Three Ways You Can Improve The Health Of Your Feet

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One person has estimated that you will walk all the way around the earth five times in the course of your lifetime. That is a lot of steps! With all the work your feet are doing, it is important to take good care of them. Here are three things you can do to improve the health of your feet. 

1. Examine them daily. When is the last time you really looked at your feet? Every time you put on your socks in the morning study your feet for a few seconds. How are your toenails looking? If they are yellow or discolored, you might have a toenail fungus developing. Do your nails need to be clipped? Long toenails will make your toes hurt. Do you have any corns or warts developing? Do you have any moles or freckles on your feet? How do they look? Watch for any changes in your feet so that you can solve any problems that arise before they turn into anything serious.

2. Don't ignore foot pain. If you have any pain in your feet, take note of it immediately. Pain is your body's way of getting your attention. If the pain is on the bottom of your feet, look for warts and corns. If your feet are itching, look for any white spots that may indicate athlete's foot. These things are easily treated with over-the-counter medications. If the pain is not localized, check out your shoes. Poor fitting shoes can cause all kinds of pain in your feet, ankles, and even calves. If changing your shoes doesn't help, see a podiatrist at a clinic like Foot First Podiatry Centers. He or she can help you narrow down what is causing your pain.

When your feet are hurting:

  • elevate your feet to improve circulation
  • soak your feet in warm water and Epsom salts
  • massage them with lotion and essential oils (lavender and roman chamomile are great for helping your muscles relax)
  • wrap them in warm towels or place them on a heating pad 

3. Learn about reflexology. Many people believe that foot pain can be an indication of other health problems. Alternately, massaging various points in your feet might be able improve your health in other areas. For example, there is a point in your arch that corresponds with your bladder. There is another on your big toe that corresponds with your head and neck. If you are having unexplained foot pain, look up which body parts that area of your foot corresponds with. You might be able to solve your foot pain be resolving an issue somewhere else in your body. 

Take the time to really get to know your feet. You will be able to prevent many serious problems by taking care of your feet now. Good luck!

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