Your Heart, Your Feet and Your Health

Did you know that the leading cause of death for men and women is heart disease? February is American Heart Month and one of the best ways to fight heart disease is by exercising and maintaining an active lifestyle.  Exercise can help you lower your blood pressure, lose weight and control cholesterol levels—all of which can make your heart healthier. Your feet play a key role in fitness and they need to be properly cared for as well in order to maximize the benefits of exercise. At Southern Maryland Foot & Ankle we see many foot issues that result from exercise. These include:

• Blisters
• Plantar fasciitis
• Ankle sprains
• Corns and calluses
• Heel spurs
• Stress Fractures
• Turf toe

Foot Care Tips

An evaluation by our board certified podiatrist, Larry Hotchkiss, DPM can provide important information about your feet before beginning a new exercise routine. If you have certain foot defects, such as bunions or flat feet, there are sports and activities that should be avoided because they will aggravate your podiatric condition.

Footwear is perhaps the most important factor in maintaining foot health while you improve heart health. Your foot doctor can tell you whether your feet tend to pronate (your ankles roll inward) or supinate (too much pressure is put on the outside of your feet). The podiatrist can also determine whether orthotic inserts in your shoes will prevent foot and heel pain or other possibly harmful medical conditions. Other tips for choosing footwear are:

• Pick the right shoe for the activity you plan to participate in: running, court sports, walking or basketball all have shoes designed specifically for the movement and impact on your feet.
• Shop for fitness footwear at the end of the day when your feet are their largest and most swollen.
• Run your hand all around the inside of the shoes you plan to buy to make sure there are not rough spots or loose material that will rub and cause irritations to your skin.
• Choose shoes with a roomy toe box. There should be about ½ inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.

If you have other questions about fitness and your feet, make an appointment at either our Waldorf or Clinton office and find out how to get started living a more active lifestyle that will benefit both your heart and your feet.