New research shows that having chilly feet increases the risk of catching a cold, flu, or other viruses. According to Dr. Ron Eccles, director of Cardiff University’s Common Cold Centre, most people carry the bugs which cause colds and flu in their nose already without them showing the symptoms that make them ill. If the temperature of their feet drops, however, a change is initiated in the body that causes their nose to become cold, increasing the likelihood of the development of a full-blown cold. While children who are actively playing and joggers typically don’t have cold feet because they are running, children who are often sitting stationary are at a higher risk of getting cold feet and catching a virus. “If you can’t afford to catch a cold—for example if you’ve got an illness like bronchitis—you should keep your nose warm in winter, wear warm shoes and don’t let your feet get wet,” Dr. Eccles said.
Everyday foot care is important in maintaining overall health. For more information about everyday foot care, consult with Dr. Zahid Ladha of Foot First Podiatry. Dr. Ladha will provide you with the foot- and ankle information you seek.
Every Day Foot Care
Often, people take care of their bodies, face and hair more so than they do for their feet. But the feet are a very important aspect of our bodies, and one that we should pay more attention to. After all, without our feet, we would not be able to perform most daily tasks. It is best to check your feet regularly to make sure there are no new bruises or cuts that you may not have noticed before, for example.
For dry feet, moisturizer can easily be a remedy and can be applied as often as necessary to the affected areas. Wearing shoes that fit well can also help you maintain good foot health, as well as making it easier to walk and do daily activities without the stress or pain of ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or even flip flops.
Also, wearing clean socks with closed shoes is important to ensure that sweat and bacteria do not accumulate within the shoe. Clean socks help to prevent athlete’s foot, fungi problems, bad odors, and can absorb sweat.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office, located in New Albany, IN. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all of your foot ankle injuries.