Hydration and Foot Healt
By now, you’ve probably gotten the message loud and clear: your body is healthiest, and functions best, when it’s properly hydrated. When you make the list of the benefits of hydration, remember your feet, ankles, and lower legs! They’ll benefit as well.
Symptoms of Poor Hydration
Do you suffer from foot cramps? Muscles require water to function properly. Painful muscle cramps are one possible symptom of dehydration. Be sure to drink plenty of water daily to prevent cramps.
Counterintuitively, fluids are also critical to lowering your risk of edema (swelling) in the feet and ankles. When you are sufficiently hydrated, fluids are less likely to collect in the lower reaches of your body.
Finally, it’s not just the inside of your body that will benefit from enough water. Proper hydration will also improve the health of skin and nails. You’ll be less likely to experience painful heel cracks or brittle, splitting toenails.
How to Hydrate
The best way to increase hydration is by drinking plenty of plain water daily. This is especially important for patients with underlying conditions that might affect health, such as diabetes. Other beverages may bring unwanted elements, such as sugar or even sodium. Caffeinated beverages can increase urination and may actually lead to dehydration.
Remember, in hot weather, your body needs even more water than usual, especially if you exercise outside. Try to run or work out during the cooler parts of the day, seek shade when possible, and drink plenty of water.
Over-the-counter moisturizers contain two active ingredients: emollients, which soften the skin, and humectants, which attract and retain water molecules. These products are best used right after a bath or shower, when the skin is damp, in order to trap as much moisture as possible. Remember that they will make the soles of the feet slippery and can contribute to falls. Never walk barefoot in freshly moisturized feet.
Are you worried about the effects of dehydration on your feet, or do you have another concern about the health and wellness of your feet, ankles, or lower legs? Call the friendly Advanced Feet and Ankle Care staff at (732) 679-4330 or click here to schedule a convenient appointment with Middlesex County podiatrists Jason Grossman, DPM and Paul A. Osemene, DPM in our modern, comfortable offices in Old Bridge and Sayreville today.