This October Has 5 Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, But That Happens Way More Often Than “Once Every 800+ Years”

Do you believe every email you get in your mail box? By now you've probably heard about 5 Fridays and 5 Saturdays in one month.... Well, think again, and perhaps stop believing every word you get in your email, especially stop passing it forward without checking its validity!

So, you may have heard a rumor on Twitter, or by email, or wherever it is that rumors get started, that last October (2010) had 5 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and that this happens only once every 823 years. It’s not true!


This silly piece of nonsense circulates via email and social networking websites and is now in its third incarnation. The message imparts the "interesting" fact that July 2011 will have 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. It claims that such a combination of days only occurs once every 823 years. It also claims that those who forward the message to their friends will receive money within four days.

It is perfectly true that July 2011 will have 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. However, the claim that such an occurrence for July only happens once every 823 years is nonsense. In fact such combinations occur in the month of July every few years. As the following calendar shows, the next time a July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays will be in the year 2016:

And the same combination of days occurred in July 2005:

And, in any case, there is nothing even remotely unusual about months that have such "interesting" combinations of days. In fact, any month that has 31 days will have three consecutive days that occur five times in the month. Such combinations are commonplace and occur each and every year.

The message is a revamped version of similar - and equally nonsensical - chain letters about August 2010and October 2010. 

Let’s think about this, a year can only start on one of seven days, so there are seven possible basic calendar years. Add leap years, and there are fourteen basic calendars. Period. And one of those calendars only gets used every 823 years? How would that be possible? It’s not of course, all fourteen calenders get cycled through regularly, in fact 2010 uses the exact same calendar as 1999.

Here’s the 2010 October calendar

And here are the calendars for October 1982, October 1993, October 1999, and October 2021. See a pattern?

To save you the trouble, 1971 and 2004 had the same October calendar, and 2032 will have the same as well. Hardly a once-every-823-years event.

(PS. There’s a pretty simple explanation for this all: For a 31-day month to have 5 Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the first day needs to be a Friday. Each nonleap year has 365 days, which is 52 weeks plus one day [52*7=364; 364+1=365.] So every passing year will ‘push’ the first day of the month forward by one day, defining ‘forward’ as Friday -> Saturday, Saturday -> Sunday, etc. However, if it’s a leap year, the first day of the month will be pushed forward by two days. Since any six-year cycle will contain at least one leap year, this means that the same October calendar should reappear every six years [five one-day pushes forward and one two-day push = one full week covered] unless there are two leap years that fall in that space, in which case the whole cycle will be shifted forward by one day.)

An Apple A Day To Keep The Wrinkles Away?

Does the extract from a rare apple that grows in Switzerland really have anti-aging benefits? Find out what researchers are discovering about the properties of this potentially potent ingredient. 

Did you know that apples are good for more than eating? It turns out that an apple a day may help keep the wrinkles away. According to Swiss researchers, an extract from a rare apple found in a remote part of Switzerland has been shown to have potential anti-aging benefits. This variety of apple, called Uttwiler Spatlauber, was cultivated in the 18th century, long before the appearance of crispers and modern farming techniques. It was a popular fruit back then because it could be stored for a long period of time without spoiling. Some of these apple trees are still being grown in Switzerland, and researchers believe that the fruit's longevity and resistance to spoiling result from the apple tree’s unusually long-living stem cells.

Recently, scientists have shown that an extract containing plant stem cells from the leaves of this apple tree could stimulate the production of human stem cells. In another study, subjects who applied a cream containing the apple extract saw an 8 percent reduction in their crow’s-feet after two weeks, and a 15 percent reduction after four weeks. While these initial studies are promising, I’m waiting to see more research before recommending skin creams containing this ingredient.

Apples also contain a compound called malic acid, which is related to glycolic acid. Malic and glycolic acids are alpha hydroxy acids, which help “unglue” dead skin cells and loosen clogged pores. This is why alpha hydroxy acids are popular in acne treatments. Malic acid tends to be less irritating than glycolic acid, so it may be a better option if you have sensitive skin. Malic acid has been popular in Asia for years; you can find it in M2 Skin Refinish serum, which contains both malic and mandelic acid, another alpha hydroxy acid that’s derived from bitter almonds (m2skincare.com).

Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor lived life of spectacle onscreen and offscreen

Elizabeth Taylor went from dazzling beauty in her glory years to self-described ruin in old age. 

She spent almost her entire life in the public eye, from tiny dancer performing at age 3 before the future queen of England, to child screen star to scandalous home-wrecker to three-time Academy Award winner for both acting and humanitarian work.

A diva, she made a spectacle of her private life — eight marriages, ravenous appetites for drugs, booze and food, ill health that sparked headlines constantly proclaiming her at death's door. All of it often overshadowed the fireworks she created on screen.

Yet for all her infamy and indulgences, Taylor died Wednesday a beloved idol, a woman who somehow held onto her status as one of old Hollywood's last larger-than-life legends, adored even as she waned to a tabloid figure.

Taylor, 79, died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized for about six weeks.

"We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts," her son, Michael Wilding, said in a prepared statement.

A star from her teen years in such films as "National Velvet," ''Little Women" and "Father of the Bride," Taylor won best-actress Oscars as a high-end hooker in 1960s "BUtterfield 8" and an alcoholic shrew in a savage marriage in 1966's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

In the latter, she starred with husband Richard Burton, their on-screen emotional tempest considered a glimpse of their stormy real lives (they divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975 and divorced again a year later).

For all the ferocity of her screen roles and the turmoil of her life, Taylor was remembered for her gentler, life-affirming side.

"The shock of Elizabeth was not only her beauty," said "Virginia Woolf" director Mike Nichols. "It was her generosity, her giant laugh, her vitality, whether tackling a complex scene on film or where we would all have dinner until dawn."

"She is singular and indelible on film and in our hearts," he said.

Though Taylor continued acting in film, television and theatre in the 1980s and 1990s, she called it quits on the big screen with 1994's "The Flintstones," playing caveman Fred's nagging mother-in-law.

Taylor bid farewell to the small screen with 2001's "These Old Broads," a geriatric diva romp co-starring Shirley MacLaine, Joan Collins and one-time romantic rival Debbie Reynolds, whose husband, Eddie Fisher, left her for Taylor in the late 1950s.

She was remembered for her friendship, standing by Michael Jackson, Rock Hudson and other troubled friends.

"I don't know what was more impressive, her magnitude as a star or her magnitude as a friend," MacLaine said. "Her talent for friendship was unmatched. I will miss her for the rest of my life and beyond."

Collins called Taylor one of the last of the true Hollywood icons. "There will never be another star who will come close to her luminosity and generosity, particularly in her fight against AIDS," she said.

AIDS activism had become Taylor's real work long before she gave up acting. Her passion in raising money and AIDS awareness brought her an honorary Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1993.

"Acting is, to me now, artificial," Taylor told The Associated Press at the 2005 dedication of a UCLA AIDS research centre. "Seeing people suffer is real. It couldn't be more real. Some people don't like to look at it in the face because it's painful.

"But if nobody does, then nothing gets done," she said. 

One of the groups that benefited, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, praised Taylor for being "among the first to speak out on behalf of people living with HIV when others reacted with fear and often outright hostility."

Taylor's work "improved and extended millions of lives and will enrich countless more for generations to come," the group said.

Taylor received the Legion of Honor, France's most prestigious award, in 1987 for AIDS efforts. In 2000, Queen Elizabeth II made Taylor a dame — the female equivalent of a knight — for her services to charity and the entertainment industry.

Taylor herself, however, suffered through the decades.

She fell from a horse while shooting 1944's "National Velvet," causing a back injury that plagued her for the rest of her life. Her third husband, producer Michael Todd, died in a plane crash after only a year of marriage.

Taylor had life-threatening bouts with pneumonia, a brain tumour and congestive heart failure in her 60s and 70s, and from drug and alcohol abuse, including a 35-year addiction to sleeping pills and painkillers, which prompted her to check in to the Betty Ford Center.

She had at least 20 major operations, including replacements of both hip joints and surgery to remove the benign brain tumour.

Taylor also dealt with obesity, packing on as much as 60 pounds and writing, "It's a wonder I didn't explode" in her 1988 book "Elizabeth Takes Off," about how she gained the weight and then shed it.

"Eating became one of the most pleasant activities I could find to fill the lonely hours and I ate and drank with abandon," she said.

After a lifetime of ailments and self-abuse, Taylor said in a 2004 interview with W magazine that "my body's a real mess. ... Just completely convex and concave."

Her trials made her a butt of jokes, but even when people made fun, she preserved a hint of the divine aura of her youth.

When cartoonist Garry Trudeau mocked Taylor and then-husband John Warner, newly installed as a U.S. senator, in a 1979 "Doonesbury" comic strip, he memorably described her as a "tad overweight, but with violet eyes to die for."

Her eyes were only part of the charms that took her to the top in Hollywood and kept her there for decades.

Born in London on Feb. 27, 1932, to art dealer Francis Taylor and American stage actress Sara Sothern, Taylor seemed born for the spotlight. A seasoned ballerina at age 3, Taylor danced before Princess Elizabeth, the future queen.

Her family moved to Hollywood at the outset of World War II. She then made her screen debut with a tiny part in the 1942 comedy "There's One Born Every Minute." Her big break came a year later in "Lassie Come Home."

Taylor's screen test for the film won her both the part and a long-term contract. She grew up quickly after that.

"I have the emotions of a child in the body of a woman," she once said. "I was rushed into womanhood for the movies. It caused me long moments of unhappiness and doubt."

Steady work and high-profile romances followed into her late teens, with early lovers including athletes Ralph Kiner and Glenn Davis and hotel heir Conrad Hilton Jr., whom she married at age 18 and divorced just months later.

Taylor showed her first real grown-up glimmers as an actress with 1951's "A Place in the Sun," adapted from Theodore Dreiser's novel "An American Tragedy."

After some old-fashioned costume pageants ("Ivanhoe," ''Beau Brummell") and romances ("The Last Time I Saw Paris," ''The Girl Who Had Everything"), Taylor set the screen ablaze opposite Rock Hudson and James Dean in the 1956 epic "Giant."

She was primed to become one of the era's most-acclaimed actresses.

Taylor got four straight Oscar nominations from 1957-1960, for "Raintree County," the back-to-back Tennessee Williams adaptations "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Suddenly, Last Summer," then her win for "BUtterfield 8," a film she later disparaged.

Professional success was tempered by the headlines that came with Taylor's personal life. She was wed again at 19, to British actor Michael Wilding, a marriage that lasted four years and produced two sons.

She married producer Todd, with whom she had a daughter. Fisher was best man at Todd's wedding to Taylor. A year after Todd's death in the plane crash, Fisher left Reynolds to marry Taylor, who converted to Judaism before the wedding.

Then came Burton. They met while filming "Cleopatra," a colossally expensive production that nearly ruined 20th Century Fox.

The movie was derided by critics as a bloated bore, but the ardour between Taylor's Cleopatra and Burton's Mark Antony came to life for real as the co-stars began one of Hollywood's great and stormy love affairs.

The romance created such a sensation that the Vatican denounced their behaviour as the "caprices of adult children."

After Taylor divorced Fisher and Burton divorced his wife, they were married in 1964. Along with a daughter, the fiery relationship produced a surprisingly durable working partnership.

Over a decade, Taylor and Burton co-starred in "The VIPs," ''The Sandpiper," ''The Taming of the Shrew," ''The Comedians," ''Dr. Faustus," ''Boom!", "Under Milk Wood," and "Hammersmith is Out."

They also starred in a 1973 TV movie, "Divorce His, Divorce Hers," prophetically about the breakup of a marriage. Their own first marriage ended a year later.

But it was "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", released in 1966 when their marriage still was fairly fresh, that stands as the dramatic peak for Taylor and Burton and an eerie window into an explosive romance.

Based on Edward Albee's play, the film stars Burton and Taylor as George and Martha, who nearly destroy each other over the course of a drunken evening of vicious role-playing and mind games with another couple.

"We fight a great deal," Burton once said of his real life with Taylor, "and we watch the people around us who don't quite know how to behave during these storms. We don't fight when we are alone."

Taylor was also known for real-life sauciness.

"She had a sense of humour that was so bawdy, even I was saying, 'Really? That came out of your mouth?'" Whoopi Goldberg said on ABC's "The View," recalling how Taylor gave her advice about her own Hollywood career.

"She was just a magnificent woman. She was a great broad and a good friend," Goldberg said.

After their second marriage ended, Taylor and Burton reunited professionally for a touring production of Noel Coward's "Private Lives" in 1982. Burton died two years later. Taylor married Warner in 1976, and they divorced in 1982.

Two of Taylor's early marriages, to Wilding and Todd, were to men 20 years older than she was. For her final marriage in 1991, Taylor wed a man 20 years younger, Larry Fortensky, a trucker and construction worker she met at the Betty Ford Center.

That wedding was a media circus at the ranch of her friend, Michael Jackson. It included the din of helicopter blades, a journalist who parachuted to a spot near the couple and a gossip columnist as official scribe.

By 1995, Taylor and Fortensky had separated. She divorced for the last time in 1997.

"I was taught by my parents that if you fall in love, if you want to have a love affair, you get married," Taylor once said. "I guess I'm very old-fashioned."

Taylor's survivors include daughters Maria Burton-Carson and Liza Todd-Tivey, sons Christopher and Michael Wilding, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A private family funeral is planned later this week.

Not long before Burton's death, as her Hollywood career was winding down and her first stint in rehab lay before her, Taylor, turning 50 at the time, looked back on her life self-critically but unapologetically.

"I don't entirely approve of some of the things I have done, or am, or have been," she said. "But I'm me. God knows, I'm me."

___

Associated Press writers Bob Thomas, and Hillel Italie and David Bauder in New York contributed to this report.

Five fashion mistakes that age you

We know that wearing too much makeup and not updating your hairstyle can make you look older. But there are also certain fashion choices that can add years to your look. The good news is that such missteps are easily remedied. Watch this episode for the style choices to avoid and our more youthful styling suggestions. 

NO to: A loose-fitting pencil skirt
The whole point of a pencil skirt is to look polished and slyly sexy. We count it as a wardrobe staple, but not if yours doesn't fit properly and looks more like a frumpy, boxy table skirt. A quick trip to the tailor can take care of this problem. Make sure the hem sits at (not below) the knee and the skirt fits snugly at the hips. Wear it with a tucked-in shirt to show off your waist.

NO to: Matching shoes and handbag
Your grandma probably told you about this "rule" because when she was in her stylistic prime that's how ladies turned it out. Today, we'd put it in the same category as matching your lipstick to your manicure or wearing coffee-colored pantyhose. DON'T DO IT! The modern view is to create fresh pairings that make people think, "Wow, I never thought that would go together, but it looks fantastic!"

NO to: Twinsets:
You should be suspicious of anything that's a set. Twinsets lack imagination and personality and can be put in the same category as "mom jeans" -- which means, "I've given up on style." Instead, go with a printed shirt under a cardigan or a striped sweater over a simple, solid tank.

NO to: Chunky heels:
Especially low ones. If you're wearing these for comfort, that's no excuse because there are many different types of heels in fashion right now, such as kitten heels, wedges, and platforms. You're sure to find something that provides stability and style.

NO to: Oversized, tailored men's shirt:
Can we get you some Reebok high tops with that? Maybe some leg warmers? Baggy button-downs give the impression that you're trying to hide your body. Go for a menswear-inspired fabric, if that's the look you love, but choose a shirt that's tailored with seams and darts to accentuate the positive.
By Sarah Bernard

And now my question is: Do you agree with the above advices??

Precautionary + restorative measures to take in the event of radioactive contamination

(NaturalNews) At time of this writing, radioactive clouds from the Japanese nuclear disaster were expected to hit the western United States within days. Though part of the radiation is expected to dissipate over the ocean, some estimates are forecasting radiation exposure levels of 750 RADS or more. By comparison, one chest X-ray is about 1/300 RADS and one CT-scan is 1 RAD. Following are several precautionary and restorative measures to take in the event of radioactive contamination.

First and foremost is potassium iodide (KI). Potassium iodide binds to radioactive iodine and is cleared within 24-72 hours. It is by far the item most used for radiation poisoning. According to the USFDA guidelines, the following doses should be taken after likely internal contamination.

*Adults, including breastfeeding women: 130 mg
*Children between 3 and 18 years of age and less than 150 pounds: 65 mg
*Children 150 pounds or more: 130 mg (regardless of age)
*Infants and children between 1 month and 3 years old: 32 mg (whether nursing or not)
*Nursing and non-nursing newborns from birth to 1 month old: 16 mg.

Instead of waiting for nuclear fallout to arrive, it is a good idea to begin taking lesser preventive doses of potassium iodide in order to have enough of it circulating in the bodyto prevent radioactive iodine from binding internally. Estimates of how much preventive iodine to take generally vary from 6 to 50 mg of daily iodine. Note that the average Japanese consumes 13 mg of iodine daily, which is 100 times more than the average US resident.

When fallout does occur, precautionary measures can help minimize exposure and ingestion of radioactive materials, including staying inside, keeping doors and windows closed and turning off air conditioners. If possible, cover garden vegetables and fruits ahead of time. If one must go outside, wear a face mask, change and wash clothes upon returning indoors and take showers. Once the fallout has passed, wear a mask and spray the entire property, including exposed vehicles, with a hose. Shower immediately after returning inside.

Other suggested items for dealing with radioactive fallout:

Use bentonite clay. Bentonite clay can be used for heavy metal detox as well as to remove radiation. Internal clays have been used for detoxification for hundreds of years. As with all clays, the more you use, the quicker you tend to detox and the longer the treatment is the better.

Studies indicate echinacea is excellent at preventing and restoring radiation damage.

Eat sea vegetables. Studies dating to 1968 found that sea vegetables contained a polysaccharide substance, called sodium alginate, which selectively bound radioactive strontium and eliminated it from the body. Seaweeds are also rich in antioxidants that protect us from degenerative diseases such as cancer, as well as slow down the aging process.

Eat an anti-radiation diet containing items such as:

• Miso soup
• Brassica vegetables and high beta carotene vegetables
• Beans and lentils
• Potassium, calcium and mineral rich foods
• High nucleotide content foods to assist in cellular repair including spirulina, chlorella, algae, yeast, sardines, liver, anchovies and mackerel
• Cod liver oil and olive oil
• Avoid sugars, sweets and wheat
• A good whole-food derived multivitamin/multimineral supplement

Consume chlorophyll rich wheatgrass. Tests have indicated that a wheatgrass rich diet improves survival after exposure to radiation and that chlorophyll increases resistance to radiation.

Oral sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) can diminish the severity of the changes produced by uranium in the kidneys.

Take N-Acetyl cysteine or use coffee enemas to increase glutathione levels, which are decimated by exposure to radiation.

Research indicates marine phytoplankton can protect against some of the noxious side effects of radiation.

Learn more at: http://www.naturalnews.com/031727_radiation_contamination.html#ixzz1GqadnAgS

Sources included:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/ki.asp
http://drdavidbrownstein.blogspot.com/
http://www.natural-cancer-cures.com...
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i...
http://fedgeno.com/radioactive-meta...


Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/031727_radiation_contamination.html#ixzz1Gqb3WlXF

What your feet reveal about your health

Perhaps it's not most dainty subject of all... feet;
but it's interesting to know the signs:

Your feet are the mirror of your health. Find out what signs and symptoms you should be aware of, and how they might impact your health and well being.

They’re farthest from your heart, but they shouldn’t be the farthest thing from your mind.

Like the rest of our body, our feet under go some changes as we get older. They’re more prone to chronic problems and pains, and any existing conditions can get worse. In addition to years’ worth of wear and tear, bad habits and chronic conditions like diabetes can take their toll. Because what happens to our body also happens to our feet, they can provide early indications of trouble.

“Your feet are a mirror of your health,” says Dr. Sheldon Nadal, a Toronto-based podiatrist with 30 years experience treating foot problems. “If you have poor circulation, if you smoke, if you have a circulatory disease or poor nutrition, it’s going to affect your feet.”

So what signs should we look out for? We spoke with Dr. Nadal about some of the common foot problems and symptoms that affect adults. Here’s what your feet may be trying to tell you.

The symptoms: what do they mean?

Dry or cracking skin. The face isn’t the only place you’ll see the signs of aging. As we get older, skin becomes thinner and drier on the feet too. While dry skin isn’t a crisis, those cracks and cuts can open the way to infection. In most cases, some regular moisturizing will do the trick, but beware of any wounds that won’t heal — they could be a sign of a more serious illness like diabetes.

Peeling and itching. Dry skin can also be a symptom of a fungal infection like the dreaded athlete’s foot, especially when accompanied by peeling, itching, scaling and inflammation. Fungus often shows up in the warm, moist area between the toes where it can easily spread to the nails if left untreated.

Fungus can be easy to pick up, especially if you like to go barefoot on the beach or in the locker room. Your best defence is to keep your feet protected with footwear and keep your feet dry with fresh socks and talcum powder as needed.

Thick, yellow nails. It could be the normal affects of aging, but it could also be a sign of nail fungus. Embarrassment aside, fungus can be difficult to treat because topical medications like creams often aren’t effective and oral medications can have potentially harmful side effects like liver damage. However, new laser treatments are revolutionizing the treatment of fungus — minus any pain or risks.

Another culprit of yellow nails? The chemicals in nail polish can cause damage. It’s a good idea to give your nails a breather, Dr. Nadal advises, especially during the winter when toes aren’t on display. A little sunshine won’t hurt either — the UV rays can even help kill unwanted organisms.

Black or dark toenails. Often the result of an injury, the colour is caused by a bruise under the nail. Unfortunately, the bruise can lead to other problems like a fungal infection or a sore that could become infected. Discoloured nails should be checked out, especially if you have diabetes.

Ingrown toenails. Improper grooming techniques, injury, hereditary and structural problems can all cause the toe nail to curl under and dig painfully into the skin. Poorly fitting shoes are also a cause, so it’s no surprise this problem shows up more often in women than men. Luckily, it can be treated in office by a podiatrist.

In most cases, it’s an issue that can easily be prevented. Make sure to trim your nails properly — always cut straight across rather than rounding edges — and that your shoes fit properly, especially in the toe area.

Pain. There’s one rule when it comes to pain: “Don’t ignore it; it’s not normal,” says Dr. Nadal. Foot pain can have many causes from arthritis to plantar fasciitis, but you’ll need some expert advice to determine the problem and find a treatment.

Osteoarthritis is a common problem, but it’s not the only cause. Pain and inflammation could also be due to a systemic condition like rheumatoid arthritis. Injury and repetitive stress can also cause tendonitis. A proper diagnosis is important because you may need more than painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can target inflammation, but many podiatrists such as Dr. Nadal also use drug-free treatments like sound wave therapies.

Heel pain. Arch and heel pain could be a “mechanical problem” — that is, the parts of your feet (like your joints and tendons) aren’t balanced properly. Not only can this cause pain in your feet, it can also impact your knees, hips and back and even contribute to neck pain. Supportive footwear and orthotics can help correct the issue.

But don’t run out to the drug store without a consult: chances are you’ll need some customization to increase your comfort. Treatment for some conditions like plantar fasciitis — an inflammation of the connective tissue on the bottom of your feet — may also require stretching exercises and physiotherapy.

Pain in the toe. Think it’s just a sprain? The big toe is a popular site for attacks of gout, a form of arthritis where a build up of uric acid in the body can deposit and crystallize in the sacks that surround joints. The sudden onset of pain, swelling and redness can be mistaken for injury, and gout is often diagnosed only after it’s happened a few times. If you experience these symptoms, take notes to help your diagnosis.

Swelling of the ankles. Known officially as peripheral edema, painless swelling in the feet, ankles and legs should warrant a call to your doctor rather than a podiatrist. Sometimes swelling appears because there’s too much fluid in the body and it builds up in the extremities. The causes can be quite serious — including heart or kidney failure or a blood clot. If it’s accompanied by other strange symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, a trip to the emergency room is in order.

However, swelling could also be a side effect of certain medications like hormone treatments or blood pressure medications. It can also signal infection or a circulatory problem. (See Medline Plus for more information.)

Tingling or numbness. We’ve all experienced that feeling of our feet “being asleep”, but regular numbness or tingling could be a sign of nerve or circulatory issues. While vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune disorders and certain medications could be behind it, many people with diabetes experience poor circulation as well as problems with the nerves.

Numbness should never go unaddressed because it can mask painful problems like foot ulcers and bone conditions that can get worse quite quickly. The message here? Be extra vigilant and inspect your feet regularly — and see a podiatrist or doctor if you spot any unusual changes. (Read more about diabetes and foot health here.)

Foot deformities. Whether due to heredity, injury or illness, foot deformities like hammer toes, bunions and gone spurs can be painful to endure — and they used to be painful to treat. If you’ve been hesitant to get treatment, it’s time to get up to speed with the latest options. Smaller instruments and new techniques work through smaller openings in tissue. The result? Less tissue damage and faster healing.

“Now there are minimally invasive techniques to correct foot deformities that can be done under local anaesthetic right in the office,” reports Dr. Nadal. “There’s less downtime, no cast and no crutches. People can get back to their normal activities sooner.”

Unusual growths. Yes, cancer can occur in the feet too so any usual growths or lesions should be looked at. However, a more common condition that occurs between the fourth and fifth toe is neuroma, an enlarged (but benign) growth of nerves. Pressure from ill-fitting shoes and bone structure issues is often the cause, and corrective footwear is often a good way to counter it.

Any of these symptoms sound familiar? There’s good reason to see a podiatrist in addition to your family doctor. Podiatrists focus on the feet so they’re more knowledgeable about foot conditions and the latest treatment options. They have the expertise to tackle foot problems from many angles, from orthotics to surgery, and acute pain as well as chronic.

You don’t need a physician’s referral to go see one — but it might help to get a recommendation from a friend or family member, suggests Dr. Nadal. If you have feet problems or health conditions that affect the feet, he recommends at least an annual check up with a podiatrist to check on things like insoles and pain management.

Overall, we shouldn’t ignore our feet or simply “live with” pain and discomfort. Many conditions can now be treated with less difficulty, pain or side effects than in the past, and symptoms in our feet often point to other health conditions as well.

For more information about foot health and Dr. Nadal’s practice, please visit www.footcare.net.

Additional sources: Medline Plus, The MayoClinic.com, the American Podiatric Medical Association website.