HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
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
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!
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