Say “Thanks” to Your Feet

At Goldsmith Podiatry, as our Manhattan patients prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, we want to remind everyone to be grateful for your feet. As you shop, decorate, cook, and prepare for the big feast, remember what enables you to get all that done—your feet! The average person will walk about 115,000 miles in their lifetime, so taking care of your feet and ankles now is essential for ensuring future mobility.

Below are some ways to show gratitude for them that you may not have thought of:

Have a seltzer instead of a soda

A can of cola has 39 grams of sugar in it—seltzer has zero. Too much sugar in your diet can lead to weight gain. Being overweight can increase the risk and severity of many common podiatric problems. In addition, elevated blood glucose levels and being overweight increase your risk for diabetes—a disease that can have devastating consequences for your feet.

Switch your socks

Choose socks that wick moisture away from your feet. Our feet can produce up to half a pint of sweat daily from their 250,000 sweat glands. Feet that sit in damp socks are more likely to develop fungal infections.

Take a dance class

Regular exercise comes in many forms and intensity levels. It benefits your feet and the rest of your body by keeping weight down and improving flexibility. A dance class may have the added benefit of improving your balance and lowering your fall risk.

Quit smoking

You already know this is good for you but may not realize the direct benefit to your feet. Smoking impedes circulation, and since your feet are the part of your body farthest from your heart, decreased circulation is likely to affect them first. With poor circulation, wounds, and injuries take much longer to heal, and infections are difficult to cure.

Don’t put off getting podiatric pain or unusual symptoms evaluated

Our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, and Dr. Kristina Ruff, will examine your feet and determine the source of your discomfort. Treating foot conditions in their early stages is the best way to ensure a good long-term outcome.

Contact us today and make an appointment at our Upper West Side office by calling 212-877-1002