Happy Feet: Keep your feet looking and feeling their youngest

(BPT) - You exercise regularly, eat well, maintain an active lifestyle and take your medications as prescribed every day. You're doing everything you can to age gracefully and beautifully, but are you overlooking an aspect of self-care that's fundamental to overall good health ... your feet?

By the time you're 50, your feet will have carried you for 75,000 miles, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. You can be in otherwise great shape, but if you don't take care of your feet, you can end up feeling every one of those long miles! Feet that hurt or don't look their best can undermine your overall physical and mental well-being.

Foot care should be something you practice on a regular basis. Some common foot problems you can treat on your own, while others might need professional care. Did you know, according to a recent study by Kramer Labs, fungus conditions are the second most-common foot ailment among adults 45 and older, right behind corns and calluses? As you age conditions such as nail fungus, athlete's foot, corns and calluses become more prevalent.

Here are some foot care tips and treatment options:

* Toe fungus is more common in older people, so be alert for signs. The American Academy of Dermatology says a nail that turns white, green, yellow or brown, becomes thicker, and pulls away from the skin could have a fungal infection. Over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments like Fungi-Nail Toe & Foot can work to kill toe fungus and stop it from spreading before it becomes nail fungus. Its ClearGuard® moisture block technology forms a water-resistant barrier to lock in medicine so it won't sweat off and disrupt the healing process.

* Athlete's foot is also a common foot problem among older people. If you already have poor circulation, diabetes or psoriasis, you may be more likely to develop a fungal condition. Watch for signs of athlete's foot such as itching, redness and burning; flaking, peeling and cracking of the skin. Keep nails short, dry and clean; change socks daily and avoid walking around barefoot in public places. If you do develop athlete's foot, over-the-counter anti-fungal treatments such as Fungi-Nail Toe & Foot can work to kill fungus on contact, stop its spread and restore skin.

* All those miles your feet have walked over your lifetime can add up to calluses and corns - especially if you've worn shoes that don't fit very well. According to the APMA, simple ways to treat corns and calluses include soaking your feet, filing the corn or callous and wearing padding in comfortable shoes. However, if yours are causing you pain or you have diabetes, poor circulation or another serious illness, you should have your feet checked by a doctor, the APMA advises.

* If you run, jog or power walk for your health it's important to wear good shoes, and be aware of the signs of heel spurs. A heel spur is a bony growth that develops on the underside of the heel bone as a result of strain on the muscles and ligaments of the foot. Spurs may cause you no problems or can be quite painful. Common remedies can include simple stretching exercises, switching to better fitting shoes, and over-the-counter pain relievers. For severe or persistent pain, you should consult your doctor.

For more information about how Fungi-Nail(R) eliminates and stops the spread of toe and foot fungus, visit www.funginail.com.