Page 23 - Florida Sentinel 12-7-18

Health
Hypothyroidism
Diabetes
It can cause
higher than nor-
mal levels of
blood sugar and
of fats like
triglycerides.
Over time, these
could damage
nerves in your
hands and feet,
and cause a constant or occasional burning feel- ing. Tell your doctor if you notice first signs, like tingling or numbness in your fingers and toes, and check in regularly to make sure you manage your diabetes in the best way.
Heavy Drinking
Overdoing alcohol can cause a lot of health problems. Years of drinking too much may dam- age nerves connected to your feet. It can also make you low on nutrients you need to keep your nerves healthy. Either or both of these problems might make your feet tingle or burn for months or years. If you quit drinking, you help improve your symptoms and stop further damage. Ask your doctor for help.
Athlete’s Foot
Your doc-
tor might call
it “tinea
pedis.” It’s a
mold-like fun-
gus that grows
in warm, moist
areas between
your toes and
on the bottom of your feet, and it may sting, itch, and burn. It thrives in damp shoes and socks and locker room floors. Switch up your footwear so they have a chance to dry, and wear flip-flops in the locker room or at public pools. Antifungal creams, sprays, or powders can help control the infection.
Chronic Kidney Failure
Your doctor might call it renal failure. It’s most commonly caused by diabetes or high blood pressure. Your kidneys slowly stop working the right way. That makes waste flu- ids build up in your body, which can damage nerves (uremic neuropathy), including in your feet, and cause a burning feeling.
It’s when your thy- roid, a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, does- n’t make enough hor- mone, which means your body won’t burn energy as quickly. You might be tired, consti- pated, sensitive to cold, forgetful, and less inter- ested in sex. You also
might have burning feet. Doctors aren’t sure why, but it may be that over the long term, the condition causes you to keep too much fluid, which pushes on your nerves.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 11-B