HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
• 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 of cataracts increase greatly with age, with more
than half of all Americans either having a cataract or having
had cataract surgery by the age of 80. People in their 40s and
50s can have cataracts, but they are typically small and do not
affect vision. Cataracts are detected by blurred vision, faded
colors, glare from headlights or lamps, poor night vision,
double vision, or frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses
or contact lenses. Early detection can improve cataracts
through new eyeglasses, anti-glare sunglasses or brighter
lighting. Surgery can also be done to remove the cloudy lens
and replace it with an artificial lens.
• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): One of the
common but lesser known eye conditions is AMD. A leading
cause of vision loss among people 50 years of age and older,
AMD affects the macula, the millions of light-sensing cells
that provide your eye with sharp, central vision. Age is a major
risk factor for developing AMD, with most cases occurring
after the age of 60. Genetics, race, and smoking can also
affect risk for AMD. A comprehensive eye exam can detect
it through dilation and testing. Your eye care professional
will look for yellow deposits beneath the retina to determine
whether you have AMD. Intermediate and late AMD can be
treated with daily intake of vitamins and minerals that can
slow the progression of the disease. Therapy and surgery can
also be considered for types of advanced neovascular AMD,
which typically results in severe vision loss, to stop further
progression.
Hearing Loss and Prevention
It is common for hearing loss to occur
as you age. According to the Mayo Clinic,
about 25 percent of people in the United
States between the ages of 55 and 64 have
some degree of hearing loss, increasing
to one in two people by age 65 and
older. Chronic exposure to loud noises
and aging are the two main causes of
hearing loss, resulting in the perception
of muffled speech from others, difficulty
understanding words, frequent requests for
others to repeat themselves, loud volume
on the television or radio, and avoidance of
social settings.
Hearing loss occurs when there is
damage to the inner ear, infection in
the ear, or ruptured eardrum. Damage
to the inner ear can happen with age, or
constant exposure to loud noises over
an extended period of time. These cause
wear on the nerve cells in the cochlea
that send sound to the brain. When they
are damaged, signals aren’t transmitted as effectively, causing loss of
hearing. Heredity, aging, occupational and recreational noises, some
medications, and some illnesses may cause either partial or full hearing
loss, but there are ways to treat hearing loss. Treatment can include
surgical procedures, hearing aids, or cochlear implants.
Preventive measures can also be taken to protect against noise-
induced hearing loss and to avoid age-related hearing loss. Be sure
to wear protective earmuffs if you work in a loud environment or
are hunting, going to concerts or doing other loud activities for an
extended period of time. It is also important to have your hearing
tested on a regular basis. Early detection is key to preventing complete
hearing loss.
Mouth Health
Your mouth can
tell a lot about your
overall health. Investing
in your oral health is
also investing in your
general health. There are
several conditions that
are linked to oral health
including endocarditis
and cardiovascular
disease. When bacteria
from your mouth—or
other parts of your
body—spread through
your bloodstream, they
can attach to your heart,
causing an infection in the
inner lining called endocarditis. Research suggests that poor oral health
is linked to clogged arteries and stroke as well.
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CHARTIERS VALLEY ❘
WI N TE R 2018
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