Top 10 Reasons of Common Foot Pain

1. Bunions - Bunions are a very common cause of foot pain. This condition is caused when the joint at the base of your big toe becomes enlarged. This enlargement causes pressure on the area, and can make walking painful or difficult at times. There are pads you can buy to protect this area and minimize pain, and make sure your shoes do not press or squeeze on this area.

2. Sprains - Sprains occur when you damage any of the ligaments in your foot, and this can cause discomfort and swelling. You may also have difficulty moving your foot or putting pressure on it to walk. Usually with sprains you should apply an ice pack, and you can wrap an ace bandage around the area for additional support if needed. Rest the foot as much as possible so the ligament can recover and heal. This injury can last from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the damage done.

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3. Neuropathy - This is a group of disorders which affect the nerves in your extremities, or other parts of your body. One of the symptoms can be pain in the hands and feet. If you have neuropathy you may feel the pain as a burning sensation, or it may feel tingling like when your foot falls asleep and then wake up. Neuropathy is common in people with diabetes, as well as others.

Top 10 Reasons of Common Foot Pain

4. Swelling - Swelling in your feet can be caused by a number of reasons, and this swelling can cause foot pain. If you stand on your feet for long hours, walk a distance, wear tight-fitting shoes, or otherwise abuse your feet then it is possible they may start to swell. This is a common condition for women in late pregnancy. If your feet swell elevate them and let them rest for a while. This will usually relieve any aches or pains you feel. A hot soak also works wonders on sore feet.

5. Ingrown Toenails - Ingrown toenails can be very painful, as well as unattractive and frustrating. With this condition you will have a toenail sliver which grows into your tissue, and is very difficult to clip or remove. Because the nail fragment is attached it is very painful to pull on, and bleeding, pain, and even infection are possible. An ingrown toenail can leave your entire toe and foot throbbing.

6. Strains - Strains happen when you damage muscles or tendons in your foot. If the damage is severe the pain can be quite intense. Applying ice will minimize any swelling, and help to numb any pain you may have. An ace bandage can be wrapped around the affected foot, and it should stay elevated for a few hours after the injury. This will also help keep the swelling down, which minimizes the pain.

7. Plantar Fasciitis - This is a condition that is a type of tendonitis, and it can cause severe foot pain. The pain is usually felt in the heel area, and walking may become difficult or even impossible because of the discomfort.

8. Heel Spur - A heel spur is a growth of bone that occurs on your muscle or tendon. These growths can cause pain whenever the tendon or muscle moves. Often these spurs must be surgically removed to eliminate the pain completely.

9. Arthritis - Arthritis affects every joint in your body, including those in your feet. With this disease comes swelling, pain, and even a heat sensation. You may have difficulty moving your toes and other affected joints, and they may crack and pop when you do move them.

10. No Arch - If you have no arch then you will usually experience some foot pain. A flat foot places stress and pressure on areas of the foot that are not natural, and can lead to pain.

Top 10 Reasons of Common Foot Pain

Emily Greene is one of the active contributors of new health and wellness information resource portal at Health Articles 101.

Curious How to Get Rid of Heel Pain?

Believe it or not, heel pain is a very common ailment. Our feet take a tremendous amount of stress every day from walking alone. In addition to everyday use of our feet we also engage in sports, wear shoes that are not properly fitted to our feet and may ignore any discomfort that we feel in our feet until it becomes unbearable - forcing us to make changes to be comfortable again.

Heel pain can have many root causes. A doctors visit is, more often than not, necessary to determine the origin of the pain. Your doctor will examine your foot, take a detailed history, and look for any signs of tenderness or inflammation. Pain in the heel can come from either of two locations: beneath the heel or behind the heel.

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If you feel pain beneath the heel you may have a simple 'stone bruise.' This happens when you step on something hard and you bruise the fat pad that is on the underside of your heel This type of pain will subside with rest and time.

Curious How to Get Rid of Heel Pain?

Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are also felt beneath the heel The plantar fascia is a flat ligament that stretches from the heel to the toes. If the plantar fascia is strained, either by everyday use or athletics, it becomes swollen and inflamed. A heel spur, which is a calcium deposit, can be formed by plantar fasciitis.

If you feel pain behind the heel it may be an inflammation of the area between the Achilles tendon and heel bone. This injury can be caused by running or wearing improperly fitted shoes. This kind of pain may build up slowly over time and any discomfort to the heel should never be ignored.

Common treatments for heel pain, like heel spurs, include rest, shoe inserts or orthotics, the application of ice packs, exercises and stretches to strengthen the foot and ankle, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.

Curious How to Get Rid of Heel Pain?

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Back Pain - Muscle Problem Or Nerve Damage?

Back pain can be a minor ache caused by a weekend of throwing a baseball with your kids or it can be serious requiring MRIs, physical therapy, drugs and even surgery. Most people when they experience back pain wonder if it's a muscle problem or nerve damage. Is there a difference between muscle and nerves causing the pain in your back?

Let us first look at muscle problems and back pain. There are four major muscles in the back starting with the Sternocleidmastoid running down the neck, to the Trapezius in the upper back, the Latissmus dorsal running down the back to the buttocks or Gluteus Maximus. Any of these muscles can be damaged by overwork, quick jerking movement like in a accident, or by over extension. When and where muscles are weak or out of balance and injury can occur causing back muscle pain. Usually rest, a little ice and an over the counter pain killer will do the trick. Once the pain has gone away an exercise program specifically designed to strengthen the back muscles will go a long way to prevent back problems in the future.

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Nerve damage can signal a more severe back problems. Nerve damage can be caused by an accident or a herniated disc or a damaged muscle pressing against a nerve root. In the lower back nerve problems usually means the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body running from the lower back and down both legs. When a disc, or bone or muscle presses against the nerve pain can radiate down a leg or both legs right to the feet. Nerve damage will often involve your doctor, physical therapy and possibly surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve.

Back Pain - Muscle Problem Or Nerve Damage?

Whether it's muscle damage or nerve damage back pain should not be taken lightly. If the pain continues for more than a couple of days it is time to see your doctor to determine what type of back Ian problem you have. Once this is known the doctor can decide on a program designed to treat the muscles or nerve. This treatment can range from anyway from taking a pain pill an a couple days of rest to surgery. I believe it is important to know and understand what is causing your back pain and take an aggressive approach to stopping the pain and strengthen the muscles. Nobody likes back pain and yet so many people ignore their bodies through lack of exercise and/or weight and then wonder way they are suffering from an aching back.

Back Pain - Muscle Problem Or Nerve Damage?

The Pain Stops Here! You deserve relief from your aching back and to live pain free. There are alternatives to suffering and surgery. As someone who has suffered with debilitating back pain, I believe you owe it to yourself to know all the facts. For more FREE information, reports and videos take the first step and Click Here

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment - How Long Does It Take To Cure Plantar Fasciitis?

The treatment for plantar fasciitis can be simple and relatively quick, with improvements in your heel pain being felt relatively quickly. On the other hand, it can be a difficult process taking a lifetime to total cure. Or it can be anything in between, depending on why you have plantar fasciitis, how severe it is and how seriously you follow the treatment for it. Of these, the last factor is the most important in determining how long it will take, or indeed if it is possible at all, to cure your plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia. It is one of the commonest causes of heel pain and can be quite debilitating. It is commonly caused by over pronation, or rolling inwards of the foot during motion. Whilst some degree of pronation is perfectly normal during walking, and most people do it to some extent, a few people over pronate during motion. This action puts excessive stress on the plantar fascia, the long foot ligament running underneath the arch, causes minute tears or rips to develop in the plantar fascia, which become inflamed and painful as the foot is used

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Because over pronation becomes increasingly significant as the foot is used, plantar fasciitis is often found in athletes, runners and people who do a lot of walking in their everyday lives. It is also common in pregnant women and anyone who is carrying excess weight because this increases the load on the feet, amplifying the stress on the plantar fascia. Losing weight significantly improves the condition, which is why women often feel relief from their foot pain on giving birth.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment - How Long Does It Take To Cure Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is aggravated by tight foot and calf muscles. And one of the best ways to treat plantar fasciitis is through a course of daily exercises including specific plantar fascia stretches and massages, toe flexes, Achilles tendon stretches and calf lengthening exercises. However, you should never attempt these as a first resort or you could do more damage to the plantar and increase your recovery time.

If your pain is intense, it is likely that your plantar fascia is inflamed and it is essential that you rest your afflicted foot by elevating it. You should also ice it by massaging a frozen bottle of water underneath the heel and arch for several minutes whenever the pain is intense. These actions will help heal the initial inflammation. Many people fail to rest their foot sufficiently before trying exercises and cause more damage to their feet long term.

Exercises and stretches for the plantar fascia are essential if you want to cure your foot pain for good but if you do not rest sufficiently immediately after damaging your plantar fascia, then you can unwittingly increase the extent and length of your suffering.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment - How Long Does It Take To Cure Plantar Fasciitis?

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Foods to Gain Weight and Build Muscle

While many people are concerned about losing weight, there are also people who are looking for ways to gain weight naturally and in a healthy way. Healthy weight gain may help increase energy levels and endurance. It may also help you build muscle and strength. For some people, healthy weight gain may help make them look more attractive. There are certain foods that you can eat to gain weight in a healthy and natural way without building up excess body fat.

When choosing foods for weight gain, avoid eating high-fat and high-sugar foods. Using this type of food to gain weight can lead to increased blood cholesterol. High cholesterol levels have been known to lead to heart disease. Using weight gain supplements as food to gain weight is also not a good idea because such supplements do not build muscle. They also tend to be very expensive.

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The best way to gain weight is to eat foods that promote a healthy diet and to also engage in regular strength training to build muscle. Most health professionals recommend that you aim to gain about one pound each week. Slow weight gain is recommended in order to avoid too much body fat. Another point to remember is that the amount of weight you gain will depend on your calorie intake. If being thin runs in your family, you may find it harder to gain weight. Make fats, carbohydrates and protein an important part of your weight gain diet. Fats provide the energy and the vitamins that you need while carbohydrates are the main source of energy that your body needs during exercise. The best sources of carbohydrates are whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Proteins are important for building and repairing muscle, producing hormones, replacing blood cells and boosting your immune system.

Foods to Gain Weight and Build Muscle

Some healthy foods that are higher in calories include bread, cereals, fruits, starchy vegetables, meats, beans and legumes.

1. Foods to gain weight - Cereals

Add whole grain cereals to your diet. Whole grains are a very good source of fiber and nutrients. The USDA recommends that you regularly eat between six and eleven servings of foods from the bread and cereal group.

2. Foods to gain weight - Fruits

Bananas, pineapple, mangos, raisins, dates, watermelon, grapefruit, apples, and peaches. Note that dried fruit have more calories per serving than fresh watery fruits, so use dried fruits or fruit juices as snacks.

3. Foods to gain weight - Vegetables

Eat starchy vegetables more often. Corn, carrots, peas, green beans, broccoli, summer squash.

4. Foods to gain weight - Beans and legumes

Lentils, lima beans, chili beans, bean burritos. These are a good source of carbohydrates and protein.

5. Foods to gain weight - Meats

Chicken, beef andlamb are excellent sources of protein. For red meats, choose leaner cuts. Fish is also an excellent source of protein.

Foods to gain weight - Variety is Key

For a healthy weight gain diet, eat a variety of foods and make sure that you eat regularly. This should be in addition to an exercise program that includes strength training. Consult a dietician or nutritionist who will be able to tell you how many servings you need from each food group. If you are recovering from an illness speak to your doctor about your daily calorie need. To gain weight, you need to start consuming more calories than you're currently taking.

Foods to Gain Weight and Build Muscle

Click Here to find out more about Weight Gain and what you need to eat and do to gain weight the natural way without supplements or drugs: http://www.abouthealthtips.com/weightgain/. Visit the main site to subscribe to our Health Tips newsletter. Copyright © 2007 Katie Johnson.

Leg Cramps - Tips on How to Deal With Shooting Pain During Menopause

Menopause occurs when the levels of estrogen and progesterone become less in a woman's body and menstruation stops completely for a period of over a year. Among the common symptoms of menopause are irregular periods and hot flashes, mood swings, irritability, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness and urinary tract problems. Menopausal women may also suffer stomach pains and leg cramps and some may suffer more, as compared to others, in terms of sleeplessness.

Leg cramp pain during menopause can come on suddenly. It can be a shooting, sharp pain that can disturb your sleep, or wake you up. This pain may linger and make the area sore for almost 24 hours.

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How They Occur

Leg Cramps - Tips on How to Deal With Shooting Pain During Menopause

Women going through menopause have to deal with other symptoms as well. There are some pointers to keep in mind for avoiding and treating leg cramps so that you can tackle this problem. If you get leg cramps and feel a sudden pain in your leg, often at night, it can be attributed to a muscle or group of muscles suddenly tightening.

Most cramps occur in calf muscles, but cramps in your thigh or in your foot are also possible. Older women are more prone to this kind of pain and other contributing factors can be lack of physical exercise, an imbalance of minerals, problems with blood circulation apart from menopause.

For those of you that experience the problem of leg cramps only on certain occasions during menopause, you should consult with your doctor regarding the medications you are taking, as leg cramps may be a side effect of certain medicines.

Cramps in your legs during menopause do not cause any serious damage, so are not an alarming issue. However, they can disturb your sleep. For most women, leg cramps occur for a short while and usually go away quite suddenly.

Treatments

Many women report that massaging or stretching the leg helps when they get a cramp. It is good to consult with your doctor, check your bone density and bring yourself up to date with your daily calcium supplements. Leg cramps can also be treated with continuous intake of calcium/magnesium supplements. Other complimentary therapies include drinking a couple of glasses of tonic water and soaking in a peppermint oil bath. A tincture of St. John's wort is reported to also be helpful.

Insomnia

These kinds of cramps in the legs have further been linked with sleep disorders like the Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). The RLS and PLMD can disturb sleep in menopausal women and result in more problems like insomnia. RLS usually occurs before sleep sets in and causes calf discomfort and restlessness in the legs, which gets relief in a short time if you move around a bit.

PLMD, however, can cause excessive sleepiness and both conditions are more common in older women going through menopause. The sensations experienced during RLS are not very painful, but more toward discomfort and akin to being anxious. The subsequent leg cramps and creepy crawly feeling is felt deep in the legs, and often occurs when you lie in bed and may cause stress, if not treated in a timely manner.

Leg Cramps - Tips on How to Deal With Shooting Pain During Menopause

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