General Family Health

A bunion is a frequently painful deformity that occurs on the foot. It's a genetic fault in the structure of the foot that causes the big toe to point inward toward the second toe, instead of...

Often people take their feet for granted until they face serious conditions like diabetes or heart disease. Your feet can give you an early sign of health problems.

The feet are prime targets for fungal infections, such as athlete's foot, that can cause foot itch. Wrapped up in warm and cozy socks most days, feet can become a moist and active playground for...

Foot pain or discomfort can occur anywhere on the foot, such as the heel, ankle, toes, or arch. Foot pain can range from mild to severe and can have many causes.

Are you suffering from undesirable foot odor that is not only scaring others away but your own personal nose too? Then by all means do something about it, so that you will be able to have feet...

Foot spur is a calcified version of plantar fasciitis. An injury to the plantar fascia may result in calcification at the site of injury in foot, which leads to the formation of a painful foot...

Ligaments on the soles of the foot bear a lot of weight on them. An undue amount of stress placed on these valuable ligaments can result in their tearing. Two sets of ligaments, placed at...

When the plantar fascia ligament in your foot is torn, this is considered a fascia rupture and is much more serious than plantar fasciitis, which involves small tears to the tissue.

One cause of toe numbness while working out may be the shoes you are wearing. If you are banging the tips of your toes against the toe of your shoe every time you bounce, hop or take a step, your...

The plantar fascia is located in the arch of your foot. It's comparable to a shock-absorbing bowstring, according to the Mayo Clinic, and supports the arch of your foot. If the tension gets too...

Shoe inserts are necessary for some people with problem feet who may experience thinning of the fat pads on the balls of their feet, smaller than usual heels, flat feet or fallen arches. These...

HPV (human papillomavirus) causes warts. The virus enters the skin through breaks or openings and via skin to skin contact or other direct body contact with the virus, including through sharing...

The foot contains several tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bones, all of which are responsible for balancing and carrying the entire weight of a person's body. The plantar surface is a large area...

For regular pronation, the arch of the foot acts as a natural shock absorber as it makes full contact with the ground, rolling inward about 15 degrees. Overpronation or super-pronation refers to...

Bacteria need a warm and moist place in order to thrive. When encased in shoes and socks, feet are going to sweat. It provides the perfect environment for the bacteria that is the culprit behind...

Your feet had a good start in life. They enjoyed warm, hand-knit footwear and played "This Little Piggy" with friends and family. And for the first several months of their existence, they weren't...

A missed step, or a tripped stair can cause an ankle to turn the wrong way, and results in swelling and pain. It's not broken, but it's bruised and swollen and it hurts. While keeping it elevated...

Plantar fasciitis refers to a common condition of the foot that results from such activities as long-distance running and ballet. According to the Mayo Clinic, the plantar fascia (thick band of...

Wrapping a foot can be an effective part of treating various foot and ankle injuries. An elastic bandage wrap provides support and stability for strains and sprains. Wrapping the foot also...

If you love to wear sandals and open-toed shoes, you want your feet and toenails to look good. Furthermore, you want soft feet, not tough, dry, callused ones. When your feet are in bad shape, it...

If your feet hurt, it's not going to be a good day. If you have to wear dress shoes (high heels) to work, wear tennis shoes or footwear that is supportive and comfortable as you travel to and from...

Many things affect the quality of your work, one of which is foot comfort. Those of us who are required to work on our feet for most of the day, depend upon well-fitting and comfortable shoes. ...

The human foot has a complex structure consisting of dozens of bones, muscles and tendons to absorb shock and support weight. Pain and soreness can develop in the feet for many reasons; the onset...

Foot cramps can be the result of numerous factors including a lack of potassium. Eat your bananas! When you are potassium deficient, your body's chemistry gets off kilter and can't get regulated,...

The human foot must sustain not only our weight, but also absorb the shock of each step we take. The foot also helps propel us as we walk and run. Such an important part of the body requires many...

When your feet swell from the heat, this is the result of edema, which is the accumulation of excess fluid. Swelling, generally speaking, is either the result of a collection of body fluid or...

The Achilles tendon is an important part of the foot. One of the largest tendons, it connects the heal bone to the calf bone, thus partially enabling the foot to move and perform its daily...

Your feet bear the entire weight of your body as you walk or stand, so it's likely that most people feel foot pain at some point in their lives. With 26 bones and all the connecting joints,...

Stress fractures are considered an overuse injury. In the foot, they most commonly occur on the second and third metatarsal bones. They are also possible on the calcaneus, or heel, and the...

The human feet are complex structures consisting of 26 bones and dozens of ligaments and joints. Pressure on the feet due to walking, running, jumping and other activities can easily lead to foot...

The metatarsals are a group of five long bones in the middle of the foot that connect to the phalanges in the ball of the foot. The metatarsal bones can become a source of foot pain if the bones...

Swelling is caused by an abnormal buildup of fluid in the body. Called peripheral edema, swelling is quite common in the in the ankles, feet and legs, and it may also occur in the hands. Some...

Someone in my family has dry, cracked feet, and she has a hard time with it. I am going to send her this article on how to help soothe those dry, cracked feet and have her walking like Fred...

Keeping your feet healthy is important, because they are the foundation on which your entire body stands. Healthy feet are important to just about everything you do. Each foot has 26 bones, 33...

Everywhere we turn these days, we find warnings about toxins, pollutants and other hidden dangers to our health. That's nothing new---the concept of "detoxifying" has been around since ancient...

One of the most common causes of itchy feet is a foot fungus, commonly known as athlete's foot. This condition can affect anyone, but especially those whose sweaty feet are confined for long...

Foot orthotics are inserts that go into your shoes and provide a medical benefit. They can be custom or prefabricated. Custom orthotics are made from a cast or foam impression of a foot, and...

Consuming fast foods, too much sugar and sodium, coffee, alcoholics and even drugs can all build up in the body which will create disastrous effects later on. Even if you feel that you are young...

Whenever you walk, run or jump, you force your body to support the entirety of your weight on your feet. If the feet do not properly absorb shock, or they are stressed too severely it can cause...

Workout balls have been touted as being fun to exercise with, as well as helping you to tone your body easily. It provides a low impact workout that helps you to improve balance. However, choose...

If you've been following folk remedies or traditional Chinese medicine, you may have heard that detoxifying through the bottoms of your feet is the new "in" thing. The good news is that this...

Masai Barefoot Technology ( MBT) shoes retail for more than $150 and have a rounded, multilayered heel designed to simulate walking in sand, support the foot and correct posture so more muscle...

Cold feet can cause extreme discomfort. Whether they are the result of not dressing properly, being exposed to cold weather for too long a period of time or even because you're sick, cold feet can...

Heel spurs are extremely painful and are caused by inflammations and calcium deposits in the plantar fascia--the long area of tissue that runs between your heel and your toes. Many people refer to...

If you are experiencing pain in the heel of your foot, and perhaps in your arch as well, particularly first thing in the morning, you may be suffering from a bone spur, according to...

Foot drop is also referred to as drop foot. This is a condition that can result from being bedridden for a long time and, consequently, an individual can no longer lift the foot at the ankle...

If your feet have high arches, you are putting most of your weight on the heel and ball of your foot. High arches can result in instability and pain. A high arch can develop at any time and it can...

When a part of your body itches, it can drive you to distraction. You can scratch so hard that you rub yourself raw. There are several treatments that can soothe your itchy feet.

If you are suffering pain in the ball of your foot, this is called metatarsalgia, according to Merck.com (See Reference 1). This condition can be caused by many factors including pinched nerves...

Foot cramps are caused by involuntary contractions of the foot muscles. You feel spasms in your toes or the arch of your feet. They often occur in the middle of the night; it's a painful way to...