The Shocking Truth About Risk Factors For Bunions That You Should Read And Share With Those You Love

Do you have bunions? If so, you may be like many other people who do not know what happened to their feet. There are a number of things that can cause people to get bunions. It is helpful for you to know these risks because you may be able to help a loved one avoid getting bunions. Perhaps they have seen you in pain and did not understand your situation. Understanding the following risks will help you to better communicate with the people you love about your condition.

Heredity

According to Harvard Medical School, bunions can be an inherited trait. This means that if there is a strong history of bunions in your family, other family members could be at risk for getting bunions too. Their chances of getting them could increase if they fall into any of the other risk categories. 

Shoe Selection

Perhaps you grew up in a generation where finances were "tight." You may have been forced to wear shoes that were too little. You may have also preferred wearing narrow shoes or high heels prior to getting bunions. All of these are things that could have forced the bones in your feet to form bunions over time. 

Gender

Females often wear high heels or slender shoes as fashion statements. These fashion choices can cause bunions. This may be one of the reasons why there is a higher incidence of bunions in women than in men. 

Occupation 

If your work over the years has primarily consisted of walking and standing, then this may have contributed to your bunions. If you are already at high-risk for bunions working these types of jobs even in a part-time capacity could be detrimental. You can encourage family members who work these types of jobs to wear support shoes and take rest breaks.

Injuries

If you ever had a foot injury, it is possible that it is the cause for your bunions especially if there were broken bones  involved. Athletes of all ages should be aware of this risk since sports injuries often affect the foot and ankle areas. 

A bunion removal specialist is a good resource to use to determine what contributed to you getting bunions. You may have had more than one risk. Educating yourself about the foot condition may aid in reducing the chances of a bunion reoccurrence if you elect to have your bunions surgically repaired. If you prefer to try alternative methods such as orthotics, the doctor can monitor your bunions to see if the alternative therapies help.