Show 1391: Key Steps for Healthy Feet

The People's Pharmacy

This week, Joe and Terry Graedon welcome your questions about keeping your feet healthy. Dr. Jane Andersen is a foot and ankle specialist who will take your calls about a range of podiatric problems. Have you had trouble with plantar fasciitis? You can ask your questions about foot health and share your experience at 888-472-3366 between 7 and 8 am EDT.

You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EDT on your computer or smart phone (wunc.org). Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on July 15, 2024.

Key Steps for Healthy Feet:

How are your feet holding up? Has hot weather got them sweating or swelling? Swollen feet may not fit into your shoes as they should, while sweaty feet offer a tempting feast for foot fungus. What are the key steps you should take for healthy feet? How should you manage athlete’s foot or toenail fungus, not to mention stinky sweaty soles?

If you are outside where you need to protect your skin with sunscreen, don’t forget your feet. If you are barefoot or wearing sandals that expose the tops of your feet, they can get burned more easily than you would imagine. It is easy to forget that the tops of your feet need protecting just as much as the rest of your body.

Going Barefoot:

Walking barefoot on a lush lawn or damp sand can be a delight. But skipping supportive shoes for long periods of time can put you at risk for plantar fasciitis. If you experience heel pain, especially in the morning when you first get up, you may want to rethink those bare feet. Choosing appropriate shoes to wear in the house or on the beach are important steps for healthy feet.

Bunions and Other Changes in Foot Shape:

You’ve almost certainly heard of bunions, but do you know what they are? Why do they occur? And most importantly, how can you manage the discomfort they cause? Our guest, People’s Pharmacy podiatrist Dr. Jane Andersen, has the answers to these and lots of other questions about bunions, hammertoes or heel spurs.

Do You Need Orthotic Inserts for Your Shoes?

Many foot problems can be addressed with special inserts in your shoes. These may be off the shelf or custom-made orthotics. What are the pros and cons of each? When are they appropriate? If you have been wearing orthotics, do you need to replace them?

Ingrown Toenails:

Toenails that start to grow into the flesh of the foot can be extremely painful, though they certainly aren’t a flashy topic. Some people may be at higher risk for ingrown toenails. We’ll talk about ways to prevent ingrown toenails as well as how to treat them.

We welcome your questions about key steps for healthy feet. Please share your inquiries and anecdotes. You can email us: [e-mail] or call 888-472-3366 between 7:00 and 7:50 am EDT on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

This Week’s Guest:

Dr. Jane Andersen, Board Certified, American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, is in practice at Chapel Hill Foot and Ankle, part of FASMA, Foot and Ankle specialists of the Mid Atlantic, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Andersen specializes in foot and ankle care for children, adults, athletes and geriatric patients including surgery and conservative care. She is a Trustee of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Dr. Jane Andersen can help you manage your foot problems.

Listen to the Podcast:

The podcast of this program will be available Monday, July 15, 2024, after broadcast on July 13. You can stream the show from this site and download the podcast for free.

Download the mp3.