Ask the doc

Indeed, pain relievers such as Advil (ibuprofen), fall into the category of medications known as NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and can have some risks depending on one’s medical history.

Because of their main mechanism of action, NSAIDs can potentially cause problems with the gastrointestinal system including indigestion, peptic ulcers, and bleeding; the kidneys including the development of sudden-onset kidney problems; the heart including an increased risk of heart disease and heart attacks; and other potential problems within other body systems. Adverse effects from taking NSAIDs seem to be of more concern as we age because we often have more underlying gastrointestinal, kidney, and heart problems as we age. Also, the long-term use of NSAIDs seems to be associated with more adverse effects than when used only in the short-term. Other examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, Aleve (naproxen), Motrin (ibuprofen), Mobic (meloxicam), and Celebrex (celecoxib). I would suggest that if you’re young and otherwise healthy, are only taking NSAIDs short-term (continuous use for no more than 10-14 days), and have no noticeable side effects, there is no need to stop taking them for the short-term management of pain or fever. However, if you are taking NSAIDs continuously for more than 10-14 days, no matter what your age, it would be a good idea to have a discussion with your doctor about whether or not long-term use of NSAIDs would be safe considering your overall health and risk for complications related to NSAID use.

Is it better for your feet to be barefoot during the summer?

Depending on individual circumstances, going barefoot during the summer may offer differing benefits and risks.

I would say in general, in a young, healthy person, there aren’t any particular overbearing benefits or risks to going barefoot. However, good foot care is important as well, and going barefoot can introduce risks for the possibility of foot injury and damage that could lead to sprains, muscle strains, fractures, and infection.

In particular, individuals with diabetes are at increased risk of foot damage and infection due to the disease course causing problems with sensation and identification of painful stimuli in the feet. On the other hand, in an otherwise healthy person, going barefoot once in a while may help keep the foot dry, which may decrease the incidence of fungal infections of the foot.

In general, I think that it is not necessarily better to go barefoot during the summer because of the overall benefits that proper footwear provides such as protection from foot injury and proper support and stabilization of foot anatomy that may lead to a decreased risk of developing foot problems in the future.