Could that cute pair of boots you got for the holidays cause you health problems years from now? The simple answer is yes. The shoes you choose can lead to painful and unsightly problems like bunions and heel spurs. In fact, tight shoes contribute to 9 out of 10 cases of foot problems in women. Foot Care Basics , a newly updated report from Harvard Medical School , provides advice about what type of shoes to look for in order to prevent foot problems, and what you can do if you've already developed problems.

Foot Care Basics offers these tips and more for finding foot-friendly shoes:

  At home, trace around your foot on a piece of paper and bring it with you to the store. Don't even try on any shoe that is narrower or smaller than the tracing.   Have the salesperson measure both your feet each time you buy new shoes—feet change with age. If your feet are different sizes, buy shoes that accommodate the larger one.   Don't rationalize that the shoes “just need to be broken in.” Find shoes that fit from the start.   Feel inside the shoe to see if there are any tags, seams, or other materials that may irritate your foot.   Make sure you have a quarter- to a half-inch of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe when standing.   Shop for shoes in the afternoon—your feet naturally expand during the day.   Wear the same type of sock that you intend to wear with the shoes.

The Harvard Medical School report also discusses in detail the most common and aggravating foot problems, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles' tendinitis, bursitis, flat feet, posterior tibial tendon insufficiency, bunions, hammertoe, arthritis, gout, sesamoid pain, and foot injuries. Also covered are skin and toenail problems, foot surgery, and how other health conditions can affect your feet.