BUNION – What to know about this painful condition

What exactly are bunions?
A bunion is sometimes referred to as hallux valgus. it forms when your big toe starts pointing toward the second toe. This results in the formation of a bump on the outside of your big toe."

Bunions normally start out small, but gets worse over time. That's becasue with every step you take, the affected metatarsophalangeal joint flexes and each time that joints is irritated, the bunion grows bigger and gets more painful or fifficult to walk.

What causes bunions?
A bunion is sometimes referred to as hallux valgus. it forms when your big toe starts pointing toward the second toe. This results in the formation of a bump on the outside of your big toe.
" - Heredity, you mau inherit the likeliness of developning bunions from your family.
- Wearing shoes that don't fit properly namely, shoes that form a narrow point around the toes.
- Pressure for the way you walk (foot mechanics) or the shapre of yourfoot (foot structure) casuses your big toe to bend in toward the second toe.

While bunions can occur at any age, they're likely to become more irritateg later in life, Dr. Kennedy says: "As we get older, the sympotoms of bunions become more pronounced.

What are the symptoms of bunions?
- Pain / Tenderness
- A corn or callus on the bump
- Redness
- Hardened skin on the bottom of your foot
- Stiffness or restricted motion in your big toe (which could lead to difficulty in walking)
- Inflammation

source: health.com