Should You Leave Your Shoes At the Door?

In many countries across the world, it is considered rude for a guest not to take off their shoes before entering a private home. A U.S. expert now says that it may not be beneficial.
Stephen S. Morse, a professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University says that even when a person walks through a spotless office building, shoes pick up all sorts of germs and bacteria. 
Bacteria like E. coli and viruses that cause influenza like to attach themselves to shoes. For those who live in farmland or near exposed soil, harmful pathogens like to stick on shoes. Carpets and wet surfaces house our favorite fungi, which can cause Athlete's foot and plantar warts. 
However, these germs would "have to make their way into a human through a lesion on the skin, and that's a pretty far-fetched scenario," Morse told the Wall Street Journal. 
While the risk of catching any severe germs is low, who should enforce a no-shoes policy?
Those who have crawling babies should enforce a no-shoe rule, as babies love to put anything they can find in their mouths, or leave things behind for an adult to step on. Dr. Morse also offers this practical reason: wood floors and other surfaces look cleaner without shoe traffic. Dr. Morse removes his shoes in his home, "for the sake of keeping my marriage intact."
However, going barefoot is not for everyone. Diabetics and the injury-prone should either wear shoes in the house or socks and slippers. "You could step on a nail," Dr. Morse says. "But mostly the concerns are anesthetic."
Enforcing the no-shoe rule can be tricky, especially when it comes to repairmen or dinner guests, and Dr. Morse doesn't believe it's worth it. He thinks that a little dirt is a good thing: "The Hygiene Hypothesis says that one of the reasons we see asthma and allergies is because the immune system isn't being kept busy with fighting off the bad guys," he says. "There is evidence for both sides, and we epidemiologists debate this every week." 
As long as guests wipe off their shoes before they enter your home, you should be OK. "It might save your floors a lot of cleaning, but other than that, we have no reason to believe that shoes in the home are a real hazard."
Reference: Wall Street Journal
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Mental Health Tied To Foot Pain?

Is mental health tied to foot pain? Researchers in Australia believe so.
A new study published in Arthritis Care & Research suggests that poor mental health is a predictor of worsening foot pain. This study included 62 patients with foot pain, who underwent assessments for pain and mental health in 2008 and then again three years later.
Researchers from La Trobe and Monash University found that participants whose foot pain decreased in the interval were more likely to have better baseline mental health.
Authors found that age, gender, BMI, and physical disability were not factors with the change in foot pain. 
Baseline mental health scores for patients whose foot pain improved were in the normal range for the overall Australian population. This was in contrast to those whose pain deteriorated and had baseline scores far below normal.
"This study supports the theory that the outcome of foot pain may be affected by a person's mental status," the authors wrote. 
The psychosomatic response to pain is different for each individual and may explain how pre-existing conditions psychological factors influence the development of chronic pain conditions. 
It is also possible that chronic pain creates activity avoidance, which in turn perpetuates the persistence of pain.
More research would be needed to determine if mental health is the cause or effect of foot pain. 
Reference: Rheumatology Update
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Injury Or Fashion? Kesha Appears With Bandaged Ankle At Coachella

A picture taken of pop singer Kesha at Coachella over the weekend may lead some people to believe that she had a little too much fun. 
Kesha was posing with The Strokes' Julian Casablancas and Haim's Danielle Haim and appeared to be favoring a bandaged left ankle in the picture. One would think the singer had injured herself during the day's music activities, as she had appeared earlier in the day without the bandage. 
However, the bandage was just fashion related. E! News reported that the bandage was just a result of her strappy black and gold sandals.
Even with her shoe malfunctions, Kesha seemed to be enjoying herself at Coachella, looking happy and healthy in a pink and white floral romper.
The singer has been in good spirits since leaving a rehabilitation center last month after receiving treatment for an eating disorder. 
At the time she tweeted, "Happy to be back! Feeling healthy & working on tons of new music. I can't thank my friends enough for all the love & support you have given me. Life is beautiful. I'm so blessed to have u all."
Kesha has made a new start for herself, first by dropping the dollar sign from her name and changing up her Twitter account. She also cancelled her spring tour dates to focus on her recovery. 
"I was so looking forward to performing at these dates, but I need to follow my doctor's advice and get my health back on track," she said. "All of your support has been so amazing. I couldn't have done this without you all. I look forward to coming back stronger than ever on the next tour."
Reference: E! News
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Comedian George Wallace Wins Lawsuit Over Injuries

Comedian George Wallace won a $1.3 million in a civil lawsuit against a Las Vegas casino resort for injuries he suffered in 2007 when he tripped over audio cables during a performance. 
Wallace was appearing at a corporate holiday party at the Bellagio when he sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon from getting tangled in the cables. His attorney Dominic Gentile said that the cables should have been properly secured.
Wallace, who was in Jerry Seinfeld's wedding, filed the lawsuit against the casino in 2009 for negligence. An eight member jury found the Bellagio had breached its duty of care, according to a court document detailing the verdict. 
The comedian, 61, was awarded $1.2 million for loss of income, $100,000 for pain and suffering, and $8,500 for medical expenses.
Talking to reporters after the verdict was announced, Wallace said that the injury caused him to walk with a permanent limp. 
Gentile had asked that his client be awarded several million in damages and said that he respected the court's decision. 
The Bellagio's lawyers argued that its employees were not responsible for Wallace's injuries, said spokeswoman Mary Hynes. Hynes said the Bellagio was "reviewing the jury's verdict and our legal options."
Wallace is known for his work on "The Tonight Show", "Oprah", and "The Late Show With David Letterman". 
A ruptured Achilles tendon is a complete or partial tear that occurs when the tendon is stretched beyond its capacity. Forceful jumping or pivoting, or sudden accelerations of running, can overstretch the tendon and cause a tear. An injury to the tendon can also result from falling or tripping.
Achilles tendon ruptures are most often seen in "weekend warriors"- typically, middle-aged people participating in sports in their spare time. Less commonly, illness or medications, such as steroids or certain antibiotics, may weaken the tendon and contribute to ruptures.
A person with a ruptured Achilles tendon may experience the following symptoms:

• Sudden pain in the back of the calf or ankle- often subsiding with a dull ache
• A popping or snapping sensation
• Swelling in the back of the leg between the calf and heel
• Difficulty walking, especially uphill or up stairs, and difficulty rising up on the toes

These symptoms require prompt medical attention to prevent further damage. Until the patient is able to see a podiatrist, the R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) method should be used.
Treatment options for an Achilles tendon rupture include surgical and non-surgical approaches. The decision to proceed with surgery is based on how severe the rupture is and the patient's health status.
Non-surgical treatment is typically associated with a higher rate of re-rupture and is a good method for minor tears, less active patients, and those with medical conditions. This may include a walking boot, cast, or brace to restrict motion and movement.
Reference: Reuters
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Julie Andrews Gives Up Movie Roll Because Of Ankle Surgery

Julie Andrews was forced to give up a scintillating roll in Oscar-nominated The Wolf of Wall Street because she was recovering from ankle surgery.
The veteran British actress was offered a small roll that would have given her the opportunity to kiss leading man Leonardo DiCaprio. 
However, since the Sound of Music actress was recuperating from ankle surgery, the role of Aunt Emma went to Joanna Lumley instead. 
Andrews told Britain's Birmingham Post newspaper, "I've had problems for a long time with my ankle, after I twisted it many years ago. With general wear and tear it got worse, and eventually it just had to be taken care of. I was finding it very hard to walk, I was hanging on to anything I could find. I didn't like what I saw for the future.
"So I had the operation nearly two years ago. I'm fully recovered now, but I wasn't over it when I got the Wolf of Wall Street offer. I would love to have been part of the film but I couldn't alas. It was really a tough choice, but I didn't feel up to it. I was still having a hard time getting about, so regretfully I had to decline the offer. I'm sure Joanna Lumley was fabulous in the role."
Reference: News Net 5 Cleveland
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Why Do My Feet Burn?

If your feet are burning, it does not necessarily mean that you have neuropathy. There are other causes and reasons for your feet to burn.
One such cause is called Grierson-Gopalan syndrome, also known as burning feet syndrome. The burning sensation is usually limited to the soles of the feet, but may spread to the tops of the ankles. Typically the arms and palms of the hands are not affected.
The conditions consists of severe burning and aching of the feet, hyperaesthesia, pain, elevated skin temperature, and vasomotor changes of the feet, including excessive sweating and general body washing. Some patients will complain of pins and needles or tingling in the lower extremities. Symptoms usually worsen at night and improve during the day.
Women between the ages of 20 and 40 are the most commonly affected and the syndrome can occur because of hereditary or mechanical factors. Mechanical factors may be due to mechanical compression of the peripheral nerves, like the tarsal tunnel, and in diseases like hypothyroidism, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. This condition has been related to psychosomatic causes, vitamin B deficiencies, renal failure, and hypothyroidism. Nerve entrapment because of sciatic monoeuropathy and spinal arteriovenous malformation can also cause burning feet. Patients with psychiatric disorders may have a myriad of signs and symptoms in association with burning feet.
On the outside, it may appear there is no underlying problem. The overlying skin and blood vessels look normal, but some patients exhibit erythema of the feet with warm overlying skin as in erythromelalgia. No tenderness in the area is usually felt.
If Grierson-Gopalan syndrome is caused by a disease, like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or psychosomatic, measures specific to the disease will be taken.
Generally, treatment includes wearing open and comfortable shoes, especially those with arch supports. Wearing cotton socks is also recommended. Soaking the feet daily in cold water for 15 minutes can bring temporary symptomatic relief. You should avoid exposing your feet to the heat. Certain creams and vitamin B supplements can also be helpful in reducing the burning sensation.
In cases where it is a mechanical failure, arch supports and wider shoes may relieve discomfort. If the underlying cause is flat feet, orthotics will help restore the foot arch.
Reference: Dr. Foot.
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Nigella Lawson Has A Bad Habit

Nigella Lawson has a bad habit. 
And we're not talking about how she was stopped from getting on a plane to Los Angeles today because of her previous cocaine and pot usage. 
We're talking about trips to the refrigerator in the middle of the night for a snack. 
The television cook, 54, once sprained her ankle during a late night raid on her refrigerator. She admitted her midnight slip to chat show host pal Michael McIntyre. 
When asked if she makes a lot of trips to the refrigerator in the middle of the night, Lawson responded, "It's not part of my routine, but sometimes I make double visits.
"I have actually sprained my ankle going to get a turkey sandwich in the middle of the night."
Lawson has had a rough year after pictures surfaced of her ex-husband Charles Saatchi with his hands around her neck at a London restaurant. The author of "How To Be A Domestic Goddess" also had to testify at the fraud trial of former assistants Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, where her drug use was revealed. 
We're still scratching our heads over how Justin Bieber is allowed into the United States, but Lawson, who had no drugs on her, was not. 
Verdict: if you're going to get up in the middle of the night for a snack, make sure you turn the light on so you don't trip and sprain your ankle, or worse. 
Reference: The Mirror
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