If the Shoe Fits

The next time you step into your stilettos or slip on your slingbacks, consider this: If you’re feeling foot pain now, you may be feeling it for the rest of your life. A new study sponsored by Boston’s Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew Senior Life polled more than 3,300 men and women (average age, 66) about their past and present shoe habits, and found that women who had mainly worn supportive footwear like sneakers or athletic shoes in their early years cut their risk of foot pain later in life by more than half, compared with women who had worn hard-soled or rubber-soled shoes that provided average support. But both of those groups were in a minority: More than 60 percent of respondents said that in the past they generally wore high heels, pumps, sandals, and slippers—all of which were rated by researchers as delivering a higher risk of hindfoot, ankle, and Achilles tendon pain. Conversely, the study found that men make much better choices; fewer than two percent wore bad shoes.

Making a Splash

Parents know that tub time for tots is fun (bubbles … toys!) and also know to take certain precautions (hot water … soap in the eyes!). But the prominent dangers might not be those you’re thinking of. As is turns out, slips and trips—not scalds or submersions—are responsible for 80 percent of the more than 40,000 bathtub-related visits to Emergency Rooms each year, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics. Two-year-olds get hurt the most. To try to avert a trip to the E.R., make sure you use a slip-resistant mat inside the tub, as well as a bathmat or other nonskid rug outside the tub. And be conservative with your use of soap and shampoo, which can make bathtub surfaces even more slippery.

Red, White, and You

Your wine-list selection may be more than just a drink. Your pick may be shedding light on your personality, too. Researchers have determined that people who choose sweet wines seem to be more impulsive but less open to new experiences than those who select a drier vintage, according to a study published in Food Quality and Preference. Study leaders asked 45 men and women to fill out questionnaires pertaining to impulsiveness, venturesomeness, and empathy, as well as openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Then the participants were presented with two types of white wine: a dry, fruity Spanish wine or a “sweet” wine, with some added sugar.
Overall, there were few differences between the two groups based on their choice, but researchers found that people who preferred the sweeter taste had greater impulsivity and less openness—meaning they’re less likely to try new things.