June is Men’s Health Month
June is a month for men. We celebrate all our fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and here at NY Foot Health, we want to add to the celebration by recognizing Men's Health Month. We want all our men to stay healthy and especially to take good care of their feet. When it comes to health, men, in general, are not as diligent in making and keeping appointments for regular health exams as women are. They may also be less likely to seek out medical help promptly when something goes wrong. Below are some common foot health problems men encounter and what to do about them.
Bunions—yes, men get bunions too. An inherited defect in the bony structure of the feet is often to blame for bunions. If your father has them, then there's a good chance you will too. Bunions can also develop from wearing shoes that are too tight and narrow in the toe box. A large, bony bump on the base of your big toe accompanied by pain, stiffness, and redness are the telltale signs of a bunion. Bunions are a progressive condition and will not go away on their own.
Achilles tendonitis—shooting pain above the heel and below the calf muscle in the back of the lower leg often signals an inflamed Achilles tendon. This is common in athletes who overdo it or try to start a new exercise program too quickly. Running stairs and hills aggravates the Achilles tendon, as does switching to a low-profile shoe.
Ingrown Toenails—since men's feet tend not to be on display as much as women's, it's not uncommon for a painful ingrown toenail to develop to a state where it's red, swollen, and nearly impossible to touch before a patient notices it. If you believe you have an ingrown toenail, you can try soaking your foot in Epsom salts and warm water for 15 minutes or so and then gently try to massage the nail out of the skin into which it has grown. Avoid sharp instruments to try to pull the nail out. The podiatrist can do it if you cannot remove it. Keeping nails trimmed straight across and not too short can help prevent ingrown toenails from forming.
Be sure to encourage the men in your life to get foot pain and unusual symptoms evaluated promptly. Like most conditions, foot problems usually get worse, not better, if untreated. If you need to find a podiatrist, consult our online directory.
To learn more about foot health for the whole family, contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.