As Thanksgiving swiftly approaches it is time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for in our lives. Most individuals will give thanks for their Family, their jobs and most importantly their health. If you are somebody who has issues with your feet or ankles and have been into a podiatrist’s office lately then I’m sure 1 of the things you may be thankful for this Thanksgiving is your Podiatrist! Whether you have lower extremity related problems or not, here are five reasons to be thankful for Podiatrists this Thanksgiving.
1) Diabetic Feet – One fact that many individuals do not understand is that of the 23.6 million Americans or 7.8% of US citizens that have been diagnosed with diabetes, podiatrists are one of their primary doctors that they visit on a normal basis. Diabetic feet are a tricky and sensitive concern that podiatrists deal with on a every day basis. Diabetics over time might develop neuropathy which is a loss of sensation which in diabetics starts in the toes and moves up the leg. Podiatrists work specifically hard with diabetics to make sure they are additional careful about their feet or they can develop potentially life threatening ulcers or infections.
2) Children’s Feet – Children make up a huge segment of a podiatrist’s patients. Something that may possibly surprise you is that podiatrists can work with kids as young as 6 months old in order to try and correct any deformity of the lower extremity. 1 common example is kids with club feet. Even though this deformity can look devastating to a concerned parent, podiatrists work with these youngsters over the years to literally straighten them out. Other prevalent conditions, such as in toeing, out toeing, toe walking, plantar warts, and ingrown toenails are also addressed usually.
3) Bunions – A bunion is a bony protrusion commonly located on the base of the big toe. If you have ever had a bunion you can attest that these deformities are annoying and at times painful. Fortunately there is a very common surgical procedure that podiatrist perform referred to as a bunionectomy that can correct this abnormality. If a bunion is caught early, basically wearing a custom orthotic can prevent surgery altogether!
4) Warts – Most individuals will contract a wart at some point in their life. Podiatrists have the leading edge technologies to take care of them if they develop on your feet. Podiatrists even will give you distinct choices for treatment, such as medication or treatment with a laser.
5) Nail and Skin infections – This is a wide category but a extremely essential one to be thankful that there are podiatrists to assist treat and cure these infections. 1 of the most widespread infections that podiatrists treat is onychomycosis. This is a fungal infection of the nail that can spread if not treated correctly. The critical thing to keep in mind is that several nail and skin infections can look quite similar. It is critical to get a podiatrists opinion if an infection develops on your feet.
We often don’t think about our feet until a issue occurs. This Thanksgiving, make a commitment to your self to go to with your podiatrist and make sure you stay on the road of proper foot health.