Foot for Thought - January 21, 2009

I wanted to use today's Foot for Thought to highlight some of our upcoming events. If you are in the area stop by and say hi to me and the staff.

Have a Heart - Give Your Soles

• The Month of February 2010
• Buring normal office hours
• Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates
• HFAA, in conjunction with the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association, will be collecting shoes to distribute to homeless shelters and charities. Please bring in your gently worn shoes to donate to local shelters and charities.

2010 Women's Health Night: The Economics of Health and Taking Care of Yourself

• Tuesday March 9, 2010
• 3:00-7:30pm
• Interstate Center in downtown Bloomington
• Learn how to properly care for yourself and all the women in your family. Enjoy bone density screenings, strength training, and Zumba exercises at this FREE event. This afternoon will be filled with various informational presentations including breast health, nutrition, and vaccines. Click here for additional information. http://www.ihlf.org/healthnight.htm

McLean County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Event

• Wednesday March 17, 2010
• 4:30-6:30 pm
• At Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates
• Don’t miss this opportunity to see a behind the scenes look of our entire faculty, hear Dr. Lockwood’s story of how and why she became a podiatrist, and network with members of the community. Light appetizers and refreshments will be available for your enjoyment. The free event is open to all friends, colleagues, and patients of HFAA. Bring your business card for a chance to win a gift valued at over $25 dollars. Please e-mail your reservation with the full names of you and your guests to appointments@heartlandfootandankle.com

Free Living with Diabetes

• Thursday October 14, 2010
• 6:30 pm
• OSF St. Joseph Hospital- Business & Conference Center Building
• Are you struggling with diabetes? Is the stress of your disease bringing you down? Is diabetes affecting your life and everyday activities? Well then- join professionals and diabetics alike as we share the secrets to living a happy, healthy life as a diabetic. Dr. Lockwood will be the key speaker for the evening. Attend this FREE event for sharing, caring, education, and support!

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High Blood Pressure - The Podiatric Physician and Cardiovascular Ailments

As a member of the health care team, your doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM) is vitally concerned about hypertension (high blood pressure) and vascular disease (heart and circulatory problems). There are several reasons for this concern. First, because you are a patient, your podiatric physician and surgeon is interested in all aspects of your health and your treatment program. Second, he or she supports the goals of high blood pressure detection, treatment, and control.

Your podiatric physician should know if you have any of the following cardiovascular or related conditions:

Hypertension and/or cardiovascular disease: Hypertension sometimes causes decreased circulation. A careful examination is required to determine if there is lower than normal temperature in any of the extremities, absence of normal skin color, or diminished pulse in the feet. The concern is that these are signs of arterial insufficiency (reduced blood flow). Increased or periodic swelling in the lower extremities is important because it may mean that hypertension has contributed to heart disease.

Rheumatic heart disease: Persons who have had rheumatic heart disease must be protected with prophylactic antibiotics prior to any surgical intervention. If you take medication for this condition, tell your podiatric physician. Any medication you may be taking for high blood pressure, a heart condition, or any other reason should be reported to the DPM to ensure that it does not conflict with medications that may be prescribed in the treatment of your feet.

Diabetes: This condition frequently affects the smaller arteries, resulting in diminished circulation and decreased sensation in the extremities. Let your podiatric physician know if you have ever been told that you have diabetes, particularly if you are talking medication or insulin for this condition.

Ulceration: Open sores that do not heal, or heal very slowly, may be symptoms of certain anemias, including sickle cell disease. Or they may be due to hypertension or certain inflammatory conditions of the blood vessels. Your DPM is on the alert for such conditions, but be sure to mention if you have ever had this problem.

Swollen feet: Persistent swelling of one or both feet may be due to kidney, heart, or circulatory problems.

Burning feet: Although it can have a number of causes, a burning sensation of the feet is frequently caused by diminished circulation.

Control of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause fatal strokes and heart disease. As a health care provider, your podiatric physician assists in controlling this public health problem. There are three major areas in which he or she provides this important public service:

Detection: Many podiatric physicians routinely take every patient's blood pressure and determine if it is elevated.

Treatment: After confirming that blood pressure is elevated and making this information part of the patient's record, the DPM refers all patients with elevated blood pressure to their primary care physicians for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Long-Term Control: By encouraging patients at every visit to adhere to treatment, and by monitoring reductions in blood pressure, side effects of treatment, and referring for reevaluation as needed, the podiatric physician facilitates long-term control.

If you have high blood pressure, be sure to inform every health care provider so we can ensure we provide you with the best treatment possible.

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Sock it to Me – Your Socks Have Gone High Tech

New technology has invaded our homes and our offices. It’s become essential in how we correspond with one another, how we drive our cars and even how we stay warm in winter. Even the socks we wear have undergone transformations that relate to technology.

New technology has made fabrics healthier, more comfortable, and better looking than ever. Using fabrics like cotton and getting away from synthetic materials can help keep feet dry, leaving them comfortable and blister-free. Since your feet and legs spend several months of the year covered in footwear, it is essential to choose the right sock for your needs. From fabric to fit, making sure your footwear has all the latest features is key.

Here are some tips to choose socks that are right for you and the occasion.

• A sock with a poly/cotton blend, incorporating cotton and synthetics, is an excellent combination for everyday wear. Opting for either a thick or thin sock will not affect the health of your feet.
• Socks should fit like a glove. There should be no loose fabric around toes or heels. Socks that bunch up can cause friction and lead to blisters. Socks that are too tight can decrease circulation and comfort.
• If you have diabetes or decreased circulation, seamless socks are now available to prevent friction that might result in irritation.
• Athletes should look for socks that wick moisture away from the foot. The best material is a cotton/polyester blend which will provide excellent comfort level, great wear, and moisture absorption.
• All socks should be tried with the appropriate shoes. Don’t try your running socks on with your dress shoes--that’s a recipe for buying the wrong socks.
• Ask your podiatric physician for recommendations. The technology involved can be overwhelming, but your DPM can provide you with the appropriate guidance that matches your sport.

We sell many different types of socks in our office that can meet your needs. If you can't find it in our office, we would be happy to order them for you.

If you would like to discuss socks and your feet, feel free to give me a call at 309-661-9975 or visit our website to set up an appointment.

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Foot for Thought - January 7, 2009

For the past 3 months, HFAA has been sending out a monthly newsletter. Since we may not have some readers e-mail addresses, I wanted to give you the opportunity to check it out and subscribe to it. It contains helpful tips, pratice updates, and our upcomming events.

Click the link below to forward the newsletter to your e-mail.

http://heartlandfoodandankle.forwardtomyfriend.com/r/jjuydjuyt/25EF72C3/kkujtu/l

If you enjoy it and would like to receive it every month, please send your name and e-mail address to officemanager@heartlandfootandankle.com and we will get you on the subscriber list.

Be safe and stay warm,

Dr. Lockwood

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Frostbite

With the New Year came freezing cold temperatures.

Did you know that nearly half of all frostbite cases involve the foot and ankle? That’s a staggering figure, but avoiding frostbite and treating it quickly are both important lessons we can learn. According to your podiatric physician, the most effective way of dealing with frostbite is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

If you know you will be exposed to the cold weather, following these tips can literally save your toes:

• Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and dress appropriately.
• If you begin to feel pain, numbness, or tingling in your feet, get out of the cold as soon as possible.
• Seek professional help as soon as possible from your podiatric physician for any foot- or ankle-related concerns.

Prolonged exposure to extremely cold temperatures can lead to severe injury if proper treatment is not provided in a timely manner.

Signs and symptoms of frostbite include:

• Pain or prickling progressing to numbness
• Pale, hard, and cold skin with waxy appearance
• Flushing due to blood rushing to area after it's re-warmed
• Burning sensation and swelling from collected fluid that may last for weeks
• Blisters
• Black scab-like crust, which may develop several weeks later

Mild frostbite is treated by re-warming the affected area, washing it with an antiseptic, and applying a sterile dressing. If medical care is not available immediately, seek shelter and re-warm a mildly frostbitten area in warm water (101° to 104° F) or by repeatedly applying warm cloths to the area for 30 minutes. Never use hot water, fire, a heating pad, or other dry heat because these methods may burn the skin before the feeling returns.

Frostbite is a very serious injury that can involve significant damage to the feet. In severe cases, surgery may even be necessary, depending on the depth and extent of tissue damage. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and proper treatment by a podiatric physician is essential.

If you think you might be suffering from Frostbite, please visit our website or call us at 309-661-9975 to schedule an appointment.

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