These are the risks you take if you often wear high heels

There is something strange about high heels. As soon as I put on a pair, it feels like I've been to the gym four days a week for a toned body, all the clothes in my closet suddenly look beautiful, and the world is at my feet. Suddenly, I can do anything. Without a doubt. Do I wear them every day for that reason? No, certainly not. There is also a sacrifice you have to make for all those benefits: by the end of the day, it feels like your feet are deformed and you can only lie with your feet on a cushion on the couch.

For flight attendants, it must have been a huge relief that they can now wear sneakers during work since this week. Especially in the air, your feet can swell, which they already do after a long day in heels. Flight attendants have to walk quite a bit during flights, but also across airports.

It is well known that wearing heels causes a lot of pain, but there are apparently also real long-term risks if you pull out your prettiest mules too often. For example, your big toe can become permanently crooked (just google ‘hallux valgus’, not nice). Due to the unnatural position of your back, your back muscles and knees have to distribute the weight differently and absorb some extra pressure. For your back, this means that your muscles can become less flexible in the long term, making it harder to bend forward. Your knees can also wear out. Making your legs look longer with heels takes a lot of effort from your calf muscles. They have to work hard, and thus need more blood. This creates a risk of varicose veins. Not only do many people become insecure about their legs because of this, but varicose veins can also cause a lot of pain.

But there is hope: for example, choose block heels more often instead of stilettos. They distribute the weight a bit better, reducing your chances of long-term complaints. So only choose the stiletto heel if you are sure that you can sit down after a maximum of three hours of standing. And well, occasionally making a sacrifice for the perfect look and powerful appearance, I can accept.