Next month is Foot Health Month. But it is never too soon to start giving much needed attention to our feet. Of course the best way to do that is to wear comfortable shoes that fit well. But that often does not happen, because style is everything. Maybe I should only speak for myself about this. I love high heels and have always worn them, but these days the shoes are lower. That may be because I am working from home and no longer have to dress for work. In my old office, there were no down days, no relaxing Friday’s, etc.

The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Web site has good advice and guidelines about shoe-shopping.

See some reminders and FYI’s offered.

• Along with other things, your feet may get wider with age. Measure your feet before buying the shoes.

• Soft, flexible uppers will better match the shape of your foot.

• Leather shoes generally irritate your skin less.

• Soles should provide good traction.

• Thick soles lessen pressure on hard surfaces such as concrete and wood flooring.

• Low-heeled shoes, for obvious reasons, are more comfortable and present less risk of injury and discomfort than high heels.

I am giving some of my, dressed-to-the-hilt, shoes away for various reasons, too tight, uncomfortable, too high. But have kept a few pair, am still weeding out. I just tried on a pair of 5 inch bronze sandles and looked in the mirror, as always, I looked quite tall. I have always thought of myself as tall because I’ve always worn high heels. The truth of the matter is I am 5′ 2″. That makes me a cute size, not tall size. But that’s O.K, my feet are happier.

www.hopkinsbayview.org