Los Angeles podiatrist, Dr. Kamran Jamshidinia notes many problems associated with wearing high heels. Problems ranging from common concerns like bunions, corns, and calluses to more complex issues like misshapen hammertoes or that excruciating pain in the ball of the foot that seems to grow worse with each passing year.

Still, many women refuse to give up their high heels: A survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association showed some 42% of women admitted they'd wear a shoe they liked even if it gave them discomfort; 73% admitted already having a shoe-related foot issue.

So what's the answer? A caring Los Angeles foot doctor like Dr. Jamshidinia will tell you, if you must wear

them at all, take a few precautions, and catch and treat problems early on. Of course anytime you wear shoes that are tight or constrict the natural shape of your foot, it's bound to cause foot pain, and if Los Angeles foot pain isn't treated, it can quickly escalate to damage.

Among the most common problems seen are painful, aching bunions -- those bony protrusions that usually pop up at the base of the big toe and distort the shape of the foot. Furthermore, some women who have bunions also have a displaced bone on the bottom of the big toe joint, which changes the way the foot "tracks" or acts during motion. With this kind of foot problem, choosing to wear high heels will make matters worse. Increased pressure on these bones increases and bunion pain grows worse.

While integrating lower heels into your wardrobe can help some, often the best solution is Los Angeles bunion surgery to straighten the bone.

Wearing high heels on a daily basis is also likely to cause the common problem of corns and calluses. These thickened layers of dead skin usually occur on the toes or sides of the foot and are actually the body's way of defending your feet against assault, in this case, your shoes.

If you're going to wear heels, WebMD.com combined advice from two experts, along with suggestions from the American Podiatric Association, to protect your feet.

1. Get the best-fitting high heel possible. While this may seem like a given, stop and think: How many pairs of high heels cause your feet to slide to the front? High heels that don't fit properly, cause the front of the foot to fly forward, creating more pressure -- and pain -- on toes. Look for narrow heels with a snug but not tight fit to correct the problem.

2. Cushion, cushion, cushion. While a full-shoe insert can help, if you have pain in the ball of the foot -- or you'll be standing in your heels a long time -- invest in silicone metatarsal pads. They look like flattened gummy bears, but they do a super job of shock absorption.

3. Wear a thicker heel for stability. "A thicker heel will give you better balance and may help relieve some pressure by distributing the weight on your foot more evenly. Alternating heel heights can also help reduce problems with the Achilles tendon.

4. Pay attention to the "slope" or "pitch" of the heel. While some 4-inch heels will give you a straight drop down to the flatbed portion of the shoe, others will be a more gradual slope. This may be easier on the arch, and might help relieve some pain in the ball of the foot.

5. Wear open-toe high heels to relieve pressure on corns and calluses. See a Los Angeles podiatrist to have corns and calluses professionally removed and correct the problem that's causing them. But if that's not possible, opt for open-toe shoes to take pressure off inflamed areas.