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
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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WOODLAND HILLS
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WINTER 2018
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