be working. A podiatrist will help you with any questions or information needed.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Fort Myers, FL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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Blisters are a fairly common foot condition that can be easily prevented with a few simple steps. The first step is to ensure the feet are always kept clean in order to prevent any germs or bacteria from penetrating the skin. Wearing the right pair of socks can also help support the feet and reduce friction, which can create blisters. Applying band-aids to any already existing blisters can help reduce excess heat or additional friction that can exacerbate the blister.

Blisters are prone to making everyday activities extremely uncomfortable. If your feet are contact Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will assist you with all of your podiatric concerns.

Foot Blisters

Foot blisters develop as a result of constantly wearing tight or ill-fitting footwear. This happens due to the constant rubbing from the shoe, which can often lead to pain.

What are Foot Blisters?

A foot blister is a small fluid-filled pocket that forms on the upper-most layer of the skin. Blisters are filled with clear fluid and can lead to blood drainage or pus if the area becomes infected.

How do Blisters Form?

Blisters on the feet are often the result of constant friction of skin and material, usually by shoe rubbing. Walking in sandals, boots, or shoes that don’t fit properly for long periods of time can result in a blister. Having consistent foot moisture and humidity can easily lead to blister formation.

Prevention & Treatment

It is important to properly care for the affected area in order to prevent infection and ease the pain. Do not lance the blister and use a Band-Aid to provide pain relief. Also, be sure to keep your feet dry and wear proper fitting shoes. If you see blood or pus in a blister, seek assistance from a podiatrist.

If you have any questions please contact our offices located in Fort Myers, FL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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Pedicures are very important when it comes to maintaining healthy feet. Prior to giving yourself a pedicure, you should soak your feet in hot water with bath salts or oils. Soaking your feet will help soften calluses and remove any unwanted particles from your skin. The next step in your DIY pedicure is to trim your toenails. Trimming your toenails will help prevent dirt from being trapped underneath them. You should be careful to cut straight across when trimming your nails, in order to prevent ingrown toenails. Be sure to file your nails in the same direction in order to avoid damaging your nails.

Every day foot care is very important to prevent infection and other foot ailments. If you need your feet checked contact Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep your pain free and on your feet.

Every Day Foot Care

Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. After all, without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks. It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before, for example.

For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops.

Also, wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Fort Myers, FL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.

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Novan is a company that has recently developed a treatment for infections caused by dermatophytes. One of these dermatophytes is Trichophyton rubrum, which is found in patients with Athlete’s foot. Novan’s product is an anti-fungal gel that treats skin and nail infections. However, the company is testing their gel with pathogens found in Athlete’s foot prior to assessing treatment of other fungal infections.  

Athlete’s foot is an inconvenient condition that can be easily reduced with the proper treatment. If you have any concerns about your feet and ankles, contact Dr. Dushack of APEX Foot & Ankle Center. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.

Athlete’s Foot: The Sole Story

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, can be an extremely contagious foot infection. It is commonly contracted in public changing areas and bathrooms, dormitory style living quarters, around locker rooms and public swimming pools, or anywhere your feet often come into contact with other people.

Solutions to Combat Athlete’s Foot

• Hydrate your feet by using lotion
• Exfoliate
• Buff off nails
• Use of anti-fungal products
• Examine your feet and visit your doctor if any suspicious blisters or cuts develop

Athlete’s foot can cause many irritating symptoms such as dry and flaking skin, itching, and redness. Some more severe symptoms can include bleeding and cracked skin, intense itching and burning and even pain when walking. In the worst cases, athlete’s foot can cause blistering as well. Speak to your podiatrist for a better understanding of the different causes of athlete’s foot, as well as helping you figure out which treatment options are best for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Fort Myers, FL. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.

Read more about Athlete’s foot.