Mayo News Source - April 2002

Tuesday, April 30, 2002

THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKIN'

When buying walking shoes, look for quality in these features:

• Toe box: Look for a rounded, roomy toe compartment to prevent calluses on the tops and sides of your toes.
• Exterior: Look for full-grain leather or other breathable materials for comfort and durability.
• Interior: Look for a padded heel collar to reduce chafing, a padded tongue and ankle to protect the front of your foot and a smooth, absorbent lining. Removable insoles can be aired out or replaced.
• Heel counter: For more support, look for a heel counter that extends all around the side of the shoe toward the arch. It stabilizes your foot through its roll forward and keeps it from rolling from side to side.
• Rocker shape: Look for a natural heel-to-toe curve to provides flexibility and proper heel strike. Heel should be slightly beveled.
• Insole: Also called a sock liner. It adds a measure of cushioning and support.

AAH-CHOO! IS IT A COLD OR ALLERGIES?

The symptoms can be confusing — congested head and chest, stuffy or runny nose, coughing and sneezing. How do you know if it's a cold or allergies. Here are a couple of differences:

• Cold symptoms usually go away in a few days to a week.
• If you have allergies, symptoms may worsen in certain situations or may seem to be never-ending.

It's not surprising that some misconceptions about the causes and cures for allergies exist. Here are three common myths:

• Myth #1: Allergies are psychosomatic. Although they affect your eyes and nose, they aren't all "in your head." An allergy is a real medical condition involving your immune system.
• Myth #2: Moving to Arizona will cure allergies. Although the foliage and climate are different, the desert does have other plants that produce pollens and molds that cause allergies.
• Myth #3 Short-haired pets don't cause allergies. It's not just the fur, the cause is the dander and sometimes saliva and urine. If you're allergic to furry pets, the length of the hair is irrelevant.

Signs and symptoms of allergies are stuffy or runny nose, itchy eyes nose, throat or roof of your mouth, frequent sneezing or cough. For more information, visit www.MayoClinic.com/

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