Health First Southam Podiatry Blog
Find out more about common foot conditions, podiatry treatments, foot care and more in our blog.
Changes are afoot!
Inflation is taking its toll on our business so our PODIATRY fees ONLY will be increasing on 1st October 2023 by approximately 7% which is still below the rate of inflation. As always, we try to provide as cost-effective care…
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Top Tips For Buying Children’s Shoes
It is no secret that parents worry about their children, especially when choosing and buying their footwear. Unfortunately, there is a minefield of possible future problems if it goes wrong, horror stories told by elderly relatives and friends due to…
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How Does Walking Affect Your Feet?
Our bodies were designed for movement, so walking is a great way to get in your daily exercise; however, this does not mean it isn’t tough on our feet. In an average lifetime, we will walk a colossal 100,000 miles;…
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All About Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are common injuries among athletes and non-athletes alike. When your ankle joint is twisted and overstretched, the surrounding ligaments and possibly tendons become damaged. This can cause mild to severe pain, swelling and discomfort but can usually be…
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How to Cure Achilles Tendonitis (Tendinitis)
For most people, if they are asked to name one tendon in their body, it would be the one at the back of the heel – the Achilles tendon. The name comes from Greek mythology, where Achilleus, the greatest of…
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Preventing Blisters
Picture this — you’ve finally decided to take your new pair of shoes on a test drive. You feel elated at first, but that feeling quickly fades away, giving way to a sharp pain — blisters! Blisters are an all-too-common…
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What Is Athletes Foot?
Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is a common and uncomfortable fungal infection of the feet that causes itching, scaling, and redness of the skin on the soles of the feet and between the toes. Dermatophytes cause it; microscopic fungi that…
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Are Orthotics Worth It?
Orthotics are fantastic; they can ease pain and prevent it before it occurs and make your day-to-day life much more comfortable so the simple answer is yes! Orthotics are definitely worth it. Orthotics have been used successfully to treat a…
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How to cure chilblains (and help other circulatory problems)
Chilblains, also known as perniosis, are a common and often painful condition that affects the feet and toes. They are caused by a reaction to cold temperatures, resulting in the small blood vessels in the skin becoming inflamed and damaged.…
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5 Tips For Caring For Diabetic Feet
Diabetics should take care of their feet as much as possible. That’s because diabetes can cause nerve damage and reduce blood flow to your feet, which can lead to serious problems like infections, corns, ulcers, and even amputation. Here are…
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All You Need To Know About Hammertoes
Hammertoes are a common foot deformity caused by prolonged wearing of shoes. They usually start out as a minor toe problem with little to no pain, but they worsen over time. Hammertoes are most commonly seen in females because their…
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How To Cure Fungal Toenails (Onychomycosis)
You’ve probably seen the adverts on TV trying to sell cures for fungal toenails – those nails which are yellow, thickened, crumbly, and sometimes painful. That shows you how common the problem is when it is worth the pharmaceutical companies…
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The Cost Of Diabetic Foot Ulceration
For those of you who have followed this series of articles, you may recall a frustrating & upsetting incident some years ago where someone in Warwickshire had died from an ingrowing toenail. This could have been avoided had they received…
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How To Cure Corns
When I entered the foot profession as a student 35 years ago now, I remember challenging one of my lecturers that we weren’t being taught how to cure foot problems, but instead to palliate them. Once I qualified in 1990…
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Top Foot Care Tips For Trail Runners
Are you a trail runner? Then you no doubt understand the importance of taking care of your feet. Healthy feet are the cornerstone of any runner’s life, which is why it’s so essential that you understand the basics of foot…
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How to Cure Cracked Heels
As summer continues, the sandals keep coming out and so do the dry cracked heels. This is one of the commonest and most easily diagnosed of the wide range of foot conditions. You have no doubt realised that they occur…
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Our Top Summer Foot Care Tips
Summer is officially in full swing and this year; we’ll definitely be taking advantage of the beach and pool weather. However, throughout our sun-filled fun, we must not forget about the importance of taking care of our feet. As you…
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Walking Boots – How To Check You Have The Right Pair
With the nice summer days and autumn just around the corner, you might want to take advantage and go out for a nice walk or hike. It’s time to lace up your walking boots and get walking, but how do…
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How To Cure Ingrown Or Ingrowing Toenails
Next in our series about how to cure foot problems is the all too common ingrowing toenail. This is an often misused term by patients and health care professionals alike, including other foot colleagues. Just because you have pain around…
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What Causes Fungal Nails?
Taking your shoes off in public can be embarrassing, especially if you have fungal toenail infections. These infections can cause your nails to become thick, clumpy, and yellow or brown in colour. If you notice any of these changes in…
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