The simple truth is that, as you grow older, your health and your body slowly start to erode. Sure, by leading a healthy lifestyle, you can slow this down (even slow it down significantly) but, at the end of the day, you cannot stop or reverse this process.
One thing that you can do is find a way to minimize the effect this has on your lifestyle. Chronic pain is one of the biggest factors here and it comes in many forms. For instance, the majority of people older than 40, complain about some sort of pain originating from their feet.
In order to solve the problem, you must first understand its origin, so here’s why the majority of people feel pain in their feet as they age over 40.
1. Heel pain
Heel pain is an issue that may happen to anyone but it’s especially common with 40-yea-olds. Now, keep in mind that while changing footwear or changing the level of the use of your feet may be a significant issue, the older you get, the more you’ll be affected by these issues.
In order to treat the problem, you’ll have to ice your feet, stretch them, and even consider one form or another of anti-inflammatory treatment. A foot massage is also a known cure for this problem. The best idea, nonetheless, is to find a clinic specializing in sports focus podiatry and ask for professional advice/guidance.
2. Calluses and cracked heels
Feet pain doesn’t necessarily have to originate from your musculature or skeleton. In fact, these two problems (calluses and cracked heels) are a perfect example of a problem that comes from your skin instead.
As you grow older, your feet might start swelling, which means that you’ll have problems with footwear sizes that previously fit you just fine.
As your skin matures, it will be less elastic and produce less oil. As a result, it will be drier and crack more easily. This can, of course, be avoided with proper heel care but a lot of people fail to follow through. Why? Well, a force of habit mostly. After all, you never took care of your heels before, and they didn’t crack/hurt.
3. Osteoarthritis
The older you get, the more you’ve traveled, which means that your feet will get more and more worn out. Now, truth be told, osteoarthritis is not as common with 40-year-olds as it is with 50- or 60-year-olds. Nonetheless, you might belong to a risk group that might increase this odd.
The simplest explanation as to why this happens is because cartilage breaks down and instead of it acting as a buffer zone, the bones in your feet are now rubbing against each other. Yes, it’s as painful as it sounds.
4. Diabetic foot ulcer
People who suffer from diabetes can have damaged nerve ends. This means that they’ll start developing small cuts or tiny wounds on their soles. These are the so-called diabetic foot ulcers. The pain that stems from these ulcers is sharp, jabbing. If the wound still isn’t open or major, it may cause a numbing or tingling sensation.
Remember that, when left unattended, the end result may be a necessary amputation of your foot. The best prevention is to check your sugar levels regularly and talk to your doctor. Now, the key thing to bear in mind is that while diabetes isn’t age-restricted, it’s much more likely past 40. You see, while only 4% of people from 18-44 are living with diabetes, in the 45-64 age group, this number sharply rises to 17%.
5. Gout
Gout is really one of the most painful forms of arthritis in middle-aged men. The cause of this illness stems from a defect n which your uric acid (a waste product of your body) ends up forming crystals in your big toe.
The most common cause of gout is genetic but, since it takes time for this to accumulate, the real problems might not start until you’re well over 40. Proper diet and hydration, as well as some limited exercise, may make living with gout a lot easier and less painful.
6. Bunions
When your bone goes rogue, it might sometimes develop lumps along the inside of your foot. Bunions grow slowly and worsen over time. Now, keep in mind that this particular problem is more common among women. There are also some strong indications that genetic factors play a huge role in the chance that this will develop.
In some of the most severe of cases, you might have to resort to surgery in order to fix the issue. Overall, icing, special pads, and shoes that are not too tight may make this situation bearable.
In conclusion
At the end of the day, proper foot care is always a top priority. Even someone leading a sedentary life spends a surprising amount of time on their feet. Therefore, the health of your feet is one of the key determiners when it comes to your lifestyle quality. The older you get, the more important it becomes. It’s that simple.
