Did you know that nearly a quarter of all the bones in your body are found in your feet? While many of them may be tiny, they all play a critical role in carrying your body where you want to go and performing everyday activities. In recognition of National Osteoporosis Awareness Month, we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists want to offer patients information about this crippling disorder that affects bone strength.

Recognizing Bone Density Problems

About 54 million Americans have osteoporosis. Unfortunately, you can’t feel your bones getting weaker and many patients don’t get diagnosed with this condition until they break a bone. That’s one more reason why it’s important to not put off getting foot pain diagnosed. Stress fractures may only exhibit annoying pain and swelling that’s not constant. Anytime you are experiencing foot or ankle pain, it’s critical that you make an appointment at our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can examine your foot and determine if a fracture has occurred.

Assessing Your Risk

The foot doctor will also get a complete medical history from you and can help identify other risk factors for osteoporosis. In addition to being over the age of 50, these include:

• Excessive or extreme dieting in the past
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Certain diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, breast or prostate cancer, sickle cell or Parkinson’s disease to name a few
• Being very thin and having a small body type
• Post-menopausal
• Some medications, such as certain chemotherapy drugs, steroids, lithium, thyroid hormones and a few anti-seizure medications

Making Choices for Healthy Bones

Fortunately, there are many ways you can build stronger bones:

• Get enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Although milk and dairy products are the best- known sources, you can get calcium from other foods like canned fish, leafy greens and seeds. You can also try foods and beverages that are fortified with calcium and vitamin D and/or take a supplement to reach the desired daily intake.
• Don’t smoke.
• Exercise regularly. Giving your bones a regular workout keeps them strong. Choose muscle-strengthening and weight-bearing types of activities.
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol.

If you have concerns about bone strength or are experiencing foot pain, contact us today.

In May we celebrate Older Americans Month. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, one of our goals is to educate our patients about the best ways to be proactive about their podiatric health. For senior patients, falls are a problem that can cause debilitating injuries like fractures and ankle sprains to the feet (or the rest of your body). You may be shocked to learn that every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall. Below are some fall risks you may have never thought about.

Foot Pain that’s Untreated—when your feet or ankles hurt, it can cause you to alter the way you walk to avoid the pain. This can throw you off balance and cause a trip or fall. This is why it’s essential that you don’t put off seeking treatment for foot pain or other symptoms like stiffness or numbness. If you are experiencing any discomfort in your lower extremities, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can diagnose your problem and prescribe the correct treatment.

Medication Changes—certain drugs or combinations of drugs can cause dizziness or lightheadedness. It’s a good idea to periodically review the complete list of medications you are taking with the pharmacist or doctor to find out if there are any negative interactions or side effects that could lead to a fall.

Neglecting Eye and Ear Checkups—poor vision or hearing loss will definitely contribute to your ability to navigate your environment safely. Follow your doctor’s recommended schedule of checkups and update prescriptions for glasses and/or hearing aids promptly.

Lack of Exercise—the less active you become, the more likely that joints will stiffen and range of motion in your knees and feet will decrease. This can cause you to stumble. In addition to your regular exercise regimen, consider a class that specifically focuses on building balance to further reduce your risk of falls.

Inadequate Lighting—stairways that are dim or hallways you need to use at night to get to the bathroom should all be properly lit so that you can see clearly – even at night.

Worn Out Shoes—shoes that are stretched out or have holes or worn treads can be a tripping hazard. Toss shoes when they no longer fit properly.

Preventing falls is just one way to protect your foot health. If you have questions about other foot care issues, contact us today.

As soon as temperatures begin to go up in Middlesex County, we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists know that patients can’t wait to shed their socks and start wearing sandals and other open styles of footwear. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and a good time to share some facts about this disease, which can occur on the skin of your feet. Below are some common myths and why you shouldn’t believe them.

MYTH: Skin cancer is a relatively minor form of cancer.

FACT: Skin cancer is actually the most prevalent form of cancer with over 5 million new cases being diagnosed each year. Deaths from melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, are expected to increase by 22% in 2019.

MYTH: Skin cancer isn’t normally found on your feet.

FACT: The skin on your feet is just as susceptible to skin cancer as the skin on the rest of your body. For this reason, it is necessary to take the same precautions from the sun and to engage in the same level of vigilance with regard to performing self-exams on your feet. In fact, skin cancers on the soles of the feet or between the toes are often not diagnosed until a later stage of the disease. Patients don’t think to examine that part of their body for potential signs of skin cancer.

MYTH: Indoor tanning beds are okay as long as you use sunscreen.

FACT: Indoor tanning beds cause more cases of skin cancer than smoking causes cases of lung cancer. UV radiation is a proven carcinogen. People who have used tanning beds in the past have a 67% increased risk of developing skin cancer in the future.

MYTH: I only need to apply sunscreen to my feet if I am spending a day at the pool or beach.

FACT: Sunscreen should be applied to your feet any time they will be exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time. Even a day of running errands or sight-seeing while wearing sandals or flip flops will expose your skin to the harmful UV rays of the sun. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher about 30 minutes before going out. On beach or pool days, reapply every two hours (to tops and bottoms of your feet) and after swimming.

If you notice any unusual freckles or spots on your skin, or if a mole you’ve had for a while appears to be changing, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can evaluate your symptoms.

Did you know that you have 33 joints in each of your feet? That’s a good reason for us at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC to recognize National Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis afflicts nearly 54 million adults and 300,000 youth in our country. It is the top cause of disability. Protecting the health of the joints in your feet and ankles is an important component of living an active life. Food choices can play a big role in both preventing and reducing arthritis symptoms.

Weighty Matters

One significant way you can help prevent arthritis and also lessen the pain it causes in your feet and ankles is by maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight puts extra strain on the joints of your lower extremities and can accelerate the degeneration of the cartilage that cushions the joints. It’s also easier to be active and participate in fitness and sports activities if you are at a healthy weight. This, in turn, also improves joint health by helping to maintain flexibility and range of motion.

Building Bone Strength

Increasing bone strength is beneficial for your joints. Getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D (which is necessary for calcium absorption) in your diet is essential. Low-fat dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and milk are all excellent sources. If you are lactose intolerant, you can also look to get your calcium from leafy greens and fortified juices and cereals.

Fighting Inflammation

There are several kinds of food that have been found to have the ability to help fight inflammation and reduce an inflammatory response in the body. These include: fish high in omega 3 fatty acids such as salmon and mackerel, olive oil, cherries, strawberries and avocado, to name a few. Talk to your doctor about which foods may best help you if you are suffering from joint disease.

Treatments for arthritis are most successful when they begin in the earliest stages of the disease. If you start to experience joint pain or other symptoms in your feet or ankles like stiffness, swelling or difficulty bending or flexing a joint, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499. Our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas will evaluate your feet and ankles and determine the source of your symptoms, as well as the best treatment.

Discolored, thickened toenails that are crumbly on the edges and peeling signal a fungal infection. At Feet First Foot Care Specialists we find that many patients put off getting fungal toenails treated because they may not cause pain initially. But these infections often lead to secondary bacterial or yeast infections around the nail plate which can be quite painful and inhibit your ability to walk. Fungal infections can also spread to other parts of the body and other people. For this reason, it’s imperative that you get any suspicious-looking toenails evaluated promptly by our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, so that he can prescribe the proper treatment.

Of course, not getting a fungal toenail infection in the first place is even better than having one successfully treated.

Take the following precautions to reduce your risk of a fungal toenail infection:

1. Always wear flip flops or shower shoes when using public facilities like community pools, gyms and sports clubs.
2. Keep feet dry. If you sweat profusely, carry and extra pair of socks and change as soon as you notice your feet feel damp.
3. Use a talcum or anti-fungal foot powder.
4. Wash feet daily with soap and water and dry completely before putting on socks or shoes.
5. Choose shoes made of breathable materials that fit well and are not tight in the toe box area.
6. Don’t share nail clippers, files or pedicure tools with anyone. If you get professional pedicures, be sure your salon follows the proper sanitizing procedures for foot baths and tools.
7. If someone in your household has a fungal infection, disinfect showers between uses and do not use the same towels or any other items that may touch the infected person’s feet.

These simple tips can help you avoid contracting a fungal nail or other bacterial or viral foot infection. If you have concerns about any of your toenails, contact our Cromwell office today by calling: (860) 632-5499.