A survey of 1,000 women done by the wellness shoe company MBT found that more than 40 percent of the high-heel shoe wearers have suffered an accident in them, most often from falling over.

According to the Guardian, heels surpassing the three-inch mark can “seriously increase the pressure on the ball of your foot (up to seven times with heels over 3in high) and affect pretty much every part of your lower body as you walk.” The uneven weight distribution from high heels results in a shorter calf muscle and a thicker Achilles tendon. This makes it extra painful when the foot is flat on the ground and results in sore and inflamed tendons. Bunions and hammer toes are some of the other painful effects from heels.