Foot Injury or Disease Can Compromise Overall Health: NY Podiatrist
Keeping your feet in good health matters more than you think. “Feet are the foundation of your skeleton,” says podiatrist Jacqueline Sutera, DPM. “Foot injury or disease can often lead to compensation in other areas of the body, which will compromise overall health.” And keeping your feet in tip-top shape goes way beyond just giving yourself a pedicure. It’s important to keep the skin on your feet (and your toenails, too) healthy and intact, she says, noting that compromised tissue can let in bacteria, viruses, and fungus—and those microbes can spread up the leg and into the body.
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Dr. Jacqueline Sutera |
But keep an eye on what’s going on beyond the way your feet look, Dr. Sutera says. “Circulation or blood flow is essential. If your legs and feet have decreased circulation, even small infections—like ingrown toenails, blisters, calluses, cuts, or splinters—can lead to limb and life-threatening infections,” she says. “And when it comes to the nervous system, the nerves in your feet are also responsible for balance, as well as temperature and pain indicators.”
Source: Tehrene Firman, Well and Good [5/15/20]
