IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Winter 2018 | Page 29

HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
many individuals who let ear and eye
problems go unattended. Ear and eye
health is equally as important as taking
care of the rest of the body and should be
well maintained to ensure many years of
seeing and hearing the things you love.
Eye Health
It is important to visit your eye
care professional once a year for a
comprehensive eye exam. Although you
may think you are seeing fine, issues may
be lurking without any warning signs.
During a yearly visit, your pupils will be
dilated, or widened, so that your eye care
professional can examine the back of the
eye for damage or disease. It is important
to know your family’s eye health history
as well, since some conditions are
hereditary. Some of the most common
eye diseases include diabetic retinopathy,
glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related
macular degeneration (AMD).
• Diabetic Retinopathy: This type
1 or type 2 diabetes complication is
caused by damage to blood vessels
in the retina, the light-sensitive
tissues in the back of the eye. If left
untreated, diabetic retinopathy could
cause blindness. Early stages of this
condition may go unnoticed if an
eye care professional is not visited
yearly. As the condition progresses,
symptoms may include blurred vision,
impaired color vision, floaters, and/or
dark areas in your vision. Symptoms
may occur if there is too much sugar
in your blood, which can cause a
blockage in the blood vessels that lead
to the retina. Proper management of
diabetes is the best way to prevent
vision loss.
• Glaucoma: The second leading cause
of blindness, glaucoma is a group
of diseases that damage the eye’s
optic nerve. The risk of developing
glaucoma increases with age and if
parents or siblings have the disease.
During an eye exam, glaucoma can be
detected by measuring eye pressure,
inspecting the drainage angle of the
eye, evaluating the health of the optic
nerve and testing the visual field of
each eye. Depending on the type
and severity of the disease, glaucoma
can be treated through eye drops,
medication or surgery.
• Cataracts: A cataract affects vision by
clouding the lens of the eye. Chances
Kids’
Health
• Stop the spread of germs – Sanitizing frequently touched surfaces (door
handles, sinks, countertops) and handwashing can help combat the spread
of germs to other family members. Providing sick children with a comfy
space to recover, away from other children, can help prevent contamination
of highly trafficked areas of the home.
• Stay moisturized in dry weather – Try limiting bath time and make sure
the water isn’t too hot. Follow your bathtime routine with an ointment or
cream, instead of lotion. Most lotions have added ingredients, including
fragrances and alcohols, which can cause skin irritation. Opt for something
as simple as petroleum jelly or a mineral oil to lock in moisture throughout
the day.
• Keep up with vitamin D – Vitamin D helps the body take in calcium and
build strong bones as well as fight infection, and plays a role in heart health.
But, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a majority of the
population is vitamin D deficient. Wintertime can bring on less outdoor play
(meaning less exposure to sunlight) and most don’t receive enough vitamin
D through diet alone. Talk to your child’s health care provider for proper
supplement dosage amounts.
• Keep moving – Bundle up to go outside and sled ride or go for a walk.
Blowing bubbles isn’t just for the summertime, and if it’s cold enough,
they will freeze! You can also set up activities inside the house to keep kids
occupied, or look to your local community center for fun indoor activities.
• Stay hydrated – According to a study published by Medicine and Science in
Sports and Exercise, exposure to cold temperatures can lessen your body’s
response to thirst. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and make
children more susceptible to illness. Serve warm drinks such as soup broths
or warm cider after being in the cold, and always have water available.
• Dress in layers – Babies and children should be dressed in one more layer
of clothing than an adult. Packing on too many additional layers can cause
sweating, making your child colder! Start with a moisture-wicking base
layer, followed by wool, down, or fleece and a water/wind-resistant outer
layer for optimal warmth.
• Get some Zzs – An adequate amount of sleep is important for everyone,
especially when you’re sick. Offer quiet activities such as books, puzzles,
coloring, or a movie to allow for some much-needed downtime. Encourage
naps when possible to increase resting time.
• Skip sharing (food and drinks) – Encourage your kids to wash their hands
before lunch to limit germs spreading to food. Also, remind your children
to keep their hands from touching their face and the faces of
others.
• Elbow trick – Teach kids to turn
their heads to sneeze or cough
into a tissue or into their elbow to
limit the spread of germs.
• Know when outdoor play is
safe. Green Zone: 30 degrees or
higher – Safe to play outside with
layers, but come inside to warm
up every 40 minutes. Yellow
Zone: 20-30 degrees – Take caution
to monitor children for signs of
shivering and come inside every
20-30 minutes. Red Zone:
Below 20 degrees – Stay
inside!
Continued on page 29 >
BRENTWOOD-BALDWIN-WHITEHALL
❘
WINTER 2018
27