Feet – Everything rests on them!

Sam Kbushyan for Los Angeles City Council District 13

Genuine community leader and activist Sam Kbushyan declares candidacy to become the next Los Angeles City Councilmember. The bid to represent the Los Angeles City Council district 13 neighborhoods of Hollywood, East Hollywood, Thai Town, Little Armenia, Virgil Village, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Temple-Beverly, Koreatown, Historic Filipinotown, Westlake, Wilshire Center, Melrose Hill, Elysian Valley, and Atwater Village. Primary elections are March 5, 2013.

Sam comes from a background of public participation. His father is a retired local restaurant owner and his mother is a retired public school teacher. He is married to an extraordinary wife, Suzanna, and has been blessed with two lovely children, Maria and David. Suzanna is an English instructor with a local community based organization; she teaches ESL and GED courses to underprivileged students.

Professionally, Sam is the Executive Director of the IC Foundation, and is a dedicated expert in community organizing, vocational education, and business advocacy. Sam strongly believes in social entrepreneurship and civic participation—beliefs that are put into practice as an active member of many respected community-based organizations. He serves on the Board of the Institute for Continuous Education, which focuses on vocational skills training and job placement. Additionally, he is a Board Member of the LACER After School Programs and the elected Board Member of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council.

Sam has a long and successful track record working for social advocacy groups, bringing community stakeholders together to develop strategic cooperation for the betterment of the quality of life in our communities. He was the student body president at Los Angeles Valley College and later the Commissioner of Political Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles. In the community, he serves as the Treasurer of the Northeast Democratic Club and he is working diligently to organize and uplift economically disadvantaged families. He is appointed to the Executive Board of the East Hollywood Chamber of Commerce where he works directly with local small business owners on key issues related to the local economy, labor force, and sustainability.

Sam is also an advocate for social and economic justice. He worked for SEIU Local 434b to organize, encourage, and empower long-term care providers for winning livable wages and access to healthcare benefits. In this capacity, Sam has helped mobilize over thirty thousand long-term healthcare providers. He has represented their interests through collective bargaining, advocacy workshops for healthcare benefits, and political education for union members.

Sam studied political science at California State University, Los Angeles, where he received his B.A. He completed his graduate degree at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He spends most evenings and weekends participating in community events. In support of his commitment and work for the community, he has been recognized many times for civic participation and citizenship empowerment. He is a passionate gardener, committed father, and lives in East Hollywood.

We are looking for Volunteers! Please join call us at 323-337-5555 or e-mail campaign@sam2013.com

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EDUCATION – What is Charcot Foot Syndrome?

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In 1868 Jean Marie Charcot, a French physician, named this bone and joint disease.Charcot neuroarthropathy is a degenerative condition that affects the foot joints and is most often associated with diabetes.

Definition:
A weakening and softening of the bones due to extensive nerve damage. Depending on the severity, the weakened bones can lead to disability, immobility, and amputation. Charcot foot syndrome is very serious, sometimes hard to detect, and most often occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus. Because diabetes mellitus involves elevated blood sugar levels, monitoring and controlling blood sugar levels is vital to prevention.

Why does it happen? Two main ideas:

• Neurotrauma: Charcot foot happens when there is severe nerve damage that progresses to a weakening and collapsing of the foot bones. Over time the loss of normal sensation leads to mini traumas and tears to the joints. Charcot foot commonly affects the bones in the mid-foot and forefoot, with the tarsometatarsal the most common place for arthopathy. It is estimated that 65% of all diabetic patients develop some kind of peripheral never damage and of those, around 25% develop Charcot foot syndrome.
• Neurovascular: With patients having compromise autonomic nervous systems, damaged joints receive imbalanced blood flow, usually too much. With excess blood flow, re-absorption of the bone occurs. (osteoclastic resorption)

See full article including causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention here.

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TOPICS : Foot Health

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(NaturalNews) Cracked heels and other foot cracks are usually caused by a combination of pressure and dry, non-pliable skin. Standing and walking applies pressure which makes the skin on the bottom of the feet expand sideways. If the skin is not sufficiently pliable, cracking can result. Known medically as heel fissures, cracked heels are linear cut wounds which usually affect the surface level, or epidermis, of the heel. When the cracks extend beyond the epidermis, they can result in pain, bleeding and even infection. Fortunately, there are several natural remedies for treating and preventing cracked heels.

Cracked heels are most often a result of lack of proper foot care and may also be caused by dietary deficiencies. In particular, diets which fail to provide adequate zinc and essential omega-3 fatty acids may contribute to cracked heels and other dry skin problems. Zinc rich foods include oysters, organic chicken, crab, kidney beans, yogurt, and brown rice. Omega-3 fatty acids are largely found in cold water fish and healthy oils such as flaxseed.

Other important vitamins and minerals include:

• Vitamin E, which is found in green vegetables, wheat germ, whole-grain products and nuts.
• Calcium, which can be found in organic raw certified cow or goat milk, organic cheeses, yogurt, dark leafy vegetables and broccoli. Most people get plenty of calcium but fail to get the essential mineral magnesium which is necessary for proper absorption and utilization of calcium.
• Iron, which is found in certified organic meats, including beef, chicken and fish, as well as organic free range eggs, vegetables and beans.

Some suggestions for easy foot care which can help prevent cracked heels are:

• Keep your feet clean and dirt free.
• Exercise feet regularly.
• Follow a daily regimen of cleansing and moisturizing.
• Gently exfoliate the feet when needed.
• Alternate hot and cold water for a feet bath to soothe the feet.
• If you have deep bleeding cracks, avoid walking barefoot until the cracks are gone.

Remedies for Cracked Heels and Feet
One of the most effective remedies for getting rid of foot cracks and dry heels is using foot socks in combination with healing oils and moisturizers. Before going to sleep, liberally apply one or more oils such as almond, grapeseed oil and/or olive oil to the heels and feet, put on a pair of thick cotton socks and then leave on all night. Other good oils and moisturizers include: lanolin, cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil.

Another great remedy for dry, crusty or “alligator skin” is raw papaya. Papaya contains papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins and which has been referred to as “organic alpha-hydroxy substitute”. Pineapple contains a similar enzyme, but it’s much easier to mash a piece of papaya and use it like a masque on your heels than it is to use pineapple.

Milk and honey can be very effective for obtaining softer, smoother feet without harsh exfoliation. Pour one cup of honey per each two cups of milk into a basin large enough to hold both feet. Soak for 15 minutes, lightly massaging the mixture into skin. You can also use the milk/honey combo to soak elbows or hands, or pat gently onto the face and massage in. Rinse with tepid water

Other natural remedies for cracked heels include:

• Apply the pulp of a ripe banana on the dry or cracked area. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse clean. Continue doing this at least once daily as long as needed.
• Soak the feet in lemon juice for about 10 minutes. Continue every day as needed.
• Regularly apply a mixture of glycerin and rosewater.

Read the entire article here.

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Toenails and Time

By C. CLAIBORNE RAY

Q. Why do toenails thicken as we age but fingernails don’t?

A. With age, there is a rapid decrease in the growth rate for both toenails and fingernails, said Dr. Richard K. Scher, head of the nail section at Weill Cornell Medical College. As a result, both kinds of nail thicken, because of the piling up of nail cells, called onychocytes. Fingernails do not thicken as much, however, because the decrease in their rate of growth is much smaller. And fingernails tend to be filed and buffed much more, which thins them.

Other factors that can affect the rate of thickening include long-term trauma and impaired circulation.

Feet, more than hands, are under constant stress, said Dr. Tzvi Bar-David, director of the podiatric surgery service at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital.

“We walk many miles daily, and most often in a closed shoe,” he said.

Trauma from falling objects, stubbing injuries, athletic wear and tear, and poorly fitting shoes can alter the cells from which the nails grow, Dr. Bar-David said, and repetitive incidents or one severe episode can thicken or disfigure the nail plate.

Peripheral arterial disease, which impairs circulation, most often affects the feet and can also cause thickened, brittle nails, Dr. Bar-David said. In his opinion, fungal nail infections also thicken toenails more often, because fungus thrives in the dark, moist environment inside shoes.

Read the entire article here.

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Slideshow: The Worst Shoes for Your Feet

Culprit: Ultra-High Heels

“Heels are getting higher and higher,” says Hillary Brenner, DPM. “We podiatrists like to call it shoe-icide.” Brenner, a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association, says ultra-high heels can lead to everything from ankle sprains to chronic pain. Let’s take a closer look at the heights, styles, and woes of today’s footwear.

Problem: Plantar Fasciitis

A band of tissue called the plantar fascia runs along the bottom of the foot. It pulls on the heel when you walk — and it works best with the proper arch in your foot. Walking barefoot, or in flimsy shoes without sufficient arch support, can overstretch, tear, or inflame the plantar fascia. This common condition can cause intense heel pain, and resting the feet only provides temporary relief.

See the entire slide show here.

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PEDI-PILATES from Pilates Style Magazine, July 2005

Build a better body from the ground up by nurturing — not neglecting — your feet
by Becky Mollenkamp

Exercising the feet helps activate the intrinsic muscles that can become weak and damaged from walking around in ill-fitting shoes. These exercises, from Jillian Hessel, author of Pilates Basics, were passed down to her from her mentor, Carola Trier, a first-generation instructor who made students start with foot exercises before every Pilates session.

Toe Grip
This exercise massages the bottom of the foot and also strengthens the transverses arch, or the “knuckles,” of the foot. Try the sequence on one foot, then walk around and notice the difference in how each foot feels, before working the other one.

Stand or sit on the edge of a chair with good posture, and place a small rubber ball under your heel. Roll the ball around under your foot with gentle pressure to massage and stimulate the sole.

Position the ball so it’s centered under the ball of your big toe. Push down with the big toe and lengthen it as you grip the ball. Repeat 3 times. Perform the same motion with each toe, positioning the ball under each “knuckle” joint. Ask someone to help you with positioning so you can keep your posture erect.

Massage the foot again by rolling it around your foot, then try to pick up the ball with your toes by wrapping them around the ball. Repeat the sequence on the other foot.

The Inchworm
Stand with good posture, feet hip-width apart. Spread your toes and grip the floor with the pads of your toes, pulling up to drag your heel forward. Try to walk across the room like this.

Pencil Pick-Up
Place a pencil on the floor in front of you at the same angle as the toes on your right foot, with the point on the pinky-toe side. Stand or sit on the edge of a chair with good posture and put your weight into your heel. Fan the toes out and wrap them around the pencil. If you can pick up the pencil, try to write your name with it on a piece of paper.

Towel Scrunches
This exercise works best on a smooth surface. Lay a towel on the floor and stand or sit on the edge of a chair with good posture and the heel pressed into the towel. Spread the toes like a fan, then grip the towel and pull it toward you. Repeat 5 times, then work the other foot.

Read the entire article here.