Dr. Kong Health Shoes

The Right Shoes for Your Feet!

I never did admit this to anyone openly but I have always have issues with my feet. After giving birth to my son, my feet hurt from time to time. Another issue I face is that my feet size increased by one size and also in width. Try finding shoes for a size 10 in a wider width in Malaysia, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack here since more women in Malaysia have small and slim foot unlike mine. So finding a shoe that fits is always a big issue for me. Generally, I do know that shoes are really important to one’s general health but it’s not like I even have much choices since I cannot even find one that fits me well.

I got this reaffirmed when I was invited to get to know more about the right shoes for the right feet at Dr. Kong together with my son. Dr. Kong Health Shoes Shop has been around since 1999 and was established in Hong Kong. The company provides healthy shoes and foot care products for everyone from babies to the elderly. Dr. Kong is available in Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Malaysia’s first Dr. Kong footcare opened in 2011 and has now expanded to several outlets since then.

Shoes are crucial as they are the platform in taking care and supporting one’s body, posture and spine. Dr. Kong set out to be the first to promote their innovative ‘Check & Fit’ foot examination, insole fitting services and provides free professional foot examination to everyone. The footcare specialist educates its customers on the proper footwear and care for their feet and recommends the most suitable healthy shoes for individuals.

Walking into Dr. Kong at Tropicana City Mall, I was immediately attracted to the walls of shoes, all arranged with various categories for children, women and men in different stages. There are certainly plenty of designs available and I couldn’t help getting excited over all the shoes. But more importantly, I was hoping to find a good pair of shoes that can really help me in my feet issue.

Besides me having constant issues with my feet, my son also complained of feet issues. Whenever I take him to the mall, he would often tell me that his feet are having pain after we spent some time walking. I have always thought that he was just complaining unnecessarily till I visited Dr. Kong. We were honored to meet Datin Emily Lee, Executive Director of Dr. Kong. Datin Emily took upon the task to get us both evaluated for our foot using Dr. Kong’s special feet evaluating equipment.

Dr. Kong Shoes for Children

Before we got our feet evaluated, Datin Emily proceeded to give me an overall brief the importance of our feet and shoes. Check out both video presentations for children and adults for a better understanding of your feet. I was really glad to be able to learn more about the feet and how the correct arch and support can make a difference in our health. It is an important knowledge that many of us should be aware as it will help us on daily basis with our general health being, especially to people like me and my son who has feet issues.

Dr. Kong Shoes for Ladies

Datin Emily checked out D and I was told that he has flat feet issue and a slight alignment issue for both his feet. I was really surprised at this since he was so young but I was told that children of all ages can have this issue while they are growing up. It is more important to focus on making sure that such issues be corrected while they are young to avoid future issues.

A quick Google further on flat feet issue confirmed what Datin Emily told me that day. Flat feet is a postural deformity in which the arches of the foot collapse, with the entire sole of the foot coming into complete or near-complete contact with the ground (quoted in Wikipedia). It’s quite obvious D has this issue according the photo where the green lights were showing D’s flat feet issue. There is no arch at all for both his feet.

In addition to the flat feet issue, D’s also has alignment issue known as rearfoot valgus where it is suspected that the flat feet are causing his foot alignment to be slightly out. Both these issues could be the culprit why D is always complaining to me about having pain while taking long walks.

Both these issues are easily rectified, especially when it comes to children. As they are still growing, Dr. Kong has the correct shoes with the correct arch support insoles to assist D with his flat feet and rearfoot valgus issues. Together with regular feet exercise, Dr. Kong shoes can assist in the children’s foot development and reduce the possibility of getting foot problems. After D was evaluated, he was then matched with A, B or C shoe insoles which have different foot arch support and rear angle to cater to his issue. B was recommended for D and he proceeded to select the shoe designs to be fitted with the B insoles with the assistance of the staff at Dr. Kong.

Check out this stylish pair of sneakers which D selected himself. He tried it and took some time to test it in the shop. When I asked him if he feels comfortable, D told me that he really like the shoes and feel good in it. There were so many designs of shoes for children and D had a great time selecting them.

Next up was me. Datin Emily evaluated my feet and found that I had slight flat feet issue on my left foot and my alignment was also slightly off. My right feet seemed to be ok which was a relieve to me but since my left foot was having the issue, I tend to use my right feet more for support, hence causing heel pain in my right foot.

I was then showed the selection of footwear that is suitable for me to help on my issue.

I was also extremely pleased to find out that Dr. Kong carries multi-circumference shoes from 2E to 4E (narrow last to wide last). This means that my wide feet now have shoes available for me!

I narrowed down my selection to this design which has a good solid base and open toes design. I practically live in similar designs as I find them very suitable for our Malaysian weather.

We settled on our final choices for D and me. I selected a bronze colored for the design while D settled for sneakers which have a solid ankle support to allow him to run and do sport activities with proper feet care.

Dr. Kong footwear ranges from RM79 to RM450 and above depending on the design and the insoles. Dr. Kong also carries footcare accessories and spine pressure-free school/laptop bags.

On a personal note, after wearing Dr. Kong shoes for more than a week, I notice I haven’t been really having much pain in my feet. At the beginning, there was slight unfamiliarity of the curve of the sole but I was assured that this is because the sole is actually trying to get my arch to how it should be. Now when writing this post, my feet seemed to have adjusted well. The shoes have a solid base and curves to my foot really well. I was really quite pleased with the results of Dr. Kong shoes and am already thinking to go back for another pair. I highly recommend that if you have feet issues constantly, do get this evaluated at Dr. Kong. The evaluation is free of charge so at least get your feet checked out to understand your feet.

With the right support in your shoes, it could really make a difference in the way you live your life!

For more information about Dr. Kong Health Shoes Shop, visit their Website: www.drkong-malaysia.com or Facebook: www.facebook.com/drkongmalaysia

Preserving a Mother’s Healthy Glow: What Women Need to Know Before, During and After Pregnancy

Blood the most important element in ensuring a healthy positive pregnancy experience!

Feeling tired; sick, irritable or weak during pregnancy is a common occurrence for most women. Often, women generally are told to ignore these symptoms as they are a ‘normal’ part of the hormonal and bodily changes during pregnancy – but for one in three women, these conditions could indicate a more severe disorder: iron deficiency anemia.

With 1 in 3 pregnant women suffering from iron deficiency anemia¹ in Malaysia, this condition is more common than most women may be aware of. Nevertheless, this health problem is not normal, and it often goes undiagnosed and untreated – leaving many mothers and babies grappling with long term health consequences.

Division Director of Merck Consumer Healthcare, Mr Richard Lee and Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Dr Premitha Damodaran, come together to raise awareness about iron-deficiency anemia in pregnant and post pregnant women at a recent media workshop.

In an effort to heighten public awareness about iron deficiency anemia in pregnant and post pregnant women, Merck Consumer Healthcare recently hosted an educational workshop together with Dr Premitha Damodaran, a leading Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist with more than 15 years experience in her field of expertise.

Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Dr Premitha Damodaran

Themed ‘Pregnancy and Anemia: More Common than You Think. Insights into Preserving Mother’s Healthy Glow’, Dr Premitha was on hand to address the key issues of anemia and to share her advice on coping with anemia before a woman conceives, during pregnancy and after delivery.

Division Director of Merck Consumer Healthcare, Mr Richard Lee

“At Merck Consumer Healthcare, we understand that anemia can seriously impact a woman and her baby’s quality of life especially during pregnancy. In order to better gauge the understanding of Malaysian in general on the topic, we recently ran a vox pops survey and were shocked to discover that most women did not even know about iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Upon realizing that the awareness level was dismally low, we committed ourselves to enhancing the health and wellness of Malaysian mom by organizing a media education workshop on the topic.”

“For that we are grateful to have a vocal advocate on women’s health issues Dr Premitha Damodaran to present this workshop aimed at fostering a greater understanding on iron-deficiency anemia and pregnancy,” said Mr Richard Lee, Division Director of Merck Consumer Healthcare Malaysia during his welcome note.

“Ultimately, I believe this workshop will help us reach out to all women and impart them with vital awareness and knowledge on the condition and help with preparing them for an optimal, and healthy pregnancy by caring for their blood.” added Mr Lee.

Key issues of anemia in pregnancy were addressed in the workshop by Dr. Premitha Damodaran, a leading Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist with more than 15 years experience in her field of expertise

Functions of Blood and Anemia

Iron comprises a vital component of our red blood cells, delivering vital oxygen through our body to ensure continued survival.  According to Dr Premitha, women who are at risk of anemia and considering pregnancy need to start planning and caring for their pregnancy and postpartum by taking the necessary measures to ensure that they have an optimal red blood cell count.

When the number of red blood cells falls below normal levels (< 12-15mg/dl) women are at risk of developing the most common form of anemia - iron deficiency anemia.  This condition arises when the body lacks iron as a result of an iron-poor diet, poor absorption by the body, side effects of certain medications, genetic conditions, heavy loss of blood and pregnancy.

Relationship between Anemia and Pregnancy

During pregnancy women require additional iron to make more red blood cells to support the nutrition and oxygen needs of themselves and their baby. It is estimated that a woman requires to approximately 50% more iron during pregnancy; increasing the daily standard requirement from 15 to 27mg/dl per day.

Unfortunately, many women begin their pregnancy without having sufficient stores of iron to meet their body’s increased demands for iron, leading to iron deficiency anemia; which continues even after delivery. Those who are at highest risk of iron deficiency anemia after pregnancy include pregnant women diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, those who have experienced excessive blood loss during delivery, women who have experienced multiple births and those who are breastfeeding.

Symptoms and Impacts of Anemia on Pregnancy

Because the symptoms of anemia resemble common conditions encountered during pregnancy like paleness, tiredness, fatigue and shortness of breath most women often disregard these symptoms and think it as a normal part to carrying a baby to term. However, if not indentified and treated, iron deficiency anemia can lead to severe complications like miscarriage, premature delivery, low birth weight and increased maternal mortality.

Prevention and Management of Anemia – Diagnosis

Microscopic view of blood sample showing normal amount of red blood cells

Microscopic view of blood sample of Anemic person showing low levels of red blood cells

Anemia during pregnancy is easily established through a diagnosis process which starts by firstly determining the levels of hemoglobin in the body via a blood test. It is recommended that prior to pregnancy for a woman to speak to their doctors and assess the level of hemoglobin in their bodies. Unfortunately, most times women only see their doctors once they are pregnant and by the time their blood test is done, most are already found to be suffering from mild anemia.

Severity	Hemoglobin Concentration (g/dL)
Classification of Anemia	Pregnant women
Normal	>11.0
Mild	9.0 - 11.0
Moderate	7.0 - 8.9
Severe	<7.0

In more severe cases, medical attention is required as these groups of women are at risk of having a premature delivery and getting a baby with low birth weight.

Prevention and Treatment

Depending on the severity and cause of anemia, treating this condition requires little more than following your doctor’s advice and making some simple diet and lifestyle changes. To boost iron supplies when you are trying to conceive, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, women are encouraged to increase intake of iron-rich foods such as poultry, green leafy vegetables, nuts, liver, whole grains, dried fruits such as prunes and raisins, beans, melons, seeds like sesame, and tofu.

Doctors also routinely prescribe iron supplements to treat anemia. Patients are recommended to choose an iron formulation that their body can tolerate in order to optimizing absorption of iron into the body, this helps with reducing common side effects like constipation. Women who are at risk for anemia can also consider choosing iron supplement with flavored coating to help mask the metallic taste.

To optimize the effectiveness of iron therapy, it is also recommended that mothers consume iron, folate, copper and zinc supplements with food to reduce inhibitory effects. A Vitamin C supplement is recommended to be taken with meals as it is known to increase iron absorption² whereas tea and coffee reduce iron absorption if consumed one or two hours before taking iron supplement³.

A calcium supplement is also recommended to be taken separately from iron such as during bed time to reduce inhibition of iron absorption⁴. Women should continue to take iron-rich food and supplements until they stop breastfeeding or for 6 months after delivery whichever comes later.

In severe and life threatening anemia, a woman may require hospitalization, blood transfusions, and iron injections.

Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Dr. Premitha Damodaran shares some insightful opinions and recommendations on what women need to know before, during and after pregnancy.

“Women should always also ensure that their blood is healthy by conducting blood test when they plan to get pregnant, during pregnancy and four to six weeks after delivery. They can always stay on top of their game by acquiring a sufficient amount of iron from daily dietary and supplementation that help increase blood hemoglobin levels. Please seek immediate medical assistance if any of the above conditions are present,” advised Dr Premitha.

Merck Consumer Healthcare recognizes the evolving role of medicine to encompass a wider scope of health and wellness. Driven by the belief that preventive medication is a part and parcel of everyday living, Merck Consumer Health Care continues to improve and transform lives with innovative healthcare solutions.

AN EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE FROM MERCK

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1.  Zulkifli A, Rogayah J, Hashim MH. Anaemia during pregnancy in rural Kelantan. Mal J Nutr. 1997; 3: 83-90.

2.  Sandstrom B.Micronutrient Interactions: Effects on absorption and biovailability.British Journal of Nutrition 2001; 85(2):181-185

3.  Stolzfus RJ, Dreyfuss ML. Guidelines for the use of iron supplements to prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia. International Nutritional Anemia Consultative Group (INAGG). http://www.who.int/nutrition/puloblications/micronutrients/guidelines_for_iron_supplementation.pdf

4. Clinical practice guidelines. The management of anemia in pregnancy and chronic kidney disease. Academy of Medicine of Malaysia. 2007.