WOMEN - Women's mouths wrinkle faster

Women's mouths wrinkle faster

A new study shows that women develop more and deeper 

wrinkles around their mouths as they age than men do.

Senior study author Dr Moshe Kon, from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands, says the gender differences are "probably due to the amount of appendages [hair follicles and sebaceous glands] and the connections between the skin and lip muscles".

"This study shows that one of the reasons lines are deeper in women is because they have fewer sweat and sebaceous glands," adds Dr Foad Nahai, editor-in-chief of Aesthetic Surgery Journal, where the study results appeared.

Some other key differences emerged: women have fewer blood vessels around the mouth than men; the muscles around the mouth are closer to the skin than in men; and men have more sweat glands per hair follicle.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health/health+news/womens+mouths+wrinkle+faster,8039

SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Arabian restaurants ban single women from entering because of their 'mentally unstable' behaviour such as flirting, smoking and using mobile phones

Saudi Arabian restaurants ban single women from entering because of their 'mentally unstable' behaviour such as flirting, smoking and using mobile phones 

• Restaurants in Saudi Arabia ban single women from entering premises 
• Some owners have put signs up on their doors saying 'women not allowed'
• Complaints of 'mentally unstable' behaviour such as using mobile phones
• Saudi Arabia is one of the worst nations in the world for women's rights
• Women cannot drive and should be accompanied by a man at all times
• 
  

By OLLIE GILLMAN FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 16:32 GMT, 24 November 2014 | UPDATED: 17:14 GMT, 24 November 2014

Restaurants in Saudi Arabia have banned single women from entering because of their 'mentally unstable' behaviour such as using flirting, smoking and using mobile phones.

Several restaurants have put up signs that say 'women are not allowed' in another blow for women's rights in the conservative Muslim kingdom.

There is no law banning women from travelling alone in Saudi Arabia but deeply-held religious beliefs dictate that they should be accompanied by a male family member when out in public. 

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Single women have been banned from some restaurants in Saudi Arabia for 'mentally unstable' behaviour such as flirting, smoking and using mobile phones (file picture)

According to The Week, one restaurant owner said: 'We put up these signs because we have seen numerous incidents of flirting taking place inside the restaurant.

'We'll only remove these signs when we make sure such incidents never happen again on our premises because such type of behaviour negatively impacts our business.'

Bloggers in the Middle Eastern state also described women who smoke and use mobile phones as 'mentally unstable'. 

One wrote: 'The best thing is to keep women away from restaurants unless they have a male custodian.

'That way the restaurant is not shut down because of the misbehaviour of an adolescent or mentally unstable woman.'

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Saudi Arabia is one of the worst nations in the world for women's rights, with women expected to be accompanied by a male guardian in public (file picture)

The blogger added that one woman crossed the line when she came in alone and 'focused on her mobile'.

Another online post said some women visiting restaurants had no respect.

A man called Talal said: 'My brother has a restaurant and he says that even though there is a section for families, there are often instances of embarrassment. 

'Several women would come in and would speak loudly without any respect for public behaviour. He says that it is difficult for him to get them to lower their voices.'  

Saudi Arabia has one of the worst record's for women's rights in the world. 

Women will be allowed to vote and run for office in local elections for the first time next year but are still not allowed to drive.

There are no laws on the minimum age it is legal to marry at, with father's giving their daughters a way when they are just nine years old in some cases.

Women can ride bicycles, but only in 'recreational areas' if they are wearing full Islamic body coverings and are accompanied by a male guardian. 

Khalid Al Fakhri, the head of Saudi Arabia's National Society for Human Rights, said: 'These signs are against the law and reflect the personal opinions of the restaurant owners.' 

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2847587/Saudi-Arabian-restaurants-ban-single-women-entering-mentally-unstable-behaviour-flirting-smoking-using-mobile-phones.html#ixzz3K2MaDtUh 

INDIA - India's dark history of sterilisation

14 November 2014 Last updated at 01:32

Soutik BiswasDelhi correspondent

• More from Soutik

Nearly four million Indians, mostly women, were sterilised during 2013-14

The death of 15 women at two state-run sterilisation camps in Chhattisgarh has put a spotlight on India's dark history of botched sterilisations.

The drive to sterilise began in the 1970s when, encouraged by loans amounting to tens of millions of dollars from the World Bank, the Swedish International Development Authority and the UN Population Fund, India embarked on an ambitious population control programme.

During the 1975 Emergency - when civil liberties were suspended -Sanjay Gandhi, son of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, began what was described by many as a "gruesome campaign" to sterilise poor men. There were reports of police cordoning off villages and virtually dragging the men to surgery.

The campaign also made an appearance in Salman Rushdie's novel, Midnight's Children.

An astonishing 6.2 million Indian men were sterilised in just a year, which was "15 times the number of people sterilised by the Nazis", according to science journalist Mara Hvistendahl. Two thousand men died from botched operations.

"India has a dark history of state-sponsored population control, often with eugenic aims - targeting the poor and underprivileged," Ms Hvistendahl told me. "The women's tragic deaths [in Chhattisgarh] show that it still happens today."

Since family planning efforts began in the 1970s, India has focused its population control efforts on women, even though, as scientists say, sterilisations are easier to perform in men. "This may be because women are deemed less likely to protest," says Ms Hvistendahl.

India carried out nearly 4 million sterilisations during 2013-2014, according to official figures. Less than 100,000 of these surgeries were done on men. More than 700 deaths were reported due to botched surgeries between 2009 and 2012. There were 356 reported cases of complications arising out of the surgeries.

Though the government has adopted a raft of measures and standards for conducting safe sterilisations, an unseemly haste to meet high state-mandated quotas has often led to botched operations and deaths.

Women have died from forced sterilisations in China where population control was institutionalised since the 1980s. "But the conditions in Indian sterilisation camps sound worse," says Ms Hvistendahl. There have been reports of the appalling quality of tubectomies for many years now, and authorities still don't seem to realise that it is an important reproductive health concern. And the shoddy surgeries continue, risking the lives of poor women.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30040790

INDIA STERILISATION - Drugs may have been contaminated

Drugs given to 15 women who died after sterilisation surgery could have been contaminated, an official in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh has told the BBC.

A state health official said early tests and circumstantial evidence indicated traces of zinc phosphide - a substance used in rat poison.

The women were at a government health camp. The doctor who carried out the operations denies negligence.

But the cause of death remains unclear as post-mortem results are awaited.

Last week, two pharmaceutical factory owners were arrested and drugs administered to the women during the procedure were sent for testing. The factory owners deny any wrongdoing.

"It appears that the drugs seized in the factory were contaminated with zinc phosphide which is a poison. 

Circumstantial evidence suggests that it might be the cause of patients falling ill after the drug was administered," senior state health official Alok Shukla told the BBC.

Mr Shukla said the symptoms displayed by some of the patients were similar to reactions to zinc phosphide - a toxic substance also used in rat poison. He added that other patients responded when administered the antidote to zinc phosphide.

But, he cautioned, that this was the "preliminary finding and detailed lab reports of the drugs and the viscera reports of patients are awaited - and that should establish the cause [of deaths]".

A lone doctor, along with his assistant, carried out tubectomies on 130 women at two separate camps last Saturday and Monday. Reports said he operated on 83 women in five hours in one of the camps - government rules say one surgeon should only perform 35 operations in a day.

Fourteen died after the first camp in Bilaspur and one after the second. More than 100 women were admitted to hospital.

The doctor had been earlier feted by the state government for conducting a record number of sterilisations.

He reportedly said he was put under pressure to carry out the operations and also accused the government of making him a scapegoat.

Sterilisation camps are frequently held to carry out mass tubectomy operations for women - or vasectomies for men - and health workers often receive money for each person they bring to a clinic to be sterilised.

The vast majority who take part are women, often poor and paid to be sterilised.

Explaining female sterilisation: Michelle Roberts, Health editor, BBC News website

Female sterilisation works by sealing the fallopian tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb. This can be done using clips, clamps or small rings or by tying and cutting the tube - this stops the egg and sperm meeting, so pregnancy can't occur.

Eggs will still be released from the ovaries as normal, but they will be reabsorbed by the body instead.

The procedure can be carried out via keyhole surgery or through an abdominal operation. It is very effective and straightforward when carried out correctly and by a highly trained professional. But it is not without risks. Most doctors will try to use the least invasive method.

It requires an anaesthetic and there is a risk of damage to other organs during the procedure. There can be bleeding and infection too. It should also be considered permanent - it is difficult to reverse.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30080163

WOMEN - Anger issues in women

Anger issues in women are becoming increasingly common. 

Here's how to manage your anger.

 

When men get angry nobody bats an eyelid, but when a woman's temper gets the better of her, it becomes headline news. The spate of recent reports on schoolyard violence among girls has dominated current affairs programs over the past few months, yet when boys fight in the playground, it's somehow deemed normal.

Violence in women is becoming more prevalent than ever; the amount of women prosecuted for domestic violence has risen by 11 per cent in the past 10 years. The number of women arrested for violent crimes is 40 per cent higher than in 2005 and female road rage is more common than ever.

So why have women started to get angry? It may be as simple as the fact that females have increasing amounts of pressure and responsibility piled on them today.

Are we doing too much?

"Many women today are overextended," explains Melbourne-based anger management expert Meghann Birks. "Women are under a lot of pressure to do it all - work full-time, look after the family and still look good. When we're so busy, it doesn't allow time to be still and check in with yourself, which can be a big cause of pent-up anger and frustration." Many women try and hold in their anger, which in the long term can only make things worse, Birks says. "It's not seen as feminine to get angry. It's much more acceptable for men to lose their temper."

But holding your frustrations in can mean your anger builds up and is let out at inappropriate moments, Birks warns. "Many people get angry over small things, such as someone cutting in on them on the road. Although it may appear that this is what has triggered an angry outburst, it's likely they're actually upset about something that has happened previously which they haven't been able to express."

Some experts believe seeing violence on TV could also be contributing to the problem. On US TV, violence against women has increased by 120 per cent in the past five years. "Seeing violence and anger around us all the time sends the message that it's a normal way of expressing yourself," Birks says. "But there are much more effective ways to communicate that you're upset, like talking rationally about your feelings." It's also important to realise that even if you aren't outwardly shouting and screaming, you could still be experiencing anger.

Expressing anger

"Depression is sometimes described as 'anger turned inwards'," Birks says. "When women don't know how to deal with their emotions, they may internalise their anger. Keeping all these feelings inside can lead to depression." Not only does anger suppress your immune system, it can also destroy relationships. "People end up tiptoeing around you because they become nervous about when you're going to fly off the handle," Birks says.

Taking your anger out on children can be particularly detrimental. "Children don't understand it's not them who made you angry. All they see is someone shouting at them. They can absorb those emotions and start to think that's the correct way to react if someone is upset."Of course, sometimes it's perfectly acceptable to be angry, says Dr Vesna Grubacevic, a clinical hypnotherapist who specialises in anger issues.

"There are some situations where you are perfectly within your rights to feel angry," she says. "If someone has deliberately hurt or betrayed you, then of course you're allowed to feel angry and upset." The important thing is to differentiate between unresolved and resolved anger. Resolved anger means reacting proportionately in an appropriate way to a situation. Unresolved anger, such as road rage, is when you fly off the handle at a situation that doesn't warrant it. If you're constantly showing signs of unresolved anger, you need to think seriously about whether your temper is getting out of control. "If people appear shocked by how you're acting, chances are you've got an issue you need to deal with," Dr Grubacevic advises.

Getting Help

Talking to an anger management expert can help you deal with anger issues, but there are plenty of other things you can do to improve the situation. "The way you treat your body affects your anger levels," Birks explains. "Eating lots of additives and sugar can make you agitated and angry. Not exercising enough can also be a factor."

Then you need to take an honest look at your life and think about your priorities. "You don't have to do everything that's thrown at you," Birks says. "Saying 'no' allows you to take control of the situation. Many people say they're angry because they feel they have no control over their lives. Take that control back and you'll feel calmer."

When you feel yourself getting angry, take a physical step backwards before reacting, Birks suggests. "Then take a deep breath and count to 10," she says. "It sounds cliched, but it really does reduce the heat from the situation and allows you to think before you act."

Finally, it's important to realise that anger is often futile, Birks says. "If someone cuts in on you in the car and you spend the next hour feeling angry about it, the only person you're damaging is yourself," she says. "Think of anger as throwing a hot coal at someone; you'll blister your own fingers, but the person you throw the rock at will probably walk away unscathed."

How to stay calm

Use this meditation technique to reduce short-term anger, advises Dr Vesna Grubacevic.

• Pick a spot in front of you above eye level, such as the top of your computer screen.
• Focus intently on that spot, keeping your head still. Then, without moving your head, start to notice everything in your peripheral vision, such as furniture and people.
• Focus on that spot for two minutes. You'll start to feel calmer and more connected with everyone around you.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/

HAIR LOSS DURING PREGNANCY - Causes and How to Prevent Hair Loss

BY ADMIN ON JANUARY 19, 2011

Hair loss during pregnancy is relatively common and should not cause excessive anxiety.  The hair loss may aggravate after delivery, and persist for a few months. The hair loss is temporary, and will be replaced within 6 to 12 months.

Is Hair Loss During Pregnancy Normal?

• Even as some women have healthy hair during pregnancy, some complain of extreme hair loss.
• Pregnancy-related hair fall is due to fluctuating hormones and is perfectly normal.

Causes Hair Loss During Pregnancy

The primary cause is hormonal fluctuations, especially, fluctuating estrogen level. Another important cause is dietary errors and deficiencies.

How to Prevent Hair Loss During Pregnancy

• Vitamin and mineral supplements may be prescribed by your physician.
• Stress plays a pivotal role in general health and well being. It can actually increase the severity of hair fall. Practice de-stressing techniques daily.
• Follow a nutritious and well balanced diet. Consume plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, legumes, milk and whole grains.
• Step up the intake of the following foods: soy, tofu, soy milk, kidney beans, milk, cottage cheese, carrots, and limes. They are dubbed as hair foods.
  They promote hair growth, check hair fall and nourish the roots and scalp.
• Avoid washing your hair frequently.
• Avoid over-styling the hair. Steer clear of tight pigtails, hair weaves, tight hair rollers and braids; they tend to pull and stress the hair roots and scalp.
• Consult your gynecologist to guarantee a balance of hormones.
• Use shampoos and conditioners comprising of biotin and silica.

Source: http://www.simple-remedies.com/

WOMEN - Tips to Avoid Foot Pain From High Heels

Experts discuss foot care techniques to cope with the painful consequences of wearing high heels.

By Colette Bouchez
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Do the most important men in your life -- and the shoe boxes in your closet -- bear the names Manolo, Jimmy C, Enzo, and Stevie M?  If so, then there's a good chance high heels are a part of your life.

But unlike Carrie Bradshaw in TV's Sex and the City -- who chased men, taxis, and sometimes a dog in the park while teetering on 4-inch stilettos -- high-heeled life in the real world can be a killer.

"Women do love their high heels, but if you wear them all the time, significant foot pain and other problems can ensue, either as a direct result of the heels or exacerbated by them," says Morris Morin, DPM, director of podiatric medicine at the Hackensack University Medical Center.

Problems range from common concerns like bunions, corns, and calluses to more complex issues like misshapen hammertoes or that excruciating pain in the ball of the foot that seems to grow worse with each passing year. 

Still, many women refuse to give up their high heels: A survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association showed some 42% of women admitted they'd wear a shoe they liked even if it gave them discomfort; 73% admitted already having a shoe-related foot issue.

So what's the answer? Doctors say if you must wear them at all, take a few precautions, and catch and treat problems early on. If you do, you'll not only avoid many high-heel problems, but you'll make the time you spend in spikes a happier day for your feet.

(Do you often wear high heels? Share your experiences on WebMD'sWomen’s Health: Friends Talking message board.)

High Heels and Foot Pain: What You Should Know

Anytime you wear shoes that are tight or constrict the natural shape of your foot, doctors say it's bound to cause foot pain.

But when you add high heels in to the equation, podiatrist Stuart Mogul, DPM, says pain can quickly escalate to damage.

"In addition to restricting the foot, you are also increasing the weight on the area that is restricted, so you're not only crushing your toes, but you're crushing them and then putting weight on them, and that's a problem," says Mogul.

Among the most common problems he sees are painful, aching bunions -- those bony protrusions that usually pop up at the base of the big toe and distort the shape of the foot.

"High heels don't cause bunions, but they sure can aggravate them. Both the heel height and the point of the shoe can play a role," says Mogul.

Moreover, he says some women who have bunions also have a displaced bone on the bottom of the big toe joint, which changes the way the foot "tracks" or acts during motion.

"If the foot is then placed in a high heel, and pitched forward, the pressure on these bones increases and bunion pain grows worse," he says. 

While integrating lower heels into your wardrobe can help some, often the best solution is bunion surgery to straighten the bone.

If you're wearing high heels on a daily basis, it's likely you've already experienced two more common problems: corns and calluses. These thickened layers of dead skin usually occur on the toes or sides of the foot and are actually the body's way of defending your feet against assault. Only in this case, says Morin, your shoes are the enemy.

"When you start developing corns and callus, or even ingrown toe nails, pressure from shoes that don't quite fit is often the problem," says Morin.

Other times it can be the result of a "hammertoe" -- a condition that causes the bone of the affected toe to curl under, leaving the top to rub against the shoe. When that shoe is a high heel, says Morin, problems and pain are intensified. 

While wearing a lower heel shoe can help some, the solution may require a surgical procedure that helps straighten the hammertoe.

High Heels and Midlife Crisis

It's true that nothing can lift the spirits like a sassy new pair of high heels.   But if it seems those heels were a lot more comfortable in your 20s and 30s then they are in your 40s, 50s, and beyond, you're right.

Feet change with age, say experts, and some of those changes can make wearing high heels a lot less comfortable.  One of the most common: a loss of fat in the bottom of the foot.

"As you age, you lose some of the fatty deposits that normally protect the ball of the foot -- and some of it also slides forward towards the toes," says Morin.

When we slip our feet into those strappy stiletto sandals and step down, he says our weight is thrown on the spot where we have less protection.

"In extreme cases you actually have the bony ends of the foot grating down into the sole of the shoe with almost no protection at all," he says.

Not only does this cause pain, but it may also increase your risk of stress fractures and osteoarthritis in the feet.

And while some doctors attempt to repad the foot using injections of silicone or wrinkle filling injections like Restalyne, both Morin and Mogul say it's not a good idea.

"These injectables are not meant to withstand the pressure of body weight; they don't last and they tend to move around from the weight," says Morin.

Moreover, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society warns women against these and other strictly cosmetic procedures for the feet. Calling the trend alarming, they warn consumers that risks -- including infection, nerve injury, and difficulty walking -- frequently outweigh benefits.

A much better idea for bottom-of-the-foot pain, says Morin, is the use of heavily padded insoles. "They act as a buffer between your foot and the ground, and that's all you really need."

And finally, if you've worn primarily high heels for most of your life, you may experience shrinkage of the Achilles tendon, the area that runs from the back of the heel to the calf. This can result in pain when wearing a low-heel shoe or even the inability to walk barefoot.

The antidote here: Stretching exercises like runners do. In rare instances, Mogul says you may need surgery to lengthen the Achilles tendon.

5 Tips to Protect Your Feet When Wearing High Heels

We know you love your high heels, so we won't even hint at the fact that you'd be better off in sneakers.  At the same time, what good is that great pair of red patent-leather stilettos if all you can do is sit and admire them?

If you’re going to wear heels, WebMD combined advice from our two experts, along with suggestions from the American Podiatric Association, to protect your feet.

1.       Get the best-fitting high heel possible.  While this may seem like a given, stop and think: How many pairs of high heels cause your feet toslide to the front, leaving a gap big enough for a small cell phone behind your heel?  Mogul says high heels that don't fit properly cause the front of the foot to fly forward, creating more pressure -- and pain -- on toes. Look for narrow heels with a snug but not tight fit to correct the problem.

2.       Cushion, cushion, cushion. While a full-shoe insert can help, if you have pain in the ball of the foot -- or you'll be standing in your heels a long time -- invest in silicone metatarsal pads. They look like flattened gummy bears, but they do a super job of shock absorption, says Morin.  "It's like replacing the fat padding you lost."

3.       Wear a thicker heel for stability. "A thicker heel will give you better balance and may help relieve some pressure by distributing the weight on your foot more evenly, says Morin.  Alternating heel heights can also help reduce problems with the Achilles tendon.

4.       Pay attention to the "slope" or "pitch" of the heel.  While some 4-inch heels will give you a straight drop down to the flatbed portion of the shoe, others will be a more gradual slope. This may be easier on the arch, says Morin, and might help relieve some pain in the ball of the foot.

5.       Wear open-toe high heels to relieve pressure on corns and calluses. See a podiatrist to have corns and calluses professionally removed and correct the problem that’s causing them. But if that's not possible, opt for open-toe shoes to take pressure off inflamed areas.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/

WOMEN - The Real Harm in High Heels

The Real Harm in High Heels

Your killer heels are killing much more than you think. One in 10 women wear high heels at least three days a week and a third have fallen while wearing them. Statistics show that high heels are one of the biggest factors leading to foot problems in women, with up to a third suffering permanent problems as a result of prolonged wear. Natalie A. Nevins, DO, an osteopathic physician from Hollywood, Calif. who specializes in family medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and neuromusculoskeletal medicine, explains the common medical problems associated with prolonged high heel wear and provides tips to avoid them.

High Heels: The Higher the Better?

Those perfect pumps can create the perfect storm for permanent health problems. If you frequently wear high heels, you are setting yourself up for long-term issues. "Extended wear of high heels and continually bending your toes into an unnatural position can cause a range of ailments, from ingrown toenails to irreversible damage to leg tendons. Additionally, cramming your toes into a narrow toe box can cause nerve damage and bunions," says Dr. Nevins. "High heels have also been linked to overworked or injured leg muscles, osteoarthritis of the knee, plantar fasciitis and low back pain," she adds.

According to Dr. Nevins, when you wear high heels - shoes with a heel two inches or higher - your foot slides forward in your shoe, forcing the toes into the unnatural shape of the shoe and redistributing your weight incorrectly. The increased weight on your toes causes your body to tilt forward, and to compensate, you lean backwards and overarch your back, creating a posture that can strain your knees, hips, and lower back. "The change to the position of your spine puts pressure on nerves in the back and can cause sciatica, a condition where nerves become trapped, triggering pain and numbness as far down as the feet," Dr. Nevins adds.

High Heels and Chronic Pain

Over time, wearing high heels can shorten the muscles in your calves and in your back, leading to pain and muscle spasms. "Any time you wear shoes that restrict the natural shape of your foot, you’re at risk for experiencing pain," Dr. Nevins points out. According to Dr. Nevins, many women who wear high heels often suffer a shortening of the Achilles tendon because once the heel is pointed upwards, it tightens up. Stretching it again or switching to flats can be very painful; it can even lead to plantar fasciitis. "This tendon is designed to be flexible, so the foot can lie flat or point. With repetitive wear, you can develop unhealthy patterns that can persist even when you’re not wearing high heels," adds Dr. Nevins.

Do You Have to Give Up Your Heels?

No, but to avoid the problems that develop over time, Dr. Nevins recommends the following routines:

1. Choose sensible heels. Select shoes with low heels - an inch and a half or less - and a wide heel base; a slightly thicker heel will spread the load more evenly. Narrow, stiletto-type heels provide little support and three inch or higher heels may shorten the Achilles tendon. 
2. Wear soft insoles to reduce the impact on your knees.
3. Make sure your shoes are the right size so the foot doesn't slide forward, putting even more pressure on the toes. Pick a shoe with a wide enough toe box to allow you to wiggle your toes.
4. Wear heels on days that require limited walking or standing.
5. Alternate your shoe choice throughout the day or from one day to the next. Don't wear your high heels all day; and wear more comfortable shoes, such as athletic or walking shoes for commuting to and from work. Wearing shoes that allow your body to move naturally during walking will allow your feet, legs, hips and back to stretch.
6. Stretch. Take time every day to stretch your calf muscles and feet. Dr. Nevins recommends standing on the edge of a step with your shoes off. With your weight on the balls of your feet and your heels extending off the edge, drop your heels down to stretch. You can also put a pencil on the floor and try to pick it up with your toes.

The Final Word on Foot Health

Don't let your sense of style cripple your ability to stand or step pain-free. "Your feet are, quite literally, your base of support. If your feet aren’t happy, nothing above them will be," says Dr. Nevins. "Take a closer look at your shoe selection and take small steps now to prevent big foot problems later."

Source: http://www.osteopathic.org/

High heel horrors! The hidden cost to your body of those crucial extra inches

By PAT HAGAN
UPDATED: 14:56 GMT, 9 September 2008

More women are wearing higher heels, and for longer, and experts are increasingly concerned about the long-term damage they are doing to their feet.

Recent research suggests that up to a third of women suffer permanent problems as a result of their prolonged wearing of 'killer heels', ranging from hammer toes and bunions to irreversible damage to leg tendons.

Many of the problems - which can occur simultaneously - are caused by the increased pressure high heels put on the ball of the foot; the higher the heel, the greater the pressure. The knee and back can also be affected.

High heels are very popular, especially with celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, but there may be a steep price to pay in the long-term

High heels in the form of stilettos first became popular in the Thirties, but while heels used to be largely 'special occasion' wear, thanks to the success of shows such as Sex And The City they have become de rigueur for every day.

One in ten women wears them at least three days a week, and a recent survey found a third had hurt themselves falling while wearing high heels.

There are other consequences, as consultant podiatric surgeon Mike O'Neill, spokesman for the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, explains: 'High heels make you raise your heel and as soon as you do that your centre of gravity is pushed forward.

'What happens then is you bend your lower back to compensate for this and that changes the position of your spine, putting pressure on nerves in the back.'

This can cause sciatica, a painful condition where nerves become trapped, triggering pain and numbness as far down as the feet. Another common problem, says O'Neill, is that the Achilles tendon - which runs up the back of the leg from the heel - becomes permanently damaged.

'This tendon is designed to be flexible, so the foot can lie flat or point. But many women who wear high heels too often suffer a shortening of the tendon because once the heel is pointed upwards, it tightens up. Stretching it again can be very painful.

'When you try to put your foot into flat shoes you get a lot of pain in the back of the heel. I've seen 70-year-olds still hobbling around in high heels because they can't put their feet flat any more, it's just too painful.'

Most women can avoid this by sticking to heels no higher than 1.5in, he adds. But 3in or more can shorten the Achilles tendon - and you don't have to be wearing them every day, just more than once or twice a week.

Other common complaints include bunions, bony growths at the base of the big toe caused by tight, ill-fitting shoes, and socalled 'pump bumps', where straps and the rigid backs of pump-style shoes cause a bony enlargement on the heel.

Many women also develop hammertoes, where tight-fitting shoes force them to crumple up their toes, shortening the muscles inside and leaving them permanently bent.

The risks to today's teenagers are thought to be particularly great as they begin wearing high heels at an early age, before their bodies are fully developed. They run the risk of hip trouble in adulthood and problems with back pain from the stress placed on their spines as youngsters.

To minimise the risks of high heels, choose a slightly thicker heel as this will spread the load more evenly. Wear soft insoles to reduce the impact on your knees - and make sure your shoes are a snug fit so the foot doesn't slide forward, putting even more pressure on the toes.

Finally, 'wear high heels around the house for a few hours before you go out', says O'Neill. 'That gives feet a chance to get used to them before you try something more strenuous like dancing.'

But it's not all bad news. Italian research suggests women who wear up to a 2in heel may enjoy a better sex life.

That's because holding the foot at a 15-degree angle - as with a 2in heel - increases electrical activity in the pelvic muscles that play a vital role in sexual performance and satisfaction.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk