Monmouth County's Ask The Doctor May/June

Protecting Your Health Information

Before computers, medical data was stored in paper. These days, almost everything is gathered, analyzed and transmitted electroni cally. This means your personal information be may be prone to cy ber-attacks. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides data privacy and security provisions or safeguarding medi cal information. This includes the HIPAA Privacy Act that gives you several different ways to ensure your medical data is being used and secured safely. While you may not be able to set the level of security devoted to your medical data, there are still proactive ways you can approach your safety. Regularly checking your credit can give you indications

that your personal information has been compromised. The sooner you see your information being misused, sooner you can take corrective steps to regain control of your credit. Your Social Security number is one of the most important pieces of information that needs to remain private. If compromised, someone else can open credit card accounts, apply for loans and even gain access to your bank account. The best ways to prevent someone else from gaining access to your SSN include: keeping your card in a safe place (at home, not a wallet), frequently checking your accounts for fraudulent activity and using an identity protection service. While you may think leaving your data in the hands of your medical professionals means it’s protected, it may not be in your best interest. Doctors are in charge of many different records, which can mean unintentional mistakes. Do yourself a favor and check up on your medical records to avoid errors. H E A L T H A R T I C L E S A N D Q & A

Our Specialty Services For Adults, Children & Seniors Bunions Corns & Callouses Diabetic Foot Care Flatfeet Fungus HammerToeTreatment Heel Pain InGrownToeNails Plantar FasciitisTreatment Plantar Warts Orthotics and Surgery

Complete Family Foot & Ankle Care A Step Up Podiatry

Q: Aren’t All Running Shoes the Same? A: No, proper footwear provides stability, support and overall foot and back health. When we run, our bodies absorb tremendous impact. The shock from this im pact is felt in the feet and travels up our spine. This can cause stress and strain on the joints which can lead to both back and feet pain and injury over time. There is no better protection for your feet than shoes.

Dr. Sanjay Gandhi, DPM

Special running footwear is constructed for the purpose of protection with a thicker heel to ab sorb impact and a heel-to-toe drop to match the natural gait cycle of running. Running shoes are intended to complement the natural feel of your foot. Proper shoes should feel like an extension of your feet with the added protection that helps control the high-impact forces and ensures proper running form, which reduces joint strain. Proper running shoes are only part of the solution: strengthening and conditioning our muscles in our legs and core-region is also essential for injury prevention. Treadmill use can induce 3 to 5 times the shock forces from your feet, all the way upto your spine! This makes choosing the best shoegear even more important. Our office can answer all your shoe questions. We measure for the best fit, can add shock absorbing inserts, and use superior brands for running and many other activities!

215 Gordons Corner Road, Suite 2A, Manalapan, NJ 07726 ASTEPUPPODIATRY.COM • 732-446-7136

ASK THE DOCTOR

SPRING 2022

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