Active Reading Example and Exercise

*Exercise copied from: Improving Reading, Nancy V. Wood (New York; Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1984), p10-11. Copyright © 1984 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, CBS College Publishing. Causes of Stinky Feet

The Main Culprit The main cause of common foot odor is foot perspiration. This happens not because of the smell of the sweat itself (contrary to popular belief, all sweat is actually odorless), but because sweat, in combination with the warm, dark conditions inside bodily crevices and clothed areas, such as the inside of shoes and cracks between toes, creates the perfect conditions for the growth of odor-causing bacteria. Many such types of bacteria are naturally present at all times on the surface of human skin; given the right conditions, they will grow and thrive to the point that one's feet may have mild to severe unpleasant odor.

Other Factors There are certain other factors that can affect the growth of odor-causing bacteria on feet, causing foot odor to occur at different levels and types at different times. Some of these factors include the levels of dampness, affected by both the absorbency of socks and the ventilation of shoes. Foot and shoe cleanliness will also affect bacterial growth, since bacteria will grow at an exponential rate and be significantly worse if they're already present. Crevices created by long toenails or lots of body hair will also create extra surface area on which bacteria can proliferate.

The differences in qualities of foot odor or affected by which type of bacteria is prevalent. There are a variety of bacteria types that cause foot odor, with different types thriving in slightly different conditions. For example, there is a certain type of bacteria that eats dead skin skills, and this type is likely to do well with someone who sheds a lot of dead skin from his feet.

Prevention and Treatment Any steps taken to make bacteria-growing conditions less ideal will help in the prevention of foot odor. Absorbent socks, such as cotton socks, help prevent odor by wicking away moisture, while shoes and socks that provide ventilation will prevent feet from becoming overly moist or warm. Powder applied to feet also prevents odor by absorbing moisture, with specialized foot- odor powders also being equipped with anti-bacterial agents and odor neutralizers.

Properly cleaning and preparing feet will also help prevent odor. This includes regularly washing with anti-bacterial soap, exfoliating dead skin cells, trimming toenails and, if necessary, removing hair. http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5497862_causes-stinky-feet.html