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4 ways to avoid foot pain when travelling

<p>Whether it’s caused by a hectic day of sightseeing or a mad rush through the airports, there’s nothing quite as annoying as foot pain when you’re on holidays. And when you consider how easy it is to avoid (so long as you take the correct preventative measures) you’ll feeling like kicking yourself for putting up with it for all these years.</p> <p>Here are four ways to avoid foot pain when travelling.</p> <p><strong>1. Choosing the right pair of shoes  </strong></p> <p>Out of all the fashion statements, shoes are probably responsible for more chronic foot pain than anything else. So make sure you choose the right pair of shoes for your trip. For example, if you’re going to be walking around all day sightseeing it might be an idea to ditch the stiletto heels for a pair of joggers (even if they’re not quite so aesthetically pleasing).</p> <p>Dr Robert Mathews from Cremorne Medical in NSW says, “I recommend wearing supportive shoe such as running shoes. If you want to wear something more stylish then consider buying some gel insoles to slip in your shoes, you can get a wide variety of these from your local chemist.“</p> <p><strong>2. Manage your feet on flights</strong></p> <p>Foot swelling can become quite a big problem on long haul flight, so managing your feet becomes crucial. Simple, preventative measures anyone can take, like wearing support stocks, standing up every so often to move around or even just flexing your feet and wriggling your toes, can make a big difference and greatly reduce the chance of swelling.</p> <p><strong>3. Slip, slop and slap</strong></p> <p>So many island holidays have been soured by the blistering pain of sunburnt feet. If you’re staying at a resort or near a beach and your feet are exposed, don’t forget to apply sunscreen everywhere. Otherwise you’re going to want to have some aloe vera gel handy!</p> <p><strong>4. Take time to rest</strong></p> <p>While you’re probably in a mad rush to see everything, fear of missing out can put significant strain on your feet. So make sure you set aside plenty of time every day to put your feet up and rest. It also might be worth considering some extra pampering, like a foot bath or even a half hour massage. You are on holidays after all, so why not treat yourself!</p> <p>Dr Matthews adds, “It may also be worth taking with you some thick band aids in case you develop any blisters from long walks.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Ballet flats are back. Here’s what the research says about how they affect your feet

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kristin-graham-1427672">Kristin Graham</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-banwell-305575">Helen Banwell</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/saravana-kumar-181105">Saravana Kumar</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p>Ballet flat shoes – those thin-heeled lightweight slip-on shoes – are making a fashion <a href="https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/ballet-flats">comeback</a>. And it’s not hard to see why: they’re versatile, easy to wear, soft, flexible and often worn by celebrities.</p> <p>We have often been warned of the dangers of high-heeled shoes, so you might think ballet flats are problem-free.</p> <p>When you look at the research, however, a complicated picture emerges. There’s no definitive evidence to show ballet flats are generally harmful to foot health in the long-term. But ill-fitting ballet flats can be a problem.</p> <h2>Make sure it fits, especially in the toe box</h2> <p>An estimated <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30065787/">70%</a> of the population are wearing ill-fitting shoes. This mismatch between foot and shoe shape can increase foot pain, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17507530/">reduce stability</a>, and can mean more blisters, corns and calluses. And habitual wearing of tight shoes has been <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958259207000533">associated</a> with bone changes in the toes and feet over time.</p> <p>Many flats feature a shallow and narrow toe box (the part of the shoe where the toes go). A too-small toe box often doesn’t align with the shape of a foot and ends up squishing the toes. It can also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958259206000770">increase</a> pressure on top of and under the foot, and <a href="https://jfootankleres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-1146-6-28">restrict</a> the movement of the forefoot during walking.</p> <p>But a too-big toe box is also a problem. Too much foot movement within the shoe can cause pressure and friction on the skin, which can also lead to calluses, corns, blisters, and wounds.</p> <p>A poorly fitting toe box can also cause micro trauma to toenails which, ultimately, can change <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anuva-Bansal/publication/347522694_Traumatic_Nail_Disorders/links/60d6135592851ca94487df7e/Traumatic-Nail-Disorders.pdf">their look and thickness</a>.</p> <p>So if you’re wearing flats, make sure you choose a shoe with the right sized toe box.</p> <h2>What about the heel?</h2> <p>Health professionals often recommend a small heel over a completely flat shoe. Very flat shoes can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27498844/">place</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268003307002082">more</a> strain on the soft tissues that support the foot arch – specifically, the plantar fascia.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27498844/">Research</a> has shown moving from a completely flat shoe to a small, raised heel reduces the tension force on the plantar fascia during standing activities.</p> <p>On the other hand, other <a href="https://journals.lww.com/jpojournal/Fulltext/2009/01000/Effects_of_Shoe_Heel_Height_on_the_Roll_Over.7.aspx#:%7E:text=The%20roll%2Dover%20shapes%20seem,without%20a%20change%20in%20alignment.&amp;text=Photographs%20of%20the%20prosthetic%20feet,shapes%20of%20these%20feet%20superimposed">research</a> has shown most people will adapt their ankle and knee motion to accommodate shoes of different heel heights.</p> <h2>What about support?</h2> <p>Ballet flats tend to have very flexible, thin soles and heel counters (the part, coloured red in this picture, that hugs the heel and the back part of the foot).</p> <p>These thin and flexible structures mean flats are often accused of lacking support. But debate rages among foot and shoe experts about how important support is in the first place.</p> <p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27729290/">Research</a> on barefoot-style shoes has shown walking in these types of shoes significantly reduces some loads on the knee compared to more stable supportive shoes.</p> <p>Minimalist shoes have also been found to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30102872/">increase strength</a> in certain foot muscles used when we push off during walking, running or jumping.</p> <p>However, other research found stable supportive shoes can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33428439/">improve knee pain</a> when walking more than flat flexible shoes.</p> <p>The thin soles in flats mean there is little cushioning under the foot. While more cushioning can improve comfort, and reduce stress and strain on your foot sole <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021929011001758?casa_token=gecXFCMi0LcAAAAA:TazyTd8TRaAl_bG0jprifYIUIlWRDwEH6bVeymBYTWups2iDGMuUjLs2gaNqsiNGHVJhHC3J9AdB">skin</a>, there is no evidence it reduces loads across the lower leg.</p> <p>In fact, walking in cushioned shoes has been shown to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20191571/">increase</a> the load on the knee compared to flat, flexible shoes.</p> <h2>So, what’s the verdict?</h2> <p>The verdict is mixed. Yes, there’s evidence poorly fitting shoes and a flat heel can be detrimental, with consequences seen in the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636221000199">rearfoot</a> (around the ankle) and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636218300687">knee</a>.</p> <p>But there’s also no hard evidence ballet flats cause long-term foot health problems.</p> <p>What matters is choosing a well-fitted shoe to suit your foot shape and needs.</p> <p>If you’re shopping for ballet flats, try to:</p> <ul> <li> <p>choose a pair with a toe box that does not cramp your toes and has a sole at least as wide as your foot</p> </li> <li> <p>choose flats that offer at least some structure and support</p> </li> <li> <p>choose a pair with a small heel rather being than completely flat.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207806/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> </li> </ul> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kristin-graham-1427672">Kristin Graham</a>, Lecturer in Podiatry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-banwell-305575">Helen Banwell</a>, Lecturer in Podiatry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/saravana-kumar-181105">Saravana Kumar</a>, Professor in Allied Health and Health Services Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/ballet-flats-are-back-heres-what-the-research-says-about-how-they-affect-your-feet-207806">original article</a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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10 things your feet can reveal about your health

<p><strong>You notice: Dry, flaky feet</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Thyroid problems, especially if moisturiser doesn’t help. When the thyroid gland (the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck) isn’t working properly, it doesn’t produce thyroid hormones, which control metabolic rate, blood pressure, tissue growth and skeletal and nervous system development.</p> <p>“Thyroid problems cause severe dryness of the skin,” says foot specialist Marlene Reid. “When we see cracking on the feet, or if moisturiser doesn’t improve dryness over a few days, we usually refer patients to their primary doctor to make sure their thyroids are okay.” Brittle toenails can also signal thyroid complications.</p> <p><strong>You notice: Bald toes</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Arterial disease. If the fuzz on your toes suddenly disappears, it could signal poor blood circulation caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which builds up plaque in the leg arteries. “Signs of PAD can include decreased hair growth on the feet and ankles, purplish toes and thin or shiny skin,” says podiatric surgeon Suzanne Fuchs.</p> <p>Symptoms are subtle, but doctors can check for a healthy pulse in the foot. In severe cases, they may spot PAD on an X-ray. “If I take an X-ray of a broken foot, and I see a hardening of the arteries, 99 per cent of the time the same thing is happening in the heart blood vessels,” says podiatric surgeon Gary A. Pichney.</p> <p><strong>You notice: Ulcers that don't heal </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Diabetes. Uncontrolled glucose levels can damage nerves and cause poor circulation, so blood doesn’t reach all areas of the body, including the feet. When blood doesn’t get to a wound caused by, say, irritating shoes, the skin doesn’t heal properly, and that’s how diabetic blisters and ulcers can develop.</p> <p>“Many, many people with diabetes are diagnosed first because of foot problems,” says Reid. Other signs of diabetes may include persistent tingling or numbness of the feet. If you suffer from these foot problems, ask your doctor about getting your blood sugar levels tested.</p> <p><strong>You notice: An enlarged, painful big toe</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Gout. Gorged on wine and steak? The painful aftermath could be gout, a type of arthritis that often affects the joint of the big toe. Foods high in purine, a chemical compound found in red meats, fish and certain alcohol, can trigger an attack by raising levels of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is normally excreted through urine, but is overproduced or under-excreted in some people.</p> <p>“You’ll see the deposition of the uric acid in the joint, most commonly the big toe or the ankle,” says podiatric foot and ankle specialist Bob Baravarian. “The patient will wake up with a hard, red, swollen joint. It’s extremely painful.” A doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs for short-term relief and medicines to reduce uric acid production. You may also need to follow a low-purine diet for long-term prevention.</p> <p><strong>You notice: Small, red lines under the toenail </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> A heart infection. Red streaks underneath the toenails or fingernails could be broken blood vessels known as splinter haemorrhages. While problems like psoriasis, fungal infection, or even just experiencing trauma to the nail can cause splinter haemorrhages, it can also be a sign of endocarditis, or an infection of the heart’s inner lining, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. (Keep in mind this is a rare condition.)</p> <p>People who have an existing heart condition are at higher risk of developing endocarditis. The infection can result in heart failure if left untreated. If you notice splinter haemorrhages on your toenails or fingernails, and haven’t experienced any recent trauma to the nail, see your doctor to check your heart and blood circulation.</p> <p><strong>You notice: Clubbing</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Lung cancer or heart disease. Another symptom that appears in both toes and fingers, clubbing is often associated with lung cancer, chronic lung infection, or heart conditions caused by birth defects or infection of the lining of heart valves and chambers. Clubbing often occurs in these conditions because of the lower amount of oxygen in the blood.</p> <p>The tissue swells and results in the ‘clubbed’ appearance – rounder, wider fingers and toes. Though patients are typically aware they have a disease that is causing the clubbing, it’s best to get checked if you see any abnormalities.</p> <p><strong>You notice: Pitted toenails </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Psoriasis. If you find tiny holes, grooves or ridges in your toenails, you may have nail psoriasis. Though most people who experience nail psoriasis also have skin psoriasis (an autoimmune disease that makes skin patchy and irritated), five per cent of people with nail psoriasis aren’t affected elsewhere.</p> <p>“If you’ve never been diagnosed with psoriasis, but your toenails have little pits in them, you should get them checked out,” says Pichney. Other symptoms include white patches and horizontal lines across the nails. To treat psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe topical creams or steroids injected under the nail.</p> <p><strong>You notice: Spooned nails </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Anaemia or lupus. Do you have a depression in the toenail deep enough to hold a water droplet? Also known as koilonychias, spoon-shaped toenails or fingernails are most commonly associated with an iron deficiency, research shows, but it can also come from malnutrition, thyroid disorders or injury.</p> <p>Spooned nails occasionally appear in infants, but normalise in the first few years of life. If you notice spooning, contact your physician, who will obtain a blood test to identify the exact cause.</p> <p><strong>You notice: A straight line under your toenails </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Skin cancer. A dark, vertical line underneath a toenail could be acral lentiginous melanoma, or hidden melanoma – a form of the skin cancer that appears on obscure body parts. (Other hidden melanomas include eye melanoma and mouth melanoma.)</p> <p>“It will be a black line from the base of your nail to the end of the nail,” says Pichney. “It should be seen by a podiatrist or dermatologist. You want to make sure it’s not cancer, but it may be a fungus, which is usually yellow-brown and sporadic throughout the whole nail.”</p> <p><strong>You notice: A suddenly high arch </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>It could be:</em></span> Nerve damage. “Most high-arched feet are associated with some form of underlying neuromuscular condition,” says Pichney. “If someone experiences thinning of the arch muscles in the foot, it could be an indication of a neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).”</p> <p>An inherited disorder that damages the peripheral nerves (those outside the brain and spinal cord), CMT can also cause changes in gait, numbness in the feet, difficulty balancing, loss of muscles in the lower legs, and later on, similar symptoms in the arms and hands. See your doctor if you notice abnormalities. “For anything that’s different or changes when it comes to the foot, see your podiatrist right away,” says Reid.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/10-subtle-signs-of-disease-your-feet-can-reveal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em> </p>

Body

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4 signs your body is trying to tell you something

<p>Have you noticed any odd changes in your body? Perhaps your nails have become more brittle lately, or you’ve started to get cracks on the corners of your mouth. These small signs might seem insignificant, but they are your body’s way of signalling that a change has occurred.</p> <p>Here are some of the key signs that your body is trying to tell you something:</p> <p><strong>Burping and indigestion</strong></p> <p>Find yourself burping or struggling with indigestion more than usual? It could be a sign that you’re low on stomach acid.</p> <p>If your body is low on stomach acid, you won’t digest foods efficiently, especially those heavy in fat and protein. As digestion slows, food sits in the stomach along with the air you naturally swallow when you eat. The longer food stays in the stomach, the more likely you’ll burp.</p> <p><strong>Yellow spots around your eyes</strong></p> <p>Discoloured spots around your eyes and elbows can be a sign that your cholesterol levels are raised. It’s a condition known as xanthelasma, which can be your body’s way of telling you that your diet or exercise routine is amiss.</p> <p>Be sure to consult a doctor if you need to check your cholesterol. A routine blood test will be able to give you the answer, and you can talk to your doctor about what lifestyle changes will help.</p> <p><strong>Itchy feet</strong></p> <p>Summertime often means more visits to the pool or time exercising outdoors. But sweaty trainers and damp feet can also lead to an increase in fungal infections.</p> <p>If you notice your feet are itchy, take a closer look at the skin. If it’s white and flaking off, or simply damp between the toes you may have a fungal infection. Head to the pharmacist for an anti-fungal cream to clear it up, stat.</p> <p><strong>Cracks in the corners of your mouth</strong></p> <p>Small cracks in the skin at the corner of your mouth is often a sign that your body isn’t getting enough B vitamins. If your diet is high in refined and processed foods- think soft drink, pastries and pasta- B vitamins are often the first to take a hit.</p> <p>The answer? Opt for a diet high in whole foods. Try eating more grains, legumes, salmon and red meat, all foods high in B vitamins. If in doubt, always contact a healthcare professional.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="../health/wellbeing/2015/10/how-to-lose-weight-after-60/">How to lose weight after 60</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2015/11/how-to-stay-asleep/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 tips to stay asleep all night</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2015/11/best-outdoor-exercise-options/">The best ways to exercise outdoors</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Body

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Artist can draw with both hands and both feet at the same time

<p dir="ltr">Dutch artist Rajacenna van Dam has taken being ambidextrous to the next level, as she taught herself to not only use both her hands to create her art, but her feet as well. </p> <p dir="ltr">Rajacenna is a former child prodigy who, at the age of 16, was discovered as one of the world’s best and youngest hyper-realistic pencil drawing artists.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now 28 years old, Rajacenna is known worldwide for being quadridextrous, as she uses both her hands and both her feet at the same time to create up to six photo-realistic portraits at the same time.</p> <p dir="ltr">While Rajacenna knew she was talented with her hands, she was surprised to discover the talent transferred to her feet. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I love to challenge myself so I thought why not try for the first time painting with my feet while drawing in a realistic way, while being upside down and also one drawing in 3D,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It surprised me how much control I was able to have over my feet, something I never realised before. All that time I was drawing while I thought my feet were useless with art and now, I discovered they can do way more than I thought!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Rajacenna’s talent was proven during an EEG scan for a popular scientific TV program when it became clear that during drawing, there is superhuman brain activity to be registered in Rajacenna’s brain, according to neuro therapist and world’s number one EEG Biofeedback expert Bill Scott.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Scott said Rajacenna is an “extraordinary human being; she has a very exceptional brain”, claiming, “I have never seen this before in anyone’s brain.”</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/enZbw1j8-ZE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><em>Image credits: Youtube</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-59ad9a48-7fff-f220-3f61-c21971eb0597"></span></p>

Art

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11 things your itchy skin can reveal about your health

<h2>Kidney disease</h2> <p>Intense itchy skin all over the body often occurs in people with late-stage kidney disease or those who suffer from chronic renal failure. In fact, 42 per cent of dialysis patients suffered from moderate to extreme itchiness, according to a study published in Renal Failure. “Some people describe it as a nuisance,” says dermatologist, Dr Anthony M. Rossi. “[The itch] is so intense that people wake up in the middle of the night scratching.” Science has yet to uncover why kidney disease causes itchiness, but doctors suspect it has to do with the build-up of toxins in your body when your kidneys are unable to remove the waste from your bloodstream.</p> <h2>Liver disease</h2> <p>Itchy skin all over could also be a silent sign of liver disease. Where incessant itchiness shows up late-stage in kidney disease, it can be an early symptom of liver disease. “If your liver is not functioning properly to detoxify the body, byproducts like bile acids back up,” says Dr Kathleen Cook Suozzi, assistant professor in the department of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. “The primary goal is to treat the underlying liver disease and prescribe medications that can eliminate bile acids.” Doctors will typically prescribe medications that can inhibit your body’s uptake of bile acids or help reduce the amount of bile acid returning to the liver.</p> <h2>Dermatographia</h2> <p>If after lightly scratching your skin, your fingernails leave thin, raised red welts on your skin that take 15 to 30 minutes to disappear, you may suspect dermatographia or dermatographism, a form of chronic hives. “It’s an extreme skin condition, where your skin is sensitive to touch and releases too much histamine,” says dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, Dr Cameron Rokhsar. Although the cause of this condition is unclear, it may be triggered by stress, infections, allergens, or medications, he says, adding that areas commonly touched by other skin or clothing are the most susceptible to dermatographic flare-ups. It’s easy to diagnose but often goes undiagnosed because it’s not severe or bothersome enough for people to make an appointment with their dermatologist. If the itch becomes severe, your doctor can prescribe an antihistamine to relieve the inflammation, he says. For patients with severe hives who don’t get better with antihistamines, omalizumab injections in a doctor’s office may provide relief.</p> <h2>Spinal disease</h2> <p>Chronic itchy skin on the upper middle section of the back (without a rash) can be a hallmark of neuropathic itch, a symptom of nerve malfunction. Before providing treatment, doctors will first rule out spinal cord disease as a cause. Research has shown that spinal disease, whether due to age or injury, can apply pressure on the nerve and pinch it, which results in an itchy sensation on the skin. Neuropathic itches can occur on one side of the body or both, but it’s a big red flag if scratching brings no relief. “People with eczema get a good sensation from scratching,” says Dr Rossi. “But [nerve itch] doesn’t improve with scratching. The itch intensifies most of the time.” Some people say it feels like insects are crawling on them. Once spinal cord disease or other health conditions have been ruled out, neuropathic itches can be treated with capsaicin cream, which is derived from capsicums, to burn out the nerves that are firing irregularly on the skin.</p> <h2>Coeliac disease</h2> <p>Extremely itchy bumps or blisters on knees, elbows, buttocks, and/or hairline may be signs of dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), a skin manifestation of coeliac disease, says dermatologist, Dr John Zone. Basically, when a person with coeliac disease eats food containing gluten, their immune system responds by producing antibodies called immunoglobulin A (IgA). These IgA antibodies travel to and bind with the skin cells to trigger an itchy response. The prescription Dapsone can provide short-term itch relief for the skin, but if the intestinal damage is serious patients have to adopt a strict gluten-free diet for life. If they continue to eat gluten, coeliac patients can develop malnutrition, anaemia, bone loss, ulcerative colitis, and even cancer.</p> <h2>Lymphoma</h2> <p>“The other thing that you want to rule out are blood disorders,” says Dr Suozzi. “Anywhere from five to 30 per cent of lymphomas such as Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s can present with itch.” Itchiness with or without a rash can be the first symptom of Hodgkin’s disease – likely caused by cytokines, cell signal molecules that trigger inflammation in response to infection. If your doctor suspects lymphoma, she may order a chest X-ray. If you’re diagnosed with the disease, the itching will cease soon after starting chemotherapy or radiation therapy.</p> <h2>Thyroid disease</h2> <p>“Thyroid disease, whether it’s overactive or underactive, can cause weird sensations in the skin,” says Dr Rohskar. “No one knows the association but it may be that the changes in the sweat glands can cause skin dryness.” Itchy, dry skin is more common in people who have hypothyroid because skin tissue contains thyroid hormone receptors that are seeing diminished cellular activity in the absence of thyroid hormone.</p> <h2>Allergies</h2> <p>Allergies are one of the most common chronic health conditions in the world. In fact, many skin allergies are classified under the umbrella term contact dermatitis, the itchy rash on your skin that you get when you come into contact with an allergen. Plants, nickel, or compounds found in personal care items like baby wipes and makeup are just a few of the allergens that can cause contact dermatitis. If the itchiness is localised to your eyes, if could be a sign of eyelid dermatitis. Your dermatologist or allergist can use a patch test to figure out what your triggers are. “It’s like a treasure hunt when we’re trying to look into all the products that people use,” says Dr Suozzi. A strong topical steroid is prescribed for relief.</p> <h2>Menopause</h2> <p>If you’ve finally hit menopause, you may have noticed a sudden change in your appearance – including dry, itchy skin. The loss of oestrogen, an essential building block for collagen production, leads to thinner, itchier skin due to a diminished supply of natural oils that keep your skin’s moisture intact, says OB/GYN, Dr Sherry Ross. Maintain your fountain of youth with aloe vera gel or calamine lotion, which help hold water in your skin’s outermost layer to alleviate drying and itching.</p> <h2>Breast cancer</h2> <p>Paget’s disease of the nipple is an incredibly rare form of breast cancer where cancer cells collect in or around the nipple. According to Rare Cancers Australia, Paget’s disease of the nipple is more common in women and is often found in people over 50 years old. The first sign is scaly, red, itchy patches around the nipple and areola. “Sometimes it’s misdiagnosed as eczema of the nipple,” says Dr Suozzi. “But when it’s breast cancer-associated, it’s unilateral.”</p> <h2>Pregnancy</h2> <p>The Royal Australia College of General Practitioners states that 1 in 200 women will develop pruritic urticarial papules and plaques (PUPP), an outbreak of itchy red rashes commonly seen on the abdomen, though they can also appear on your legs and arms. Most women can’t do much about the itch because the rash typically doesn’t develop until late into the third trimester when most medications are off-limits. “It’s not proven but some people say [PUPP] can happen with multiple gestations like twins,” says Dr Rossi. “And some people think it’s because the skin gets stretched out.” Fortunately, it’s harmless and goes away after pregnancy.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/skin/11-things-your-itchy-skin-can-reveal-about-your-health?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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10 subtle signs of disease your feet can reveal

<h2>You notice: Dry, flaky feet</h2> <p>It could be: Thyroid problems, especially if moisturiser doesn’t help. When the thyroid gland (the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck) isn’t working properly, it doesn’t produce thyroid hormones, which control metabolic rate, blood pressure, tissue growth and skeletal and nervous system development. “Thyroid problems cause severe dryness of the skin,” says foot specialist Marlene Reid. “When we see cracking on the feet, or if moisturiser doesn’t improve dryness over a few days, we usually refer patients to their primary doctor to make sure their thyroids are okay.” Brittle toenails can also signal thyroid complications.</p> <h2>You notice: Bald toes</h2> <p>It could be: Arterial disease. If the fuzz on your toes suddenly disappears, it could signal poor blood circulation caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which builds up plaque in the leg arteries. “Signs of PAD can include decreased hair growth on the feet and ankles, purplish toes and thin or shiny skin,” says podiatric surgeon Suzanne Fuchs. Symptoms are subtle, but doctors can check for a healthy pulse in the foot. In severe cases, they may spot PAD on an X-ray. “If I take an X-ray of a broken foot, and I see a hardening of the arteries, 99 per cent of the time the same thing is happening in the heart blood vessels,” says podiatric surgeon Gary A. Pichney.</p> <h2>You notice: Ulcers that don’t heal</h2> <p>It could be: Diabetes. Uncontrolled glucose levels can damage nerves and cause poor circulation, so blood doesn’t reach all areas of the body, including the feet. When blood doesn’t get to a wound caused by, say, irritating shoes, the skin doesn’t heal properly, and that’s how diabetic blisters and ulcers can develop. “Many, many people with diabetes are diagnosed first because of foot problems,” says Reid. Other signs of diabetes may include persistent tingling or numbness of the feet. If you suffer from these foot problems, ask your doctor about getting your blood sugar levels tested.</p> <h2>You notice: An enlarged, painful big toe</h2> <p>It could be: Gout. Gorged on wine and steak? The painful aftermath could be gout, a type of arthritis that often affects the joint of the big toe. Foods high in purine, a chemical compound found in red meats, fish and certain alcohol, can trigger an attack by raising levels of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is normally excreted through urine, but is overproduced or under-excreted in some people. “You’ll see the deposition of the uric acid in the joint, most commonly the big toe or the ankle,” says podiatric foot and ankle specialist Bob Baravarian. “The patient will wake up with a hard, red, swollen joint. It’s extremely painful.” A doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs for short-term relief and medicines to reduce uric acid production. You may also need to follow a low-purine diet for long-term prevention.</p> <h2>You notice: Small, red lines under the toenail</h2> <p>It could be: A heart infection. Red streaks underneath the toenails or fingernails could be broken blood vessels known as splinter haemorrhages. While problems like psoriasis, fungal infection, or even just experiencing trauma to the nail can cause splinter haemorrhages, it can also be a sign of endocarditis, or an infection of the heart’s inner lining, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. (Keep in mind this is a rare condition.) People who have an existing heart condition are at higher risk of developing endocarditis. The infection can result in heart failure if left untreated. If you notice splinter haemorrhages on your toenails or fingernails, and haven’t experienced any recent trauma to the nail, see your doctor to check your heart and blood circulation.</p> <h2>You notice: Clubbing</h2> <p>It could be: Lung cancer or heart disease.</p> <p>Another symptom that appears in both toes and fingers, clubbing is often associated with lung cancer, chronic lung infection, or heart conditions caused by birth defects or infection of the lining of heart valves and chambers. Clubbing often occurs in these conditions because of the lower amount of oxygen in the blood. The tissue swells and results in the ‘clubbed’ appearance – rounder, wider fingers and toes. Though patients are typically aware they have a disease that is causing the clubbing, it’s best to get checked if you see any abnormalities.</p> <h2>You notice: Pitted toenails</h2> <p>It could be: Psoriasis.</p> <p>If you find tiny holes, grooves or ridges in your toenails, you may have nail psoriasis. Though most people who experience nail psoriasis also have skin psoriasis (an autoimmune disease that makes skin patchy and irritated), five per cent of people with nail psoriasis aren’t affected elsewhere. “If you’ve never been diagnosed with psoriasis, but your toenails have little pits in them, you should get them checked out,” says Pichney. Other symptoms include white patches and horizontal lines across the nails. To treat psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe topical creams or steroids injected under the nail.</p> <h2>You notice: Spooned nails</h2> <p>It could be: Anaemia or lupus.</p> <p>Do you have a depression in the toenail deep enough to hold a water droplet? Also known as koilonychias, spoon-shaped toenails or fingernails are most commonly associated with an iron deficiency, research shows, but it can also come from malnutrition, thyroid disorders or injury. Spooned nails occasionally appear in infants, but normalise in the first few years of life. If you notice spooning, contact your physician, who will obtain a blood test to identify the exact cause.</p> <h2>You notice: A straight line under your toenails</h2> <p>It could be: Skin cancer.</p> <p>A dark, vertical line underneath a toenail could be acral lentiginous melanoma, or hidden melanoma – a form of the skin cancer that appears on obscure body parts. (Other hidden melanomas include eye melanoma and mouth melanoma.) “It will be a black line from the base of your nail to the end of the nail,” says Pichney. “It should be seen by a podiatrist or dermatologist. You want to make sure it’s not cancer, but it may be a fungus, which is usually yellow-brown and sporadic throughout the whole nail.”</p> <h2>You notice: A suddenly high arch</h2> <p>It could be: Nerve damage.</p> <p>“Most high-arched feet are associated with some form of underlying neuromuscular condition,” says Pichney. “If someone experiences thinning of the arch muscles in the foot, it could be an indication of a neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).” An inherited disorder that damages the peripheral nerves (those outside the brain and spinal cord), CMT can also cause changes in gait, numbness in the feet, difficulty balancing, loss of muscles in the lower legs, and later on, similar symptoms in the arms and hands. See your doctor if you notice abnormalities. “For anything that’s different or changes when it comes to the foot, see your podiatrist right away,” says Reid.</p> <p><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/10-subtle-signs-of-disease-your-feet-can-reveal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</strong></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Keeping to the beat controlled by 69 genes – not just our feet

<p class="spai-bg-prepared">Are you a dancing queen or do you have two left feet? Turns out that keeping to the beat is partly to do with our <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/news.2007.359" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genetics</a>.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">An international team of researchers conducted a study on the genetic variation of 606,825 individuals, all of whom completed a musical ability questionnaire (including “Can you clap in time with a musical beat?”), with some also participating in beat synchronisation experiments including telling rhythms apart (Phenotype Experiment 1) and tapping in time with music (Phenotype Experiment 2).</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">Of the participants, 91.57% said yes to the question, “Can you clap in time with a musical beat?” Those who said yes also scored higher in the rhythm perception and tapping synchrony experiments.  </p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">Looking at the genetic variation, 69 genes showed significant difference between the rhythmic and arhythmic participants, with <em class="spai-bg-prepared">VRK2 </em>being the most strongly associated. This gene has been linked previously to behavioural and psychiatric traits (including depression, schizophrenia and developmental delay), suggesting a biological link between beat synchronisation and neurodevelopment.</p> <div class="newsletter-box spai-bg-prepared"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p195164-o1" class="wpcf7 spai-bg-prepared" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.62 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/science/biology/keeping-the-beat-genetics/#wpcf7-f6-p195164-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <p class="spai-bg-prepared" style="display: none !important;"><span class="wpcf7-form-control-wrap referer-page spai-bg-prepared"><input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page spai-bg-prepared" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/" aria-invalid="false" /></span></p> <p><!-- Chimpmail extension by Renzo Johnson --></form> </div> </div> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">Several physiology traits also seemed to be linked to beat synchronisation, including processing speed, grid strength, usual walking pace, and peak respiratory flow. These may be linked to the evolution of language and sociality through music in early humans.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">For modern humans, our ability to keep the beat may help to predict developmental speech-language disorders, and serve as a mechanism for <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2021.789467/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rhythm-based rehabilitation</a>, including for <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/biology/bilingual-patients-recover-better-from-stroke/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stroke</a> and <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-16232-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parkinson’s disease</a>.</p> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">This study has been <a class="spai-bg-prepared" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01359-x" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in <em class="spai-bg-prepared">Nature Human Behaviour</em>.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio spai-bg-prepared"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper spai-bg-prepared"> <div class="entry-content-asset spai-bg-prepared"> <div class="embed-wrapper spai-bg-prepared"> <div class="inner spai-bg-prepared"><iframe class="spai-bg-prepared" title="The Go-Go's - We Got The Beat (Official Music Video)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f55KlPe81Yw?feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> <p class="spai-bg-prepared">We got the beat… well maybe some of us!</p> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" class="spai-bg-prepared" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=195164&amp;title=Keeping+to+the+beat+controlled+by+69+genes+%E2%80%93+not+just+our+feet" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/biology/keeping-the-beat-genetics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/qamariya-nasrullah" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Qamariya Nasrullah</a>. Qamariya Nasrullah holds a PhD in evolutionary development from Monash University and an Honours degree in palaeontology from Flinders University.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

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How missing feet washed up on Canadian beaches is helping solve the Melissa Caddick mystery

<p><span>The strange phenomenon of dismembered feet sweeping up on Canadian beaches may just help investigators into understanding what happened to missing Sydney businesswoman Melissa Caddick.</span><br /><br /><span>The 49-year-old’s severed foot drifted ashore Bournda Beach on the NSW south coast – hundreds of kilometres from her home in the eastern suburbs.</span><br /><br /><span>Other remains have now washed up on other south coast beaches – a holiday spot in Mollymook, at Cunjurong Point near Lake Conjola, and Warrain Beach at Culburra.</span><br /><br /><span>Forensic testing is currently being done on the remains to figure out whether they are animal or human, and if so, whether they match to Ms Caddick’s DNA.</span><br /><br /><span>A senior investigator who spoke to The Daily Telegraph revealed that the condition of the body parts that have been discovered means that she was most likely on the run for weeks before her death.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840095/daily.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/113aa55b8cd945fdb990a299d92e0cbf" /><br /><br /><span>However, a forensic pathologist has pointed to a bizarre phenomenon in Canada which could possibly point to an alternative theory which is that she met her death in Sydney.</span><br /><br /><span>21 disembodied feet so far have washed up along the British Columbian coast since 2007.</span><br /><br /><span>A coronial investigation that has been ongoing for over a decade, has ruled out that the feet came from people who were killed either in accidents or by suicide, and the feet detached during the normal decomposition process.</span><br /><br /><span>The feet were usually found inside of sneakers, just like Melissa Caddick’s, which the coroner believed was responsible for both keeping the feet buoyant enough to eventually wash ashore.</span><br /><br /><span>The shoes also allegedly gave the feet enough protection from decomposition.</span><br /><br /><span>Dr Matthew Orde, a forensic pathologist with the University of British Columbia, told the Sydney Morning Herald that a modern running shoe provides protection and buoyancy.</span><br /><br /><span>He revealed the decomposing feet were often found “many, many miles” from where they first entered the water.</span><br /><br /><span>“One of the theories is that those running shoes, by virtues of the air pockets in them, are quite buoyant,” Dr Orde said.</span><br /><br /><span>Police are set on searching waters near Caddick’s home in Dover Heights, follow a senior investigator’s doubts over whether her foot could have floated 400km to where it was discovered.</span><br /><br /><span>Superintendent Joe McNulty, Commander of the NSW Marine Command said he has never heard of a case where a body in water could float hundreds of kilometres down the south coast.</span><br /><br /><span>“Something in the water for that long, say a bit of flotsam or jetsam that washes on to the shore, has got green growth on it,” he told The Daily Telegraph.</span><br /><br /><span>“At first examination the shoe doesn’t appear to have been in the water for three months. The shoe needs extensive analysis to see how long it was in the water. It’s a vital clue where hopefully marine biology can provide some answers.”</span><br /><br /><span>Investigators are also exploring the possibility that Ms Caddick is still alive somewhere, without her foot.</span><br /><br /><span>Speaking to Weekend Today on Saturday, University of Newcastle Associate Professor of Criminology Dr Xanthe Mallett said that losing a foot doesn’t automatically spell out death.</span><br /><br /><span>“When it was just a foot I would caution against the possibility that somebody is deceased. You can survive without your foot,” she said.</span><br /><br /><span>Ms Caddick disappeared on November 12 od 2020 after she left her home for what her husband believed was a morning run at 5.30am.</span><br /><br /><span>She has been accused of swindling her friends and family out of millions of dollars through her finance business Maliver Pty Ltd.</span></p>

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Mum's sweet name for baby born at 18,000 feet

<p>Chrystal Hicks has a unique story to tell her son who was born at 18,000 feet in the air.</p> <p>She was 35 weeks pregnant and unexpectedly started contractions in her small town of Glennallen, Alaska.</p> <p>“At about 7 or 8 p.m., [the contractions] really started getting stronger, and then finally my neighbour came over and called 911,” she told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/alaska-woman-son-name-sky-birth-on-plane-2020-8" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">Insider</a>.</p> <p>On August 5th, she boarded a Lifemed Alaska plane and her water broke 20 minutes into the flight at an elevation of 18,000 feet.</p> <p>“I had to push right away,” Hicks said. “I rolled over on my back, and then all of a sudden, he was out.”</p> <p>At first, she wasn't sure what to name her fourth child, but her cousin gave her a great idea.</p> <p>Hicks came up with the name Sky Airon which describes succinctly where he was born and the unique story he came with.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837533/baby-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c871a24112354244ac850c0190b16517" /></p> <div class="body_text "> <p>Her delivery was shocking for the Lifemed Alaska team, who said that onboard deliveries are rare.</p> <p>“In my 20-plus-year career, I can think of maybe four [births],” Lifemed Alaska’s Chief Operations Officer, Steve Heyano, told Insider.</p> <p>However, the plane flies with an Isolette, which is an incubator that has life-support capabilities just in case a birth does happen on board.</p> <p>Patients on flights are also in good hands with onboard care providers, including neonatal nurse practitioners, flight paramedics and nurses.</p> <p>Despite Sky's exciting start to life, he initially had respiratory problems and was placed on a breathing machine in a neonatal intensive care unit in Anchorage, Alaska.</p> <p>He has since been discharged after two weeks and is safely at home with mum and his new siblings.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: </em><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/alaska-woman-son-name-sky-birth-on-plane-2020-8" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">Insider</a></em></p> </div> <div class="body_text "></div>

Family & Pets

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Check your feet! 'COVID toes' are a new and more rampant sign of coronavirus

<p>Skin doctors are currently looking at a lot of toes, as concern grows that for some people, a symptom COVID-19 might be in an unusual spot.</p> <p>Boston dermatologist Esther Freeman expected to see skin complaints as COVID-19 hit the US but wasn’t expecting them to be toes.</p> <p>"But I was not anticipating those would be toes," Massachusetts General Hospital employee Dr Freeman said to <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/covid-toe-rash-possible-coronavirus-infection-sign/5bf041bd-a472-44e9-9e95-f8eb10695447" target="_blank">9news</a>.</em></p> <p>Cases were initially recorded in children but has appeared to have spread to adults as well.</p> <p>Dr Freeman has viewed via telemedicine more toes in the last several weeks than in her entire week.</p> <p>They’re being called ‘COVID toes’, which are red, sore and sometimes itchy swellings on toes.</p> <p>"I think it's much more rampant than we even realize. The good news is it resolves spontaneously," Dr Amy Paller of Northwestern University said.</p> <p>There are many theories as to why ‘COVID toes’ are appearing, including that it could be inflammation triggered by the infection instead of the cold as well as the virus potentially irritating the lining of blood vessels in the skin.</p> <p>"The public health message is not to panic," Dr Freeman said, noting that most toe patients she's seen haven't become severely ill. Are they contagious?</p> <p>"We can't tell if you've got COVID-19 just by looking at your toes," she said.</p>

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Talk about creepy! Erin Molan shares bizarre social media request

<p>Sports presenter Erin Molan has definitely received her fair share of odd message requests on social media, however this bizarre series of requests have undoubtedly taken the cake for “most creepy”.</p> <p>The Channel 9 star took to Twitter to share a series of obsessive, relentless and cringe-worthy messages spanning over a number of years.</p> <p>The admirer appeared to have an intense foot fetish and was persistent in messaging Molan about her feet.</p> <p>Dating back to September 2018, Molan shared the messages which read: “You have such beautiful toes!”</p> <p>“Can I buy feet pics?”</p> <p>“How much $$ for feet pics?”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I get some weird stuff but this is up there... anyone know current going rate for feet pics? Asking for a friend... <a href="https://t.co/4ueGIXyWS5">pic.twitter.com/4ueGIXyWS5</a></p> — Erin Molan (@Erin_Molan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Erin_Molan/status/1234968753424625664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>Molan was able to see the humour in the messages, captioning the post, “Anyone know current going rate for feet pics? Asking for a friend …”</p> <p>Sydney FC Footballer and Greater Western Sydney player Ellie Brush admitted she too had received “these messages as well,” along with Journalist Melinda Farrell who confirms she too has gotten requests from men online for feet pics.</p> <p>“I was telling friends about this! I’ve had loads of foot fetish guys in my mentions over the past few years. I never knew it was such a big thing,” she tweeted.</p> <p>Foot fetishism is also known as podophilia and is an oddly common obsession.</p> <p>Molan is a central member of Nine’s Wide World of Sports, who has covered the Australian Open, NRL Premiership and Fast5 Netball World Series.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Sorry, not sorry: Djokovic speaks out on patting chair umpire's feet

<p>Novak Djokovic has apologised for touching the umpire during his Australian Open final match on Sunday night.</p> <p>The Serb initially defended his decision to tap official Damien Dumusois twice on the foot, describing it as “a nice, really friendly touch”, but expressed his regret on Monday.</p> <p>“In a professional sport, things happen that obviously you’re not proud of,” Djokovic said.</p> <p>“Sometimes you do things that you’re not happy with and you go through different emotions, you go through ups and downs.</p> <p>“Of course, I’m not happy that I touched the chair umpire. And I’m sorry if I offended him or anybody else.</p> <p>“But in the heat of the battle, some decisions that he makes or some decision that happens just distracts you and sets you off the balance a little bit.”</p> <p>According to the official grand slam rule book, Djokovic could be charged with a fine of up to AU$30,000 for the action.</p> <p>“Players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site,” the rules state. “Violation of this section shall subject a player to a fine up to US$20,000 [AU$30,000] for each violation.”</p> <p>In the post-match press conference, Djokovic said he did not believe he overstepped the mark. “For touching his shoe? I mean, I didn’t know that’s completely forbidden,” he said after securing his 6-4, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Dominic Thiem.</p> <p>“I thought it was a nice, really friendly touch. I wasn’t aggressive with him in terms of physical abuse.”</p>

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Air rage: Bad behavior at 30,000 feet

<p>People do disgusting and disruptive things on airplanes. They show little regard or patience for fellow passengers and their needs. Inconsiderate behavior on the part of passengers can make air travel an unpleasant hassle for everyone. The 2014 annual <a href="http://viewfinder.expedia.com/news/expedia-airplane-etiquette-study-2014">Expedia Airplane Etiquette Study</a> ranked the top on-board etiquette violators as reported by passengers:</p> <ol> <li>Rear Seat Kicker: cited by 67 per cent of study respondents</li> <li>Inattentive Parents: 64 per cent</li> <li>The Aromatic Passenger: 56 per cent</li> <li>The Audio Insensitive (talking or music): 51 per cent</li> <li>The Boozer: 50 per cent</li> <li>Chatty Cathy: 43 per cent</li> </ol> <p>The IATA received more than 8,000 complaints of <a href="http://www.iata.org/pressroom/facts_figures/Documents/Advocacy-presentation-gmd-2014.pdf">unruly passengers</a> in 2013. Is it any wonder <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jtr.327">air rage</a> is on the upswing?</p> <p>Consider that up to 16 million Americans may have <a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2006/intermittent-explosive-disorder-affects-up-to-16-million-americans.shtml">Intermittent Explosive Disorder</a>, which causes them lash out inappropriately at people and things – and that’s when they’re nowhere near an airport. The Federal Aviation Administration defines air rage as a passenger’s explosive and unpredictable behavior occasioned by congested travel, unexpected delays, or negative interactions with other passengers and flight personnel. From this point of view, the list of etiquette violators doesn’t really fall within the air rage definition. But from a psychological point of view, the story is different.</p> <p><strong>Mental air rage, silent epidemic</strong></p> <p>What safety and health officials call “explosive air rage” spills out into the public sphere for everyone to witness; these are the verbal attacks on passengers and personnel by someone yelling profanities, threats, complaints, and insults. “<a href="http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754643715">Mental air rage</a>,” on the other hand, is emotional and private. Most people try to suppress mental air rage and prevent it from showing publicly for various reasons including fear, embarrassment, rational self control or compassion. It’s psychologically very real even though it’s far less visible than its explosive counterpart.</p> <p>Mental air rage is just one aspect of the stressed out feelings that go along with the uncertainties and negative emotions of travel and transportation. This charged negative emotional background exists below the surface of consciousness and can lead to a simmering feeling of resentment throughout the travel experience.</p> <p>So it’s not just “that guy” who could blow up at an airline employee when his plane is delayed yet again. Any traveler faces a real risk that at an unpredictable moment the silent air rage simmering below the surface may spring out suddenly as full-blown explosive air rage.</p> <p><strong>Changes for the worse in passenger environment</strong></p> <p>Airlines contribute to harsh and unfriendly traveling conditions when their economic policies create an artificial climate of scarcity, competition and enmity among passengers.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/travel/air-rage-isn-t-our-c1409837051635.html">list</a> of contributors to the deteriorating environment for airline passengers is a familiar one. Airlines have reduced legroom and seat width. Checked bag fees encourage passengers to bring more and more on board, leading to battles over limited storage space. The elimination of in-flight meals causes passengers to bring their own odorous food. Policies on personal electronic devices are unclear and inconsistently enforced. Bottomline, the cabins are overloaded.</p> <p>All of these factors increase the mental load on travelers. From there it’s a small step for inconsiderate actions to trigger negative and anti-social behaviors in waiting rooms, airplanes and lavatories. For instance, entering a lavatory on board an airplane and finding it in a disgusting used condition creates an emotional and psychological shock. We are not only repelled and annoyed, but we also feel aggressed against. This stressful situation can ratchet up the mental air rage.</p> <p><strong>How to peacefully prevent air rage</strong></p> <p>To reduce the unpleasantness of travel and the likelihood of air rage, passengers can bring things along to take care of their own comfort – reading materials, climate appropriate clothing, snacks, games and so on. Chatty passengers can form a mini-support group with one or more fellow travelers, sharing and consulting with each other on whatever travel problems are encountered. This tactic can help defuse stressful situations that could otherwise escalate. Even just having alternate scenarios worked out in case you don’t arrive when expected can minimize mental air rage.</p> <p>My <a href="http://www.aijcrnet.com/journals/Vol_4_No_10_October_2014/4.pdf">research</a> suggests some ways airlines can help prevent these incidents as well, via more enlightened crowd management techniques:</p> <ul> <li> <p>When people are waiting, they should be provided with a continuous stream of updated information every five minutes via a variety of formats and media: electric board, signs, announcements, and face-to-face interactions.</p> </li> <li> <p>Elevate the importance of the traveler’s comfort whenever implementing changes. Apologize if decent seating is unavailable. Make up for it by giving something else in return so the traveler doesn’t feel cheated or neglected.</p> </li> <li> <p>Manage lines with more compassion. People shouldn’t stand in line when they can sit and wait. People shouldn’t have to compete physically with each other for an airplane seat</p> </li> <li> <p>Follow compassionate principles to create a social group out of the anonymous people in the waiting room or on the airplane. Encourage discussion among the waiting people. Form a support group out of them so they can assist each other and give each other help, ideas, and support.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Airlines should train employees in techniques that can prevent air rage incidents in the first place as well as how safely to de-escalate episodes once they’ve begun. After all, air rage isn’t just another unpleasant aspect of traveling – it can put everyone onboard at risk.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/35240/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>Written by <span>Leon James, Professor of Psychology, University of Hawaii</span>. Republished with permission of </em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/air-rage-bad-behavior-at-30-000-feet-35240" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

International Travel

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“Devastated”: Aussie breeder's warning to dog owners after pup dies

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A dog breeder is warning others to be vigilant and keep an eye on hand and foot warmers this winter due to a golden retriever dying after ingesting one.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pup ingested an activated HotHands hand warmer earlier this week which had fallen out of a jacket pocket.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After moving away from the watchful eye of his family, the dog ate the entire pack.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The main ingredient in these hand warmers is iron powder, which can be extremely toxic and potentially lethal to household pets such as cats and dogs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"He received urgent vet treatment, staying at the emergency vet overnight," the dog's breeder, Sharon Patterson, dog owner, explained on Facebook.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"He seemed to improve, the vet's thought maybe the iron hadn't been as potent as the hand warmer had been activated and it seemed he had been able to vomit up all the contents".</span></p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsharon.patterson.7161%2Fposts%2F10157477372108385&amp;width=500" width="500" height="764" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The dog ended up in intensive care after suffering organ damage and didn’t survive the night.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"His family are devastated and so are we," Patterson wrote. "This has been a huge warning to us I would not want to hear of this happening to anyone else".</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a warning on the package saying to “keep out of reach of children and pets”, but there is no warning on the individual items.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Please, if you use these types of air activated hand warmers that you make sure they are kept where your dog (or cat) can't reach them. Also, when you dispose of them make sure it's somewhere animals can't get to," Patterson pleaded.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Personally, I don't think I'll have these in our house at all".</span></p>

Family & Pets

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Staying on your feet despite corns, calluses and cracked heels

<p>Corns and calluses are skin that has toughened and thickened due to friction and pressure.</p> <p>While corns maybe inflamed and occur on or between the toes, calluses typically grow in a large area on the balls of the feet or heels and don’t usually hurt.</p> <p>Try these techniques to prevent common foot problems.</p> <div id="page1" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <p><strong>Wear supportive shoes</strong></p> <p>Look for footwear that’s made of leather, is breathable and allows sweat to escape – the less you sweat, the less dried out your feet will become. Opt for shoes with ample width and toeroom.</p> <p><strong>Practise good foot hygiene</strong></p> <div id="page2" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>This involves treating your feet to a bit of attention. Buff with a pumice stone and regularly moisturise.</p> <p><strong>Over-the-counter remedies</strong></p> <p>These are a good start in treating corns, cracked heels and calluses.</p> <p><strong>Corns:</strong><span> </span>Salicylic acid treatments are available as medicated patches or liquid drops and work by softening the thickened layer of skin. Follow instructions carefully.</p> <p><strong>Cracked heel:</strong><span> </span>As the skin on the soles of feet is about 2.5 times thicker than the skin on your face, use an intensive medicinal moisturiser that can penetrate the layers of tissue.</p> <p><strong>Calluses:</strong><span> </span>Shoe inserts and heel pads, available at your pharmacy, will help prevent calluses by providing additional cushioning and stability.</p> <p><strong>When to see a doctor or podiatrist</strong></p> <p>Make an appointment if you have a callus or corn that is painful or inflamed, or deep cracks that start to bleed – these are all signs of infection.</p> <p>This is vital if you have diabetes, poor circulation or impaired nerves in your feet.</p> <p><em>Written by Michelle Villett. </em><em>This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/skin/staying-your-feet-despite-corns-calluses-and-cracked-heels" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Beauty & Style

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Wrinkles, liver spots, crows’ feet: what happens to our skin as we age

<p><em><strong>Michelle Rodrigues is a consultant Dermatologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.</strong></em></p> <p>The main factors that contribute to how old we look include the shape of our face, the number of lines or wrinkles, and the luminosity of our skin. Each of these is influenced by intrinsic and external factors.</p> <p>Skin is the most visible organ. So ageing skin has a big impact on a person’s self-esteem. Aussies spend <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://stat.mozo.com.au/images/more-on-mozo/media-releases/twenty-two-billion--the-annual-cost-of-vanity.pdf">nearly A$5 billion per year</a></strong></span> on skin care products and treatments, with Queenslanders spending the most on beauty per capita.</p> <p><strong>Intrinsic ageing of the skin</strong></p> <p>Rates of intrinsic (also known as chronologic) ageing are predicted, to a degree, by our genetic makeup, including our skin colour.</p> <p>With age, the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) becomes thinner and more transparent. This means that it reflects less light and so appears less luminous as time goes on.</p> <p>The epidermis may also start to develop growths, including small brown dots (dermatosis papulosa nigra and seborrhoic keratoses) and overgrown oil glands, as well as spots that result from ultra-violet (UV) light exposure such as lentigines (freckles), melasma (pigmentation), solar keratoses (sun spots) and skin cancers.</p> <p>Our dermis (the layer of skin under the epidermis) loses collagen and elastin as we age, causing the skin to sag and develop wrinkles when our muscles move under the skin. The blood vessels in the dermis also become thinner, which leads to easy bruising. And because the dermis and epidermis are thinner and hence closer together as we age, the blood vessels become more visible on the surface of the skin with time.</p> <p>The reason collagen decreases as we age is complex, but is partly due to the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1606623/">reduced function of the cells</a></strong></span><strong> </strong>that make collagen (fibroblasts) and an increase in the enzyme that breaks down collagen.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7818536/what-happens-to-our-skin-intext_500x500.jpg" alt="What Happens To Our Skin Intext"/></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4174174/" target="_blank">Research has also shown</a></strong></span> that fat is lost and bone is resorbed from different compartments of the face at different rates, and this affects our perceived age.</p> <p>When fat disappears from under the eyes (usually in our 20s or 30s), a dark shadow appears, making us look tired. And as the fat pad around the cheeks moves downwards (in our 30s and 40s), lines are created that extend outwards from the nose.</p> <p>Decreases in collagen and elastin cause frown lines and crows feet to develop, alongside other dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles from muscle movement). Meanwhile, the edge of the brow begins to drop and the lips start to thin out.</p> <p>As we move into our 50s, collagen and elastin levels fall further, causing our wrinkles to deepen, and resorption of bone occurs around the eyes causing “bags” to form. Fat hanging from now less-elastic skin causes our eyebrows and nasal tips to droop and the skin on our neck to sag.</p> <p>But intrinsic factors aren’t the whole story. Our lifestyle, environment and habits also play a role in skin ageing.</p> <p><strong>Extrinsic ageing of the skin</strong></p> <p>Extrinsic ageing can be induced by environmental factors such as UV exposure, smoking and air pollution. This means the skin’s apparent age and its chronological age are not always the same.</p> <p>UV light breaks down elastin in the dermis, causing saggy, stretchy skin. The skin also bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal with ongoing exposure to UV rays.</p> <p>Tobacco smoke results in insufficient oxygen supply to the skin and blocked blood vessels. It reduces immunity (meaning skin cancers can develop more easily) and increases the level of an enzyme that breaks down collagen. Reduced collagen results in wrinkles and loss of volume. Smoking also increases dryness, coarseness and a dull appearance of the skin, and increases wrinkles around the mouth.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20664556" target="_blank">Recent research</a></strong></span> also suggests a positive correlation between air pollution and extrinsic skin ageing, with 20% more pigment spots noted on the forehead and cheeks of those with exposure to more soot and particles from traffic.</p> <p><strong>Differences in ageing</strong></p> <p>So why is it that people of different ethnicities and skin colours seem to age differently? Different types of skin have different amounts of elastin, collagen, pigment cells (melanocytes), and fats.</p> <p>Darker skin has larger, more numerous <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanosome" target="_blank">melanosomes</a></strong></span>, which manufacture, store and transport melanin, in turn giving the skin pigment. This provides protection against UV rays in people with darker skin types.</p> <p>The average protective factor against UV-B radiation in black skin was found to be 13.4 – compared with 3.4 for white skin, while the average rate of UV-B transmission into the dermis was 5.7% in black skin, compared with 29.4% in white skin.</p> <p>While increased melanin serves as an inbuilt sunscreen, it’s also the responses of these pigment cells that make patients with skin of colour more susceptible to pigment problems over time.</p> <p>And those with darker skin types are said to have a thickened outer layer of the skin with larger and more numerous fibroblasts (cells that make connective tissue and collagen) and compact collagen. This means this type of skin won’t wrinkle as easily, but has a greater chance of keloid scarring (overgrowth of scar tissue).</p> <p>So it seems that not all skin is created equal, but there are things we can do to optimise our skin health. Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, seeking shade) and avoiding smoking are good places to start. Retinoids have been proven to help minimise fine lines, pigmentation and to increase collagen and repair sun-damaged skin.</p> <p>As for the myriad lotions and potions that claim to magically make us look 21 again … if I find one that works I’ll let you know.</p> <p><em>Written by Michelle Rodrigues. Republished with permission of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation.</a></strong></span><img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91516/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/></em></p>

Beauty & Style

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