8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HEALTH The Doctor is In! Health Q&A This article was written in partnership with a group at the University of Michigan called Black and Pink at the School of Public Health. BPSPH works with incarcerated folks in Michigan who identify across the LGBTQ+ spectrum. As part of their work, BPSPH writes articles that answer people’s health questions and shares versions of those articles with Groundcover. If you have a health question you would like to see answered in a future issue of Groundcover, let the folks at the Groundcover offices know. Note: this health information is provided by medical students and other health trainees. If you have specific questions about your own health, please consult with a healthcare provider. How can I keep my feet healthy when I’m on them all day long? By: Amanda and Karelyn Walking or standing all day long can lead to so many aches and pains — but especially your feet! Knowing what types of pains are emergencies, not just annoyances, is important for your health. If your symptoms are severe or there is sudden trauma, go to the emergency room or talk to a doctor. Beyond emergencies, you’ll want to check your feet regularly. Whenever you shower, wash your feet with soap and water, including between the toes, to prevent infection. While you’re down there, look at every surface of your foot. Check for signs of something serious, like an infection or underlying medical condition. These can include: • Open wounds, drainage or bleeding • White/yellow moisture, significant odors • Swelling, rash, itchiness • Changes in skin color: redness (infection), darkened (dead tissue), blue-ish (poor blood flow) • Changes in feeling: numbness, burning or tingling (nerve damage) Other signs of infection are pain, fever or flu-like symptoms. Always talk to your doctor about any health concerns you have, even your feet. There are also podiatrists, who specialize in foot health. Now that we’ve addressed serious conditions, let’s talk about other aches and pains. Many folks, including myself, don’t learn proper nail-cutting techniques until later in life. To prevent ingrown toenails, cut straight across so the nail corner is visible. If you have a painful ingrown nail, you can put lotion on it and cover it with a bandaid. This softens the nail and can give some relief. Corns and calluses are common too; they’re thick parts of skin that are created when there is friction or pressure on your foot. You can remove these little by little with an emery board or pumice stone after showers, but if you have diabetes, poor circulation, or aren’t able to clean your feet with soap and water regularly, wait until a doctor can help you so you can avoid infection. Fungal infections usually cause thickening and/or discoloration of toenail — but you actually don’t have to treat these! If it’s bothering you, talk to your doctor about treatment options. (Each night immediately before going to bed, apply a dab of Vicks Vapor Rub to the affected toenail and cover with a sock. Eventually the toenail will clear.) Just a heads up, it can be really hard to get rid of these! Lastly, do your best to find shoes that fit well — wide enough, with some wiggle room for your toes. Being on your feet all day long is hard; rest when you can, and don’t be afraid to give yourself a foot massage! DECEMBER 29, 2023
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