<ul class="summary-list"><li>Podiatrists Sarah Haller and Brad Schaeffer debunk 12 myths about <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/feet">feet</a>.</li><li>They talk about where <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/warts">warts</a> really come from and how to prevent <a href="https://www.insider.com/ingrown-toenail">ingrown toenails</a>.</li><li>They also explain how a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/podiatrist-explains-flip-flops-terrible-feet-jackie-sutera-plantar-fasciitis-bunions-2017-5">bunion</a> is not caused by wearing heels.</li></ul>Following is a transcript of the <keyword id="21654" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="video">video</keyword>.Sarah Haller: "You have warts because your <keyword id="33518" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="feet">feet</keyword> are dirty." No!Brad Schaeffer: No, no, no.Haller: "<keyword id="2114338" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bunions">Bunions</keyword> are caused by wearing heels." Leave your stilettos out of this. The stilettos did not cause your bunion.Schaeffer: "Cutting the sides of my toenail will prevent an ingrown toenail." No, absolutely not.Haller: I am Dr. Sarah Haller. I am a <keyword id="31042" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="foot">foot</keyword> and ankle surgeon, and I practice in New York, New Jersey. I got into foot and ankle because I wanted to be a ballerina. I wanted so badly. But I was not that good, so I ended up being a doctor instead, and my feet definitely thank me.Schaeffer: And I'm Dr. Brad Schaeffer. I'm a doctor of podiatric medicine. We treat everything below the knee. And today we will be debunking all the myths about feet.Schaeffer: "Pedicures gave me toenail fungus."Haller: I think yes and no. I mean, you can get fungus from anywhere. It can be in a carpet. So I can't prove that it's not going to happen here, but I can't prove that it will either. I definitely take precaution when I go to a pedicure salon. I bring my own nail polish. And if this is part of your self-care ritual, don't stop going, but at the same time, just be cautious. That's all.Schaeffer: You can get toenail fungus from anywhere. Pedicures are safe if they're done in a safe, sterile environment.Haller: They do clean their instrumentation. They have these sanitary bags that go inside of the bathtub soaks, and that should be changed out between every person that comes through. So they do take precaution, but at the same time, again, anywhere there's a warm, hot, moist environment, it's like a breeding ground for fungus.Schaeffer: "Cutting the sides of my toenail will prevent an ingrown toenail." No, absolutely not. When you cut your nail, you're supposed to cut it straight across. So, when you do that, the nail doesn't grow into the corner, creating an ingrown, which can create infection and a lot of pain.Haller: So, what everyone thinks, sometimes, is if they cut the actual nail round it'll grow out rounded. That's not true, because the actual nail matrix, where the nail grows from, from behind the actual skin, it actually grows as a square. You only see the rounded part. So by actually cutting it how you want it to grow, it's not going to change the actual root of it and how it's meant to grow.Schaeffer: Right. I couldn't agree more. What's going to cause <keyword id="10549984" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ingrown-toenails">ingrown toenails</keyword> is your toenail. So, when that gets cut too short, it grows right into the corner of your skin. It's like a little pin. Once that starts penetrating the skin, it creates an infection. Pus, swelling, redness. Not a good look. It hurts. So just cut them straight across. You'll be in the clear.Schaeffer: This is one I know I get all the time. Oh, gosh.Haller: All right. "You have warts because your feet are dirty." No!Schaeffer: No, no, no. You do not get warts because your feet are dirty. Warts are a virus. You get viruses from all kinds of things.Haller: Viruses can hide anywhere, and they just lay on surfaces. They can be on yoga mats, any kind of exercise equipment.Schaeffer: Pools, gyms, showers. They're everywhere. But don't be afraid. Live your life. Just make sure you wear those shower shoes. Wipe down your mats if you're doing yoga or in a gym, and, you know, don't overly share your stuff.Haller: If you look at your feet, there are small cracks between each of these skin layers, and you don't even feel them. They're not bleeding, they're not cuts, they're just microscopic tears in your skin, and that's how the viruses get in.Schaeffer: When you do get a wart, which ultimately is caused by a virus, that little wart can spread into a huge wart cluster. That's why you want to get checked out to make sure that that little thing can be treated real quick. When you come to our office, we do an acid treatment, and what the acid does is it really just eats down at the wart, so it exfoliates out the good skin and kills the virus. Sometimes there's a surgery that's needed and you actually pare out the wart, but if you get it checked early enough, you don't have to do that, and you can get it treated in one treatment.I actually love this one. So, it's, "Only athletes get athlete's feet." That is a straight no! So, athlete's feet is actually a fungus, and it's called tinea pedis, right? So, when you have a fungus like that, usually it comes from warm, moist environments, a lot of times in our socks and shoes when we sweat. It's kind of like harboring a little petri dish in there. Once all that gets in there, it festers, and it can create a very good-looking environment for fungus, bacteria, all types of not-good things. That's why you're always told to change out your socks when they start getting sweaty. If you're just working and walking around every day, your feet can still sweat too. Not just athletes have those warm, moist environments. Everybody does. So change out your socks, change out your shoes, and use some powder from time to time. That'll help too.Haller: "Bunions are caused by wearing heels." No, absolutely not. Leave your stilettos out of this. The stilettos did not cause your bunion. Mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, somebody in your family, your family tree, passed it down to you.Schaeffer: Baby you were born this way. [laughing]Haller: A bunion is actually, it's not a bump growing off the side of your foot, which everyone seems to think. It's actually a deformity, meaning the bone behind your big toe is actually shifting from this straight-up-and-down position and tilting sideways.Schaeffer: It's like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, right?Haller: It's not the actual stiletto that's the problem. It may be worsened by wearing the stiletto where it pushes on the bunion and makes it bigger, but it's not actually caused by the actual shoe you're wearing. So what I tell patients that have bunions that they want to wear a cute stiletto, maybe go a little bit lower. So I recommend something where your actual bunion can maybe come out the side of it.Schaeffer: You can definitely support and help bunions, right, but they're not just going to go away. They will develop throughout time and, unfortunately, sometimes get worse as we age.Haller: There's no way to get rid of a bunion without surgery.Schaeffer: Those things out there called YogaToes, or, like, toe spacers, are out there to help us. But when you remove them, not doing much good, are they?Haller: They're kind of like eyeglasses. They only work when you wear them.Schaeffer: Very true. "My feet are fine because I trained them to walk in stilettos."Haller: I think yes and no. I mean, I don't think they're good for you, but I definitely think you can train your feet, because you can get used to them. So, when you're wearing these things, your heel's going here, and it attaches to your Achilles, and that's what actually shortens. As you persistently wear these, over time, your Achilles gets shorter and shorter, which actually causes a ton of issues with the front of your foot. The insert's down here, this is where the ball of your foot is, and that's where all of the pressure goes, to five little bones in the base of your foot. So I do think you can kind of train your feet to walk in stilettos, but in no way, shape, or form is it good, healthy, or give you longevity. It's like a valet shoe. You know you're going to park, you're going to get out somewhere, you're going to walk for maybe two steps and sit down, that's a great shoe. But other than that, not a long-term shoe.Schaeffer: "You can't do anything for a broken toe." Myth. We get this question all the time. Oh, my gosh! And it's frustrating. When you have a broken toe, that's a bone. You broke a bone in your foot. Right?Haller: There's definitely stuff you can do for the broken toes. With a toe, it may not just be a simple fracture where the actual bone is cracked. You can actually dislocate it, which basically means not only is the bone cracked, but the ligaments are actually loosened up, so it pops over to the side. You need to get it popped back into place, and then it needs to really structurally be supported by the other toe beside it, otherwise it can re-dislocate and cause major issues down the line. So it's really important that you get your toe checked out if you think you may have fractured or even bumped it wrong, you see black and blue, you need to go in and have it buddy taped, basically when the toes can get taped together. Your doctor will teach you how to do it so it can safely heal. It takes four to six weeks for a bone to heal, so you better just get in there faster, and it should start healing in a natural process so it doesn't have to be a reset again.Haller: "It's normal for your feet to hurt from standing all day."Schaeffer: It is not normal. My feet kind of bark at the end of the day, especially when I'm in surgery for a long time, but, ultimately, we have tips and tools where your feet should not hurt at the end of the day.Haller: Supportive shoes, compression socks, inserts, all of these can help prevent fatigue. Schaeffer: We have to support our arches. I mean, they are critical for the stability of our feet. You have 26 bones and over 100 ligaments in the foot. There's a lot that can go wrong with our feet.Haller: Appropriate shoe gear is the key. None of these, like, flimsy shoes in the office. Anything with a good sole and especially with a little bit of a higher heel, so you have the nice support under your Achilles, I think really makes a big difference, especially if you're standing or walking all day. "Haller: All inserts are the same."Schaeffer: Get this a lot.Haller: False. False! Absolutely no. My foot is way different than Dr. Brad's foot. We wouldn't need the same insert. And I'm sure your foot is different, and everybody has something else going on, so just getting an over-the-counter insert for some people is OK, but sometimes you need a custom one.Schaeffer: Right. I mean, I couldn't agree more. So, if you look at my shoes, I just wear an over-the-counter insole. These insoles have nice arch support. These are game changers. And other people, they have bigger problems, so they need custom inserts, and those are called orthotics. And those are absolutely amazing too. So it really just depends.Haller: If you have big-toe arthritis, if you have arthritis in your midfoot, it helps a lot of arthritic conditions, which you may think is an old-person thing; young people can get arthritis too. So orthotics can help anybody, young to old. If you have really flat feet as a kid, those are really important to help stabilize the growth plates as the kid is growing.Schaeffer: "Sprained ankles are no big deal." False!Haller: Thank you. Yes, I agree.Schaeffer: Dude, we get this a lot in our practice. When you sprain your ankle, there are so many things that can go wrong. So, there are three ligaments on the outside of your ankle, and when you roll it, they basically blow out. So what you have to do is you have to stabilize that ankle so the ligaments hold in a natural position. Other than that, it'll just grow back floppy and scarred down. So that's not going to be good for anyone, and you're not going to be able to play the sport that you love. So whenever you roll your ankle, you have to stabilize it so it heals normal.Haller: Yes. When it sprains, you also run the risk of the bones hitting into each other, so then that can cause cartilage damage. Cartilage damage is a really big thing, because if it happens and then you don't follow up, you're prone to early-onset arthritis, and arthritis is in no way good.Schaeffer: "If I can walk after an injury, I don't need to see a doctor." False, absolutely false. Just no, no, no. This is not true.Haller: So, I had a patient come in last week. He fell off a porch while he was hanging out with friends. But he broke his ankle and had no idea. He walked on it for two weeks. When I showed him the X-ray, he was flabbergasted. He walked around for a week and a half without even knowing that he broke it.Schaeffer: There's also a lot of patients that we see that don't necessarily feel their feet. Like diabetics out there, sometimes you get stuff called neuropathy, and that can be tingling, numbing, burning sensation in your feet, and you just don't feel those injuries. So it's important to just get it checked out by Dr. Sarah or I, and we'll tell you if there's any cause for concern.We debunked a lot of myths here.Haller: We went through a lot, but definitely change your shoes regularly, make sure that you don't share shoes with each other, trim your toenails appropriately, and go and get things checked out. Don't wait until the last minute, 'cause it be broken even if you're still walking on it.Schaeffer: Let's check my feet.Haller: Yeah. Oh, flexible.Schaeffer: What?!Haller: Yeah, I mean it's kind of --Schaeffer: That's pretty close.Haller: It is more impressive than I thought it was going to be.Schaeffer: Oh, my gosh, I hurt my hip. Come on!Haller: You need to stretch more, Brad.Schaeffer: I hurt my hip debunking these myths.Haller: You gotta stretch.

Podiatrists debunk 12 feet myths

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10549984" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ingrown-toenails">Ingrown toenails</keyword> can be caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes and too long or too short nails.</li><li>If an ingrown <keyword id="187581" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nail">nail</keyword> isn't treated, it could cause an infection and grow into the surrounding tissue.</li><li>To treat an ingrown nail, soak it in warm water with Epsom salt and use an antibiotic ointment.</li></ul>Anyone who's experienced ingrown toenails, knows that they can be painful.According to Yale Medicine dermatologist <a href="https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/amanda_zubek/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amanda Zubek</a>, MD, ingrown toenails are common, and most often affect older adolescents, teenagers, and pregnant women. They also typically happen in the big toe.<h2>Common causes of ingrown toenails:</h2><ul><li>The toenail is too long for the nailbed</li><li>Trauma to the nail (i.e. stubbing your toe or dropping something on it)</li><li>Wearing shoes that are too tight</li><li>Cutting the nail too short</li><li>Fungal nail infections</li></ul>Here's what you need to know about treating an ingrown toenail at home and when to see a doctor.<h2>Will an ingrown toenail heal itself? </h2>"An ingrown nail does not typically go away on its own," says Neufeld. "It will continue to grow into the surrounding skin and soft tissues unless treated."If an ingrown toenail is left untreated, it can become infected, resulting in the possible need for surgery, removal of the nail, and/or medications to treat the infection, says <a href="https://www.cfaortho.com/our-doctors/96/Steven__K._Neufeld,_M.D." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steven Neufeld</a>, MD, a foot and ankle surgeon at The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics According to <a href="https://www.invigormedical.com/dr-poston-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leann Poston</a>, MD, a licensed physician with Invigor Medical, an infection can spread to the surrounding tissue, into the bloodstream, or even to the bone when left untreated, which could lead to more <a href="https://www.familyfoot.org/heres-why-you-should-never-ignore-an-ingrown-toenail/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serious complications</a> including foot ulcers, bone infections, and reduced circulation in the affected area.<h2>Signs of an infection:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ingrown-toenails/symptoms-causes/syc-20355903?utm_source=Google&amp;utm_medium=abstract&amp;utm_content=Onychocryptosis&amp;utm_campaign=Knowledge-panelwledge-panel">Increased pain</a> in the area around the toenail</li><li>Swelling in the affected area</li><li>Pus draining from the skin around the ingrown nail</li></ul><h2>How do you treat an ingrown toenail?</h2>The treatment for your ingrown toenail will depend on the severity, as well as whether or not it's infected. If the ingrown toenail is not infected, there are some things you can do at home to remedy it. Related Article Module: Epsom salt baths may feel great but the unique <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">health</keyword> benefits are questionable, according to medical expertsAs soon as you notice an ingrown toenail, Zubek recommends soaking the foot in warm water with soap or <a href="https://www.insider.com/epsom-salt-bath">Epsom salts</a> for 15 minutes several times per day. "You can gently pull the skin away from the ingrown nail during the soaking. You may also apply a topical steroid cream afterward to reduce inflammation," says Zubek. Poston advises drying the foot thoroughly and keeping it clean. In order to prevent an infection, she suggests applying antibiotic ointment to the nail and surrounding skin. Important: If you're <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-does-immunocompromised-mean">immunocompromised</a>, <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ingrown-toenails/symptoms-causes/syc-20355903?utm_source=Google&amp;utm_medium=abstract&amp;utm_content=Onychocryptosis&amp;utm_campaign=Knowledge-panelwledge-panel">have poor circulation</a>, or have <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-diabetes">diabetes</a>, it's advisable to see your doctor or podiatrist about treating the ingrown toenail. You may have a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513138/">higher risk of infection</a> that can lead to more severe skin or bone conditions, such as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/Cellulitis.html#:~:text=Cellulitis%20is%20a%20common%20bacterial,are%20important%20for%20preventing%20cellulitis.">cellulitis</a> or osteomyelitis."Once the swelling begins to decrease, gently <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ingrown-toenails/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355908">lift the corner of the nail</a> and insert some cotton or waxed dental floss between the nail and your skin to prevent the nail from going back into the skin," says Poston.According to Zubek, a podiatrist may apply a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3954676/">special splint or brace</a> to the nail, or tape the skin to pull it away from the ingrown nail edge. Poston also recommends taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage the pain. Just make sure that any additional medication you add doesn't negatively interact with other medications you're taking.If the ingrown toenail does not improve after several days of at-home treatment, if symptoms worsen, or if you notice it's <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/zd1060">draining pus</a>, Neufeld advises seeing your physician as soon as possible.If the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1472971/">toenail is infected</a>, they may remove part of the nail and prescribe oral antibiotics. In some cases where the ingrown nail is severely inflamed and producing pus, Poston says they may recommend a procedure<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513138/"> to remove part of the nail</a> or nailbed, which can also help to keep it from recurring.<h2>Insider's takeaway </h2>If ingrown toenails become a recurring issue for you, experts say your nail clipping technique may be the issue."Make sure to cut your toenails straight across, not angled down or rounded at the corners," says Zubek. "And wear shoes that are not too tight around the toes."It's also advisable to <a href="https://www.footcaremd.org/conditions-treatments/toes/ingrown-toenail">leave the toenails long enough</a> so that they extend just past the skin of the toes, and to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513138/">avoid rounding the edges</a>. <a data-type="60a3ea4dc5c80119f14e9e55">5 tips to prevent chafing and how to heal chafed skin quickly, according to dermatologists</a><a data-type="59569ccca3630ff71a8b6b47">What your nails say about your health</a><a data-type="5fe2455d935fea35955e3737">6 tips to stop biting your nails, and why kicking the habit is important for your health</a><a data-type="5b62d9987708e945404293f9">Some people pull out their hair, bite their nails, or pick their skin - here's what psychologists think is behind these behaviours</a>

How to treat an ingrown toenail at home and when to see a doctor

<ul class="summary-list"><li>To treat <keyword id="769462" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Athletes-foot">athlete's foot</keyword> at home, you can apply tea tree oil or soak your feet in a tea bath. </li><li>To prevent the recurrence or spreading of athlete's foot, you should try sprinkling your feet with cornstarch and disinfecting your shoes. </li><li>If your athlete's foot symptoms do not improve within a few days of using natural <keyword id="54649" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="home-remedies">home remedies</keyword>, reach out to a podiatrist or <keyword id="1850924" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="primary-care">primary care</keyword> provider. </li><li>This article was <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medically reviewed</a> by <a href="https://health.tamu.edu/experts/jason-mcknight.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason R. McKnight</a>, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at <a href="https://medicine.tamu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas A&amp;M College of Medicine</a>. </li></ul><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/athletes-foot/symptoms-causes/syc-20353841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Athlete's foot</a> is a type of fungal infection that can cause painful symptoms like itching, redness, peeling of the skin, and even blistering. It often affects the skin between the toes, but it can occur on other areas of the foot as well, like the sole.Athlete's foot is most effectively treated with a prescription topical cream or with over-the-counter treatments. However, you can also try clearing the infection at home if it's mild. Here are five natural home remedies that can treat athlete's foot.<h2>1. Apply tea tree oil</h2>Because <a href="https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tn2873spec" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tea tree oil</a> has antifungal properties, it may help treat athlete's foot. Tea tree oil is an essential oil that comes from the leaves of the Australian tea tree. A 2002 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12121393/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> compared two different concentrations of tea tree oil and a placebo in treating patients with athlete's foot. They applied the solutions for four weeks, and the study found that about 70% of the people in both tea tree oil groups saw an improvement in symptoms, compared to 39% in the placebo group. According to <a href="https://essexunionpod.wpengine.com/podiatrists/jason-p-galante-dpm-facfas-facfaom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Galante,</a> DPM, a double-board certified foot and ankle surgeon in New Jersey, you can use tea tree oil to treat athlete's foot by following these steps: <ol><li>Shower and thoroughly dry your feet. </li><li>Apply the oil directly on your skin and nails.</li><li>Repeat this process once or twice a day until the infection has cleared.</li></ol>Products that contain tea tree oil, like foot soaks and soap, may also help clear the infection. These can be purchased at a drugstore or natural food store. <h2>2. Consider a tea foot bath</h2>Soaking your feet in tea may also ease symptoms of athlete's foot. A small 2013 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23499394/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clinical trial</a> found that 12 weeks of foot baths containing green tea polyphenols — micronutrients found in plant-based foods — improved symptoms of athlete's foot in elderly patients compared to a placebo.Black tea may also alleviate symptoms of athlete's foot, particularly the odor, due to the presence of a specific type of polyphenol called tannins. "The tannins that are in black tea help with that foot odor," says Galante. <h2>3. Sprinkle cornstarch on your toes</h2>Cornstarch, a common kitchen ingredient made from corn, can also treat athlete's foot by absorbing excess moisture from feet, says Galante. That's because keeping your feet dry prevents the spread of this fungal infection. If you don't have cornstarch, you can try drugstore foot powders like Dr. Scholl's, which can be helpful as well, says <a href="https://www.kentlandsfootdoctor.com/about-us/about-dr-jon-m-sherman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jon Sherman</a>, DPM, a board-certified foot surgeon and fellow at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. <h2>4. Disinfect your shoes</h2>Because athlete's foot is so contagious, it's important to disinfect items that may be harboring fungi, Sherman says. To prevent reinfection, it's always a good idea to disinfect your shoes. One way to disinfect your footwear is with an <a href="https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/uv-lights-and-lamps-ultraviolet-c-radiation-disinfection-and-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ultraviolet-C (UVC) light</a>, some of which can kill viruses, germs, and fungi in 15 minutes, says Sherman. These can be purchased at home stores or podiatrists' offices.Another option is spraying your shoes with a disinfectant spray, like Lysol. This can be done once a week for a month and then once a month after that, Galante says. "You want to reduce any kind of pathogens or fungal spores that could live inside your shoe."<h2>5. Step up your foot hygiene</h2>"Proper hygiene is important because fungi will thrive in a warm, damp environment," Galante says. Tips to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/disease/athletes_foot.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prevent the spread</a> or recurrence of athlete's foot include: <ul><li>Wear sandals when possible to keep your feet dry</li><li>Alternate shoes every two to three days</li><li>Avoid socks made from fabrics that don't dry easily, like nylon</li><li>Choose moisture-wicking fabrics for your socks, like wool</li><li>Wash and dry in between your toes when you shower </li><li>Keep your socks clean and dry and change them if you have sweaty feet</li></ul><h2>When to see a doctor</h2>If you've tried the above home remedies for a few days and your symptoms continue to worsen, it's time to see a doctor, Galante says. That's because the infection could become chronic or spread to other areas of the foot. "Once [athlete's foot] becomes a chronic issue in the skin, not only is it harder to treat, but that's how most of our toenail fungal infections happen," Galante says. Toenail infections are more difficult to treat, he says. The<a href="https://www.apma.org/Patients/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=978" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> American Podiatric Medical Association</a> recommends visiting a podiatrist or primary care provider if the infection doesn't improve after two weeks of proper foot hygiene.Additionally, if you have itching, redness, blistering, oozing, or odor, see a doctor, Sherman says. "Odor is a pretty good indicator of 'Hey, something's not right.'" These symptoms indicate the infection is too serious to be treated at home. <h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>To treat athlete's foot at home, you can try tea tree oil, tea soaks, or cornstarch. It's also important to keep your feet, socks, and shoes dry to prevent athlete's foot from recurring. See a doctor if your symptoms don't improve within a few weeks to ensure the infection does not become chronic or spread to the toenails.<h2 id="related-articles-from-health-reference:">Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/home-remedies-for-bloating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7 simple home remedies to help battle bloating</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/home-remedies-for-chapped-lips" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 home remedies for chapped lips</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-get-rid-of-ingrown-hair" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to get rid of ingrown hairs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-lactic-acid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to reduce lactic acid build-up in your muscles during exercise — and why it happens</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/does-running-build-muscle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Running builds muscle as long as you're challenging yourself — here's how to build muscle and run faster</a></li></ul>

5 natural remedies to treat athlete's foot at home, according to podiatrists

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a1829473dbef4b5748b7946-2400/rtx2233e.jpg" alt="phone" data-mce-source="Scott Morgan/Reuters" />Scott Morgan/Reuters</div></div></div><ul><li>Cyberchondria is the tendency to self-diagnose health problems online to anxiety-producing results.</li><li>With the proliferation of the internet, cyberchondria has become more and more common. </li><li>In September, researchers at the Imperial College London estimated that trips to hospital clinics for internet-induced healthy anxieties cost the National Health Institute £420 million a year in outpatient appointments alone. </li></ul><hr /> If you've ever researched your health problems online to anxiety-producing results, you're not alone.A <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/01/15/health-online-2013/">Pew Research study indicates </a>that 35% of Americans take to the internet to diagnose their health maladies using sites like WebMD, Mayo Clinic, and Everyday Health.But diagnosing yourself on the internet too often can pose its own unique dilemma: For instance, a quick Google search of the word "cough" produces a buffet of prognoses to choose from. WebMD's symptom checker generates <a href="https://symptomchecker.webmd.com/multiple-symptoms?symptoms=cough&amp;symptomids=59&amp;locations=10"> more than 50 results</a> for "cough," ranging in severity from the common cold to esophageal cancer. The same goes <a href="https://symptomchecker.webmd.com/multiple-symptoms?symptoms=numbness-or-tingling%7Cnumbness-or-tingling%7Cpain-or-discomfort%7Cpain-or-discomfort&amp;symptomids=164%7C164%7C1%7C1&amp;locations=62%7C64%7C62%7C64">for a search for "toe numbness</a>." An internet diagnosis could lead you to believe that you're afflicted with anything from an ingrown toenail to a spinal tumor to a stroke. The availability of information on the web has a tendency to exaggerate fears about our health, and it turns out, there's a name for this particular type of internet-induced anxiety. It's called "cyberchondria," and if you've ever combed the internet for hours at a time searching for health advice, have deep-seated fears about contracting various diseases, and generally grow anxious when reading health diagnoses online, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201609/5-ways-tell-if-you-have-cyberchondria">you might just have it</a>. Cyberchondria is a relatively new problem (the<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1738194/pdf/v074p00010.pdf"> term was coined</a> sometime in the early 2000s), but with the proliferation of high-speed internet and smartphones, instances of cyberchondria are growing more and more common. In September, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/07/cyberchondria-fuelling-anxiety-epidemic-clogging-hospital-clinics/">researchers at the Imperial College London estimated</a> that trips to hospital clinics for internet-induced healthy anxieties cost the National Health Institute £420 million a year in outpatient appointments alone. One proposed solution to deter cyberchondria comes from researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, who have suggested <a href="http://www.rcsismj.com/wp-content/uploads/RCSIsmj-Vol5-Cyberchondria.pdf">experts annotate their online diagnoses </a>with statistics on incidence and prevalence of a given malady. Still, doctors and researchers suggest that health information online isn't all bad; after all, technology has provided an ideal medium for millions to manage and maintain their health. However, if you believe your internet research is making your symptoms worse, it's probably best to skip the internet diagnosis altogether and <a href="https://www.medicalnews.md/cyberchondria-dont-ask-dr-google-see-a-doctor/">head straight to the doctor</a>. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-headphones-tips-tricks-video-2017-4">15 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/JM83Y7xg-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

If you're addicted to diagnosing your health problems online, you might be suffering from cyberchondria

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/525ff2866bb3f77d7baaec48-1280/flesh-eating-bacteria.jpg" alt="flesh eating bacteria" data-mce-source="AP/UTMB-Galveston, Ashok K. Chopra, Ph.D., and Dr. Leon Bromberg" data-mce-caption="A scanning electron microscopic image shows WT (wild type) Aeromonas hydrophila strain SSU, bacteria responsible for a flesh-eating disease." />AP/UTMB-Galveston, Ashok K. Chopra, Ph.D., and Dr. Leon Bromberg</div></div></div><ul><li>A daycare teacher from Houston thought an injury on his foot had caused a blister to form, but the rapid spread of infection caused him to seek medical treatment.</li><li>Doctors recognized that he had been infected by bacteria that cause necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh-eating disease, and were able to stop the infection by amputating his foot before it spread further.</li><li>These infections are rare but need to be treated urgently or they can be fatal.</li></ul><hr /> It started with what appeared to be a blister.Raul Reyes, a 26-year-old Houston daycare teacher, had hurt his foot at work. It was swollen and soon, a blister formed, which he thought was caused by his shoe rubbing his swollen foot.When Reyes woke up the next morning, the blister covered his whole foot. A medical clinic rushed him to the hospital. In the emergency room, x-rays revealed he had a serious, quickly-spreading infection.Reyes was rushed into surgery."Thirty minutes pass and I see the doctor come out," Joseline Reyes, who is married to Raul, <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Houston-man-foot-amputated-flesh-eating-bacteria-12714044.php#photo-15171564">told the Houston Chronicle</a>. "She tells me that she tried to get as much bacteria out but that they had to amputate his foot in order to save his life."The infection in Reyes' foot turned out to be <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/necrotizing-fasciitis">necrotizing fasciitis</a>, also known as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/features/necrotizingfasciitis/index.html">flesh-eating disease</a>. These infections, caused by a variety of bacteria, cause soft tissue such as skin, muscle, ligaments, blood vessels, and fat to die. The infection needs to be killed or cut away before it spreads.Reyes lost a foot and does not have medical insurance to cover a prosthetic, according to a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/raul039s-prosthetic-foot">GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign raising money</a> to cover that prosthesis. But he did survive the surgery and is recovering now, according to that campaign.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a9d82d6cf2f5c24008b459c-711/2798142415195243060r.jpg" alt="raul reyes necrotizing fasciitis" data-mce-source="GoFundMe campaign for Raul Reyes" data-link="https://www.gofundme.com/raul039s-prosthetic-foot" /><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/raul039s-prosthetic-foot">GoFundMe campaign for Raul Reyes</a></div></div></div><h2>A mysterious case of flesh-eating disease</h2>Necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by an infection with a number of different bacteria, according to the CDC, such as group A Streptococcus bacteria, Klebsiella, Clostridium, E. Coli, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/woman-dies-of-vibrio-necrotizing-fasciitis-infection-eating-raw-oysters-2018-1">Vibrio vulnificus</a>, and others.Whatever the cause, these infections needed to be treated urgently, with antibiotics to kill the bacteria and surgery to remove affected tissue and stop the spread. Flesh-eating disease kills close to 30% of those infected.The loss of a limb is devastating for anyone, but if Reyes had waited any longer to seek treatment, it's likely he would have lost more than a foot - very possibly his life.The big question is how he was infected in the first place.Many flesh-eating bacteria infections are acquired when an open wound is exposed to bacteria, often in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/arizona-woman-diagnosed-with-influenza-had-necrotizing-fasciitis-infection-2018-1">brackish, coastal water</a>, like the water found near Houston. But Reyes hadn't been in the water recently. However, many of the bacteria that cause these infections <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oregon-boy-died-from-necrotizing-fasciitis-infection-after-bike-crash-2018-1">can also live in soil</a> or other locations.In this case, doctors think that an ingrown toenail could have been the wound that allowed the infection to start.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a678de800d0ef36008b4577-2400/img39.jpg" alt="streptococcus bacteria" data-mce-source="CDC" />CDC</div></div></div><h2>Signs of a rare but deadly infection</h2>The idea that something as slight as a small cut could potentially expose you to deadly bacteria is disconcerting. But it's worth noting that despite media <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/arizona-woman-diagnosed-with-influenza-had-necrotizing-fasciitis-infection-2018-1">coverage of these cases</a>, they are still extremely rare.One estimate says there are between 600 and 1,200 cases from the most common cause, group A strep, each year - though the CDC reports that this is <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/abcs/overview/index.html">likely an underestimate</a>.The most important thing to know is that anything that appears to be a rapidly spreading infection should be immediately seen by a medical professional.People are more susceptible to necrotizing fasciitis if they have a condition or illness that weakens their immune system, but either way, the bacteria usually causes infection at the site of a wound. Normally, the condition is accompanied by extreme pain that may start as soreness, like with a pulled muscle, but quickly becomes more severe. Spreading areas of discolored skin are a sign of the condition.If any of these symptoms are present after a wound appears, or if you have fever, chills, or vomiting, the CDC advises seeing a doctor for treatment immediately. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-would-happen-if-humans-tried-landing-on-jupiter-space-2018-2">What would happen if humans tried to land on Jupiter</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/TOjqNuZO-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

A 'blister' on a Houston day-care teacher's foot turned out to be flesh-eating disease- here's what to know about the condition

<div class="image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/522619786bb3f7d67268b305-887-665/lawrence-tynes-3.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="Lawrence Tynes" width="480" />Getty Images</div></div>Bucs kicker Lawrence Tynes says he will file a grievance with the <keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> because he was placed on the NFL's non-football injury (NFI) list after contracting MRSA, a serious infection that could end his career, <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/lawrence-tynes-mrsa-infection-fighting-tampa-bay-buccaneers-non-football-injury-list-083113">according to Mike Garafalo of FoxSports.com</a>.
Tynes is one of two Buccaneers players that have recently tested positive for MRSA. There is also a report that one of the team's trainers has been battling MRSA for four months.
Tynes claims that he first noticed something was wrong with the big toe on his kicking foot 4-5 days after doctors treated him for an ingrown toenail. However, by placing Tynes on the NFI list, the Bucs are saying there is no way to prove that Tynes became infected at the team's facilities.
According to Garafalo, the Bucs have scrubbed their facilities "a few times" since learning the players had MRSA.
The Bucs will pay Tynes' $840,000 salary this season. However, being placed on the NFI list is still damaging to Tynes. Unlike the normal injured reserve list, players on the NFI are no longer eligible for added benefits and do not accrue time towards the league's pension plan.
Tynes isn't the only one that is upset. His wife has taken to Twitter to attack the team. Last week, after coach Greg Schiano told the media that <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/50284/nicks-tynes-making-progress">Tynes was responding well</a> to treatments, Amanda Tynes tweeted a picture of her husband saying "LOL! He's not responding at all yet" (see below).
This is a situation that appears as though it is going to get worse before it gets better.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I hear my husband is responding "well" to treatment. LOL! He's NOT responding at all yet. This is our <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23bucslife&amp;src=hash">#bucslife</a> <a href="http://t.co/Gy4z4OcAXA">pic.twitter.com/Gy4z4OcAXA</a>
- Amanda Tynes (@AmandaTynes9) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmandaTynes9/statuses/372708923532668928">August 28, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>

An Ugly Fight Is Brewing Between A Kicker And The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/514a2147eab8ea9f4d00000c-1438-1078/georgia-prison-inmates.png?maxX=400&amp;maxY=300" border="0" alt="Georgia prison inmates" width="400" height="300" /></div><a href="http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/NewsRoom/VideoLibrary/Video_Wilcox.htm">Screenshot via Georgia Department of Corrections</a></div>It takes a special kind of person to provide health care for accused murderers, rapists, and drug addicts.
But these doctors do, in some cases, receive "better pay, better hours, retirement benefits, and free malpractice insurance," Parija B. Kavilanz has reported <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/23/news/economy/healthcare_doctors_in_prison/index.htm" class="p1">on CNN</a>. "Typically a salaried job with steady work hours, correctional physicians can earn starting salaries of around $140,000." 
A jailhouse physician who goes by the nickname "Qadgop the Mercotan" once hosted a <a href="http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=150626">Q&amp;A thread on The Straight Dope Message Board,</a> where he shared what it was like to work with prisoners for a decade and counting. We asked him to expand and update his answers, and he sent us some fascinating responses. We've slightly edited questions and answers for clarity:
Q: Why did you make the switch from private practice to <keyword id="6362397" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Prison">prison</keyword>?
A: My old group went bankrupt, and the primary care jobs in my area were scarce and generally only available with the larger <keyword id="42518" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Medical">medical</keyword> conglomerates, and all pay was based on production, and your job security was related to how well you produced, also. My friends were all working 60 to 70 hours weekly to make 75 percent of their previous guaranteed salaries after the salary guarantees ran out. And the pressures to see patients so you could bill rather than handle things via phone was increasing.
Q: Did the move involve a pay cut? Did your hours go down appreciably?
A: Frankly, I get more now than I did in my best years in private practice. Back when competent docs were scarce, the state finally realized it had to offer competitive salary and benefits. 
Q: Any special problems working with such a large population of people living in such close proximity to each other?
A: So far that's not much different from the general public. In summer, we issue heat warnings and cooling tips, as we are not an air-conditioned institution. We've dealt with flu outbreaks, active TB exposures, whooping cough, cases by using the standard public health principles of containment and treatment as appropriate. Nothing's gotten out of hand. 
Q: Do you do all "outpatient" type medicine, or does the prison have an inpatient facility?
A: I do ambulatory. We have an "infirmary" (think nursing home) for those who need extra care they can't do themselves. We've got dialysis, PT/OT, and X-Ray on-site along with a phlebotomist. Most specialist work and inpatient goes to contracted specialists and hospitals outside the prison. 
Q: Does medical confidentiality disappear for convicts in the American prison system? 
A: Medical record confidentiality is treated pretty much the same way for the inmate as for the free person. But any medical problem that compromises institution security is reported. Security comes ahead of health care. So drug use, violence, etc. may be reported. It's not unlike mandatory reporting laws out in the community; patients who appear to be a clear and present danger to themselves and others are reported.
Q: Does this facility have a "supermax" or segregated area where the troublemakers, etc. are housed? If so, have you interacted with people who have been isolated by themselves for years, and if so, what is their mental state?
A: We have the segregation unit for those who break rules. Most stay short-term (days or weeks) and some do longer. The longer-term ones tend to be the real hardcore cases, associated frequently with mental illness. I've seen and treated them in these units. It is tight supervision 24/7 with few privileges. Many of these guys have a tendency to fling their bodily output about freely. They do get assessed regularly by psychology, psychiatry, and by the med staff. It ain't pretty but it functions. It's a bad place to be as a patient, especially if you're mentally ill.
Q: Is there a guard in the room with you at all times while you're with a patient?
A: No, I generally don't have a guard in the room. Only if I request it, or if I'm seeing a patient on the segregation (disciplinary) unit. I have a "panic button" on me, and if I push it, it sends a signal out letting security know exactly where I am, and 20-plus security personnel rush in. I hope I never accidentally set it off in the bathroom.
I was worried about the security issue at first, myself. But I've been here over a decade and I've never had to summon help, or push my "panic button." I feel safer here than I did working in a lot of big-city ERs and clinics. Frankly, here we know who the bad guys are. They all dress in those green or orange outfits. We keep our eyes on them. 
In this setting, actions, particularly wrong ones, have rather immediate consequences. Frankly, most of my patients are far more well-mannered and respectful than a lot of those I had previously in private practice. Many are grateful just to get proper attention paid to their genuine medical problems. 
Q: Do you get searched entering and leaving work?
A: Nope. I just go through seven access points that have to be opened by an officer, between the parking lot and my office. My identification badge and the fact that they recognize me precludes searches. But any one of them could stop me for search or evaluation.
Q: Have you ever had to deal with someone who was raped in prison? How common is it?
A: I've dealt with it seldom. If it occurs, we send the patient out to be seen by a specialist, a sexual assault nurse examiner. I won't say it doesn't happen, but it's less frequent here than I expected. It does appear however, that there is a lot of "consensual" sex going on.
Q: How much trouble do you have with malingering?
A: It happens, and I don't see a real greater frequency of it here than in private practice. Some of that is situational, as we're the main intake center for the state prison system. Everyone sentenced to prison comes here first for their evaluation: Medical, vocational, psychiatric, rehab, etc. So the average length of stay is about three months, except for our own long-term population, which is 300 inmates.
Q: How much preventive care gets done? For instance, if a prisoner has a family history of colon cancer, does he get the recommended colonoscopies?
A: Yes, we follow the same guidelines as for the general population. We're held to community standards of medical practice. As we should be.
Q: To what extent do you find yourself sympathizing with the legal/penal situations of your patients?
A: Frankly, I work on disconnecting myself from that part of it. The only facts I have about why they're in prison is from the patient, unless I make the effort to look it up. So whatever story they would tell me will be one-sided. So I tell them I'm there to assist with their medical needs and stick to that. Mental health crises I refer to the psychologists and/or psychiatrists. 
Q: How has the experience affected your opinion of our penal system?
A: Learning the nuts and bolts is interesting. But overall it's a big bureaucracy that chews up resources in order to incarcerate people. It does that job, sometimes well, sometimes less than well. We have many dedicated professionals working to make it function right.
Q: It's not unusual for a hospital or family <keyword id="6355082" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Doctor">doctor</keyword> to give a patient drugs that can be used to get high. How do you handle giving your patients such medicines in prison?
A: I'm pretty stingy with narcotics, and use them only when I feel they're needed, for treatment of significant acute pain, or malignant pain. They're usually not a good choice for chronic non-malignant pain, and we do worry about diversion. The inmates are able to keep certain medications in their units and can use them without supervision. Other (especially psychiatric) medications are controlled and distributed by the officers. And some (like the narcotic pain-killers) have to be handed out by nursing personnel.
Q: What kind of attitude do your bosses have about medical care for, say, a child molester or rapist? Do you have enough say to give everyone equal treatment? 
A: We are mandated by law to give equal care regardless of what they've done. I personally feel ethically bound to do the same. I did take the Hippocratic oath, after all. As I instruct other practitioners: We treat patients, not prisoners. We need to take into account our patients' inmate status when making certain treatment decisions, just like we did in the private sector, when we took into account our patient's insurance/HMO/Preferred provider status. 
But we're there to find a way to meet their legitimate medical needs. Do the officers or other staff respond more slowly and with less enthusiasm to certain individual's perceived needs? It's certainly something to ponder. But from what I've seen in my years here, medically necessary care gets delivered. 
Q: How do you handle outbreaks? Mycoplasma, Norwalk, Adenovirus, etc. are relatively easy to deal with, but are there contingency plans for meningococcus outbreaks and the like?
A: Case by case so far. If epidemics arise, we use the state epidemiologists to help us figure out the best thing to do. 
Q: How do you feel that your bedside manner has changed — if it has — since switching out of private practice? In other words, does having no "competition" affect how blunt you are with non-compliant patients, and so forth? 
A: I tend to be very direct, and don't socialize with the patients, or trade amusing anecdotes with them, or listen to their laments about how they've been misunderstood by society ... I don't worry about pleasing the customer, and I certainly don't worry about getting repeat business! I worry about effectively communicating to the patients what they need to know, and getting their cooperation to do it.
Q: Have you run across any inmates who were under the influence of illegal drugs? Have you had to turn them in? How are they handled?
A: Not really. I've suspected they may have hoarded their meds to have a "party" but it's hard to prove. Security often finds contraband on their routine cell searches, and this is where disciplinary action results. However if my exam showed anything that was a clear and present danger to the patient or others, I would be obliged to report it. 
Q: Can an inmate go to a hospital for treatment that is more specialized than the prison infirmary can handle? Do you have to go with them?
A: They're sent to local emergency rooms for emergency treatment with guards. I don't go along unless it's a specific extreme situation, which rarely happens. Before leaving in the ambulance, they're subject to strip search and go out in irons. We have arrangements with local hospitals and specialists to deliver other needed care, including cardiac care, cancer treatments, etc. 
Q: Do you know what the inmates are convicted of when you treat them? Is there something like a briefing sheet you get before you see them with all the info on them? 
A: I have access to a lot of their pre-sentence investigations, which detail their crimes and criminal history. I usually don't make it a point to look at these, unless I think I may need to know something on it. On occasion the patient will assert they have no history of drug problems, and if I'm contemplating prescribing a narcotic it's good to find out if they're in for repeated drug crimes. But normally I just ask how long their sentence is. I figure the details of their crimes shouldn't matter much to my treatment plan for them, and I don't need the aggravation, or the rationalizations, or the portrayal of themselves as a victim of circumstance or someone else's malice.
Not that I haven't known about some more heinous crimes, and have had to suppress my revulsion for certain people so I could do my job.
Q: How many of your patients, or the population in general, would you say are mentally ill? 
A: A good 30 percent have mental illness diagnoses, and 10 percent of them are classified as seriously mentally ill. It's a challenge, because prison is a very difficult environment for the mentally ill. Fortunately our psychology and psychiatry staff shoulder this burden of treating them. 
Q: What's the general breakdown of your caseload? What are the proportions for chronic, terminal (e.g., lung cancer), acute but not life-threatening (broken leg), and so on? 
A: My personal load is filled with the sicker ones, as my Physician Assistants or Nurse Practitioners handle routine care of healthy or 'routinely ill' new admissions. And we average over 100 admissions a week, all of whom need a history and physical. I'd guess and say that 25 percent of the incoming patients have a chronic physical illness that needs maintenance. This does not count psychiatric illness or chemical dependency. 
My own caseload is about 80 percent chronic illness management, especially diabetes, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, HIV, emphysema, Hep C, seizures, sickle cell disease and cancers. I basically lay the groundwork for their care and get them launched to their final destinations at other prisons. The groundwork can be heavy-duty hard work, because a lot of these people have not been taking care of themselves very well. 
The rest is acute care, including colds, tummy aches, and ripping people's toenails off because of ingrown, infected nails (a common problem with young males, who constitute the majority of inmates). 
Ripping people's toenails off, even those of convicted felons, is not as rewarding as one might initially think.
Q: How hard is it for prison docs to prescribe methadone in the U.S.? 
A: I do not prescribe it for addiction maintenance treatment. That takes special certification and oversight, and I'm not interested in doing that at all. Nor are we interested in maintaining an addiction to opioids by using methadone, or the newer agent, buprenorphine. Patients who do not need opioids for pain management reasons are taken off those medications. I can easily prescribe it for treatment of pain, and have done so. It's no more difficult than prescribing any other Schedule II pain killer like morphine or oxycodone.
Q: Do you have any opinions on the fact that these prisoners get far better health care than a significant chunk of the free population?
A: I appreciate the irony. I recognize it's a result of our Constitution and judicial system, and work on accepting the dichotomy. 
Q: What has surprised you the most about the experience?
A: How much fun it is, and how I'm more energized and professionally challenged than I've been in years. Also how old the prison population is getting, and how much we're spending on geriatric problems. 
Read the full thread with all the Q&amp;As <a href="http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=150626">here.</a>

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5 natural remedies to treat athlete's foot at home, according to podiatrists

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