12/09/2019    

PODIATRISTS IN THE NEWS

Feet Need to be "Aired Out" (But Not in Airplanes): NY Podiatrist

 

Air travelers have recently inundated Twitter with photos of inconsiderate passengers who have removed their shoes during flights. Last July, an American Airlines flight headed from Philadelphia to London made an emergency landing in Boston after an odor described as a "dirty sock smell” caused several crew members to feel woozy. Researchers believe that enclosing the foot traps sweat and increases foot temperature, all of which create ideal conditions for bacteria growth. 

 

Dr. Robert Kornfeld

 

According to New York podiatrist Robert Kornfeld, DPM, "If the foot is allowed to [air out] efficiently, you don't build up the breeding ground for bacteria." It’s difficult to keep feet dry, since the average foot contains 250,000 sweat glands. All together, these glands can produce up to a pint of sweat each day.

 

Source: Terry L. Stawar, News and Tribune [12/5/19]