Health

Here’s Why You Should Consult with a Foot Doctor First

Foot Doctor

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If you are having a foot problem, your first instinct might be to try and fix the issue at home. In some cases, you may want to rush to the drug store and pick some over-the-counter-medication for a quick fix. However, it is in your best interest to consult a foot doctor in Houston to understand your situation before taking any action.

Have you ever stopped for a second to think about how important your feet are? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Either way, they are a very important part of you body. They are responsible for you moving around, standing and keeping your overall self-healthy. Your feet account for 25%, 18%, and 6% of the body’s bones, joints, and muscles. Damage to any of these parts can cause severe problems to your overall well being.

To be healthy, you have to move

Whether it’s through activities like weight lifting, jumping, running, or walking. Since these are part of a healthy life style, your legs and feet are bound to take the stress and are therefore subject to wear and tear. With all the daily movements and pressures, you will likely experience a foot problem at some point in your life. When you do, we’ll tell you why you should consult a foot doctor in Houston rather than try your remedies (or ignore the problem altogether). But, before we do that, here are a few tips on how you can keep your feet healthy:

Keep it clean and dry

By thoroughly cleaning with soap and water, and drying them. Pay attention to any redness, swelling, blisters, or cuts because catching them early can prevent serious issues later on.

Wear proper footwear

Pick the right shoes for the activity you are undertaking. When choosing footwear you should choose the correct shoes for that particular sport. Improper shoes can cause problems like arch spasm, ingrown toenails, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and heel spurs.

Pick the right size of shoes

This point goes hand in hand with the previous one, but you want to make sure that the shoe fits comfortably. When buying any footwear, it’s equally important to factor in foot swelling that happens during the day.

Do not walk barefoot

Slippers and shoes allow you to protect your feet from bruises and bumps.

Get regular foot checkups

Regular checkups on your feet allows your podiatrist to catch any issue before it escalates into something serious. They are also vital if you have diabetes because of circulatory problems.

Get routine foot exams

If you have ache issues, pain, or any questions regarding your foot health, then it’s best to get professional assistance. A podiatrist will be able to test, diagnose, and recommend treatment if there’s a need.

Back to our topic of discussion, here are reasons why you should consult with a foot doctor before doing anything else:

They are the experts

One of the main reasons you need to be consulting with a foot specialist and not self-diagnose is because they are the experts on the subject. Podiatrists have gone through added years of learning in addition to their medical studies, and have the right knowledge about numerous foot conditions. When you present your problem to a qualified podiatrist, he or she is sure to offer the best solution.

Save money

When you work with an expert, you are confident that you will get to the bottom of the problem. Since they have the training and experience, they will give you the right diagnosis. This will allow you to treat the real problem once and for all. The same cannot be said if you self-diagnose.  The guesswork might mean spending more money buying unnecessary drugs – and paying a professional to help figure out what’s wrong in the long run. It would be cheaper if you just worked with an expert from the onset.

Monitor the treatments effectiveness

Many patients make the mistake of buying a drug that their doctor prescribed months or years ago for a similar problem. It is easy to assume that what worked for your problem a while ago will still work – but how do you know if the drugs are still working. Working with a podiatrist not only means you get the right prescription, but it also allows the doctor to keep an eye on your condition from time to time.

Avoid silly mistakes

In the digital age, where information is all around us, it is easy to make stupid mistakes based on what you see or read. If you think about it, how many times have you checked Google, “foot aches,” and came across scary answers? Self-diagnosing may cause you to take drugs you don’t need, and only expose yourself to side-effects that you didn’t anticipate.

Conclusion

Consulting with a foot doctor is the safest and surest way to get help for your foot problems. Thanks to the Internet, you don’t even have to waste time driving down to the hospital – which makes consulting even more convenient.

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