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foot doc

Heel Pain

heel-pain-blogHeel pain is one of the most common conditions treated by podiatrists. It is often a message from the body that something is in need of medical attention. Pain that occurs right after an injury or early in an illness may play a protective role, often warning us about the damage we have suffered.

Who Gets Heel Pain?

The greatest incidence of heel pain is seen in middle-aged men and women. It is also seen in those who take part in regular sporting activities and those significantly overweight and on their feet a lot. Heel pain can also occur in children, usually between 8 and 13, as they become increasingly active in sporting activities.

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Chilblains: What Causes Them & How to Treat Them

Chilblains are patches of red, swollen and itchy skin often caused by cold weather and sometimes exacerbated by poor circulation. Extremities such as the toes, fingers, nose and ear lobes are most at risk. Prevention strategies include keeping the whole body warm, and exercising regularly to improve peripheral circulation.

The toes are particularly vulnerable, but other extremities that can develop chilblains include fingers, ear lobes and the nose. Tight shoes can also contribute by irritating and pressing on the skin of the toes, especially the little toe. Despite the discomfort, chilblains don’t cause any permanent damage to tissue. Not everyone exposed to cold and damp conditions will develop chilblains, which leads some researchers to believe that those who do to be overly sensitive to changes in weather and temperature. The elderly, sedentary, teenagers and people with medical conditions such as anaemia are most susceptible.

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Understanding Diabetes and How it Affects the Feet

Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. This is because the body’s method of converting glucose into energy is not working as it should.

There are two common forms of diabetes:

Type 1, also known as insulin dependent diabetes. This usually affects children and young adults. People with this type of diabetes require daily insulin injections.
Type 2, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is by far the most common and usually affects people over the age of 40 years.

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