HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
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.
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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.
Keeping tabs on your oral health is critical for warding off bad breath
and poor health. It is important to brush at least twice a day, floss, eat
a healthy diet, replace your toothbrush every three to four months,
Continued on page 21 >
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HAMPTON ❘ WINTER 2018
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