The health of the nails is directly related to general health. However, poor nutrition, aging, infection, and poor health all weaken nails and slow its growth. The days are longer with nice weather, making summer the perfect time to get active and improve your health.
We encourage clients to keep well hydrated and eat a balanced diet including plenty of proteins, and the nails will reap the benefits. Because bacteria thrive in humid environments, remember to change your socks at least once a day and alternate your footwear, if possible, to help control and prevent infection such as tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) spreading.
Diabetes can damage the nerves and affect blood flow in feet and legs. About half of all people with diabetes have some kind of nerve damage. Nerve damage can occur in any part of the body, but the nerves in your feet and legs are most often affected. Nerve damage can reduce the feelings within the feet thus no feeling of pain, numbness or tingling, while others may have no symptoms, or decrease in heat, or cold sensation. If you don’t feel pain in your feet, you may not notice a cut, blister, sore, or other problem.
Daily care is one of the best ways to prevent foot complications. Poor foot hygiene can put you at an increased risk for infection. Fungal nail infections are common infections of the fingernails or toenails that can cause the nail to become discoloured, thick, and more likely to crack and break. Small cracks in your nail or the surrounding skin can allow these germs to enter your nail or the skin and can cause an infection.
Check your feet regularly for cuts, sores, swelling, dryness, and discoloured nails infected toenails). “ACT NOW” is an acronym for signs that should activate an urgent visit to your nearest podiatrist or referral to specialist care.
Accident or any recent trauma to the foot or toes
Change in nail colour or thickness e.g., fungal infection, or yellow toenail
Temperature changes such as hotter or colder than normal skin, or swelling
New pain or change of shape in the foot
Oozing from area of skin or nails
Wound development example blisters, skin breakdown, callus, corn or sore
Regular visits to the podiatrist are the best bet for preventing foot problems (and stopping small problems from becoming serious ones). Early foot treatment greatly reduces the risk of amputation. Education and advice about preventing secondary complication of foot disease is imperative and we are here to help, visit us at the centre for complimentary health! Enriching lives through foot care.
Amanda Thompson recently joined the Centre for Complimentary Health, as a Registered Foot Health Practitioner, working alongside the podiatrists and the rest of the team. Amanda graduated from Stonebridge College as a Foot Health Practitioner, whilst in coaction with degree in Northampton school of Podiatry, Northampton University. She has completed the course and will be a registered podiatrist this summer.