The Greater Princeton Area Ask the Doctor Spring Issue March/April 2018

QUESTION: When my feet are unhappy so is the rest of me. How Can I Make My Feet Happier? A s with anything else in life, if you show them some love you will feel them smile. How do you show your feet you love them? Ø stress fractures Ø heel spurs

Dr. Holli Alster

Ø athlete’s foot Ø fungal toenails Ø plantar warts Ø bursitis

The #1 reason for most foot problems is poorly fitting or poor choice of shoes. Too loose, too tight, no arch support, no cushion, too wide or too narrow and high heels can throw your foot into spasm, change your gait and throw off your posture. They may be cute and send a fashion statement but you may be causing real damage to your tootsies . These fashionable feats may be causing: Ø Osteoarthritis often referred to as the “wear and tear” arthritis. Ø Hammer toes; an abnormal bend in a toe due to arthritic changes or muscle imbalance. Ø Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation at the point where the ligament inserts at the heel bone. Ø Bunion deformities cause a painful range of motion at the metatarso-phalangeal joints, possible overlapping of the first and second toes. Ø Blisters

Once your feet become inflamed or fatigued, the rest of your body will bear the effects. Show those feet a little support with shoes that fit and keep them happy. If your feet need some TLC, bring them in for an evaluation to stop the problems before they progress. Family Foot & Ankle Center of Central Jersey provides comprehensive care for infants, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors. For more information on foot or ankle problems, feel free to contact: Dr. Holli Alster at Family Foot & Ankle Center of Central Jersey 600 Bridge Plaza Drive, Manalapan, NJ 07726 Phone: (732) 851-1617 Email: info@cjfamilyfoot.com

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600 Bridge Plaza Drive Manalapan

732-851-1617 www.cjfamilyfoot.com

Ø ingrown toenails Ø corns and calluses

Stop Sleeping on your iPhone Place on Airplane Mode By: Lauren Kolacki

In 2017, an estimated 223 million people in the U.S used a smart phone. Of those people, how many are sleeping with them close by? Huff Post conveyed a survey and the results are as follows, among 1,000 checking or savings account holders, age 18 and above, who also own smartphones, 71 percent claimed they usually sleep with or next to their mobile phone. Is this population aware of the consequences that accompany these actions? Cell phones pump out electromagnetic radiation whenever they are turned on. One of the negative effects of electromagnetic radiation is its capability to destruct DNA in the cells. In this case, damaged DNA alters the way the cell works, grows, and reproduces. For those who use their phone as an alarm clock, there is a painless fix. By putting your phone on “airplane mode” you shut down the transceiver, which dramatically lessens the amount of radiation that is produced. By reducing your exposure to electromagnetic radiation, you put yourself at less of a risk for other health concerns.

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ASK THE DOCTOR September/October 2016

MARCH/APRIL 2018