Picture Book World

18 Austin South Asian | October 2020 Foot And Ankle Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Many people deal with foot and ankle concerns by simply ignoring them, hoping the problem goes away. However, certain symptoms could be a sign of a serious condition, warn experts. “A foot and ankle surgeon has the right education and training to provide preventive care and early intervention, which remain essential, even in the age of COVID-19 when you may be avoiding in-person visits,” says Jeffrey D. Loveland, DPM, FACFAS, foot and ankle surgeon and Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). To help you determine when it’s time to consult a specialist, ACFAS is offering insights into symptoms that affect the foot or ankle and frequently are signs of serious medical conditions: • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): DVT is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, most commonly in calves or thighs. Potentially very dangerous, DVT can lead to a pulmonary embolism. See a doctor if you experience swelling in the leg, pain in the calf or thigh, or warmth and redness of the leg. • Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Commonly referred to as poor circulation, PAD is the restriction of blood flow in the arteries of the leg and could be an indication of more widespread arterial disease that can cause stroke or heart attack.

Common symptoms include leg cramping while walking or lying down, leg numbness or weakness, cold legs or feet, sores on the toes, feet or legs that won’t heal, a change in leg color, loss of hair on the feet and legs, and changes in toenail color and thickness.

• Osteoporosis:

Osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease affecting more than 28 million Americans, accounts for 1.5 million bone fractures annually.

One early symptom is increased pain with walking, accompanied by redness and swelling on the top of the foot.

A foot and ankle surgeon can diagnose osteoporosis through a bone densitometry test.

• Foot Bumps:

Common foot bumps include ganglionic cysts and plantar fibromas. While both benign, these bumps tend not to go away on their own and can cause discomfort and disruption of everyday activities.

Foot bumps can also be cancerous, so it’s always best to have them examined.

• Charcot Foot:

Charcot foot, a severe diabetes complication, is a sudden softening of the foot’s bones caused by neuropathy. It can trigger an avalanche of probcondition which can lead to ampuyour area, visit FootHealthFacts. lems, including joint loss, fractation, it can be indicative of sevorg, the ACFAS patient education tures, collapse of the arch, massive eral underlying ailments, which are website. deformity, ulcers, amputation and critical to diagnose and treat, ineven death. cluding diabetes, circulatory prob“Even foot and ankle symptoms lems and issues with the mechanics that seem minor could be signs of a Charcot foot cannot be reversed, of the foot or leg. serious medical condition, like diabut its destructive effects can be betes, heart disease, osteoporosis stopped. Symptoms appear sudTelltale signs that an ulcer may be or arthritis,” says Dr. Loveland. denly and can include warm and brewing are swelling, temperature red skin, swelling and pain. changes in the feet, color changes “Consulting a foot and ankle surand calluses. geon is the first step toward di• Ulcers: agnosis and early intervention.” For more foot care information or (StatePoint) Not only is a foot ulcer a painful to find a foot and ankle surgeon in

PICTURE BOOK WORLD

By Shachi Kaushik

Picture books leave a significant impact on children. Einstein ones said

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”

Be the Change: A Grandfather Gandhi Story By Authors Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus and illustrator Evan Turk To celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on October 2nd, this is a good read. A true story not only for children but for all readers, encouraging everyone to be the change. Arun Gandhi draws upon his childhood experiences living at the Sevagram ashram, his famous grandfather’s service village. He listens to his grandfather’s speeches but has difficulty understanding the meaning. What does it mean not to create waste? What is passive violence? Believing that his grandfather speaks in confusing riddles, Arun does not take these messages seriously.

One day when he throws away a small pencil, Grandfather Gandhi teaches him that even this small act of waste harms the world. This incident makes Arun understand his grandfather’s message. Even the smallest acts and thoughts have the power to effect change, whether for better or worse, in the world. A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India By author Meera Sriram and Illustration by Mariona Cabassa This book will take you into the market day in Chennai, India. As we follow a young girl in search of the perfect gift for her amma, we experience the colorful sights, sounds, and smells of the market in Chennai. From flowers to spices, to feathers, to saree what will the girl pick as a gift for her amma.

Readers are introduced not only to new words but also to different colors found in the marketplace. The back matter about markets around the world and photographs of outdoor markets makes it informative and engaging. The illustrations are bright and colorful, as each spread focus on a new color.

How do you make friends with a ghost? Author and Illustrator Rebecca

Green

For the spooky Halloween, this is a sweet, ghostly book about friendship. A little girl shares a few simple steps and the essential tips on how to make ghost your friend. From how to find them, and how to get them in your house, to what they like to eat, to what to do when you move, and so many more fun things. It’s a book that’s funny, quirky, and sincere. The illustrations are simple and creative. The ghosts aren’t portrayed scary but fluffy marshmallow creatures.