HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
and judgment, and visual perception. At least two of the
aforementioned symptoms must be severely impaired to
indicate signs of dementia. Usually the signs and symptoms
are progressive and get worse over time. If caught early by
a health care professional, some symptoms can be treated.
One of the most common types of dementia is Alzheimer’s
disease.
Alzheimer’s accounts for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia
cases. It causes severe problems with daily tasks that involve
memory, thinking and behavior. It is not a normal part of
aging, but the greatest known risk factor is increasing age
since the disease is progressive. While it is most common
in people over the age of 65, younger-onset Alzheimer’s is
found in five percent of people as young as their 40s.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, evidence shows
that incorporating the following habits will keep you fit both
physically and mentally:
• Heart Health – Obesity, high blood pressure and
diabetes—all risk factors for cardiovascular disease—
negatively impact your cognitive health. Cardiovascular
activity increases blood flow to the brain and body,
reducing the risk of cognitive decline.
• Helmet Up! – Brain injury is one of the leading causes of
dementia and cognitive decline. Play it smart and always
wear a helmet to protect from brain injury.
• Sleep Tight – Have you ever stayed up late, only to find
you’re forgetful and mentally lethargic the next day? Not
getting enough sleep can result in lower brain function,
affecting memory and thinking.
• Be a Social Butterfly – Staying active with friends and
loved ones may support brain health as well. A recent
study from the Women’s Healthy Aging Project found
that babysitting grandchildren could lower the risk of
Alzheimer’s.
• Challenge Yourself – Enjoy crossword puzzles or
painting? Keep your brain challenged by doing something
new each day, whether it is learning a new language, doing
a jigsaw puzzle or reading a book!
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.
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Eye and Ear Health
Hearing and vision are two essential parts of our everyday
lives. Yet there are 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
WEST MIFFLIN
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WINTER 2018
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