Walking also lowers blood pressure, reduces cardiovascular risk, strengthens muscles, preserves balance, and protects mental health. No pharmaceutical company profits from recommending it, which explains why it receives so little attention compared with the endless advertising surrounding drugs. Meanwhile, modern society has engineered physical movement out of daily life. We sit at desks. Sit in cars. Sit in front of screens. Then we wonder why middle age arrives accompanied by aching knees, swollen ankles, shortness of breath, and metabolic disease. Podiatrists lament that people seek
treatment only after years of avoidance, denial, or embarrassment. By then, what could have been managed with routine care has become a medical crisis. That is not merely foolish. It is dangerous. If you have persistent numbness, swelling, ulcers, pain, discolouration, or wounds that refuse to heal, do not hesitate to ask for referrals to podiatrists, chiropodists, vascular specialists, or diabetic foot clinics. Waiting while problems worsen is negligence. And always, daily, use the two doctors you have. This column offers opinions on health and
wellness, not personal medical advice. Visit www.docgiff.com to learn more. For comments, diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram @diana_gifford_jones
walking, health and wellness, blood pressure, cardiovascular risk, balance, mental health, podiatrist, chiropodist, vascular specialist, diabetic foot clinic
So we just… walk? crazy how that’s not on TV nonstop.
I mean yeah walking helps, but people been telling me to “just walk” since forever and my knees still hurt. Is it saying walking cures diabetes or like… prevents it? Cuz my cousin did the whole walking thing and still ended up with foot issues.
This part about ads is kinda true tho. They make it seem like you need some drug for everything, but the feet stuff always gets ignored. Also I didn’t know chiropodists were even a real thing anymore lol. If I get numbness and swelling I should just call a podiatrist, right? Not sure if I should go to ER first.
Walking doesn’t get ads YET… sounds like we’re getting scammed by big pharma again. Like I get it, movement is good, but the article jumps from blood pressure to ulcers like it’s all the same thing. My ankles swell sometimes just from being on my feet at work, so does that mean it’s a vascular thing already? I’m not trying to wait for “wounds that refuse to heal” obviously but also not everyone can just go see a specialist the next day.