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