Recognize the Signs of Stroke
Stroke, an attack caused by interruption in the blood supply to the brain, is the third most common cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of late-life dementia and physical disability.
Strokes may sometimes occur without recognizable symptoms (silent stroke) and these events also can cause brain damage and increase the chances that an individual will suffer a more devastating stroke.
Despite the widespread dangers of stroke, many Americans are unaware that they are at risk. Age and heredity are important risk factors that cannot be controlled; however, other risk factors can be managed. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the primary controllable risk factor for stroke.
Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol levels, smoking, poor diet, obesity and inactivity all increase the risk for stroke.
Although the likelihood of having a stroke increases with age, many older Americans are ill-prepared to deal with the emergency. More than half of American adults who experience warning signs of a stroke neglect to seek treatment. Delaying treatment can increase the risk of cognitive problems, disability and even death.
It is important then to know the symptoms of stroke and recognize that immediate treatment is necessary. Even if the symptoms are short-lived as they are with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs or mini-strokes) call 911 or your healthcare provider immediately since there is still a risk for a major stroke.
The American Stroke Association has identified the 5 Warning Signs of Stroke:
1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
Information for this article from Mind, Mood & Memory, Vol. 4/ No.10, Oct. 2008
Contact Lens Care
Contact lens problems, anyone?
You finally took the big step and switched from wearing eyeglasses to contact lenses. Yu heard the numerous positive points about wearing contacts and wanted to give it a try. But now that youre finally in contact lenses, why is it that your vision doesnt seem as clear? Or why do your eyes feel dry towards the end of the day? Or why does your vision fluctuate when youre reading or using a computer for hours at a time?
The primary issue that affects the quality of vision and comfort-related complications is how well a person takes care of their contact lenses. When people start having visual complaints or problems with redness, dryness and intolerance issues, one main reason is that the lenses are taken care of poorly.
Overwear is one problem that leads to contact lens complications. If you are wearing the contact lenses every waking moment, or even sleeping in them, you are cutting off the supply of oxygen to the cornea, the part of the eye on which the contact lens sits. Decreasing the oxygen supply to the cornea principally causes inflammation and dryness, but can also lead to the formation of corneal ulcers and bacterial infections that could potentially be sight threatening.
Poor cleaning habits also lead to contact lens problems. The contact lens case that you have should be replaced frequently. Whenever you purchase contact lens solution, it always comes with a new case, so use it. Old contact lens cases harbor nasty bacteria, so replacing your contact lens case regularly reduces your exposure to bacterial eye infections. Also, it is important to throw out the used solution in your contact lens case every morning and let the case air dry. Re-using solutions for days at a time allows bacteria to proliferate in the dark, warm and moist environment, essentially turning your case and your contact lenses into a Petri dish.
However, a lot of people are very responsible and do take care of their contact lenses very well. Using artificial tear lubricating drops may help them, but they may still have issues. There are literally hundreds of different brands of contact lenses out on the market, and obviously, they are not all manufactured in the same wa6y. If you werent fitted recently with contact lenses by your eye doctor, chances are you arent wearing the latest and greatest contact lens technology. These new contact lens materials allow more oxygen to cross the contact lens to your cornea, greatly reducing the risk of dryness and comfort problems. There are also contact lens cleaning solutions that are available that are preservative-free. Many times, people develop a hypersensitivity to the preservatives found in many multi-purpose solutions, and just switching to a different solution takes care of their problems.
So, if you are having any contact lens related problems, it is recommended that you seek the advice from an eye care professional, certainly someone who specializes in contact lenses. Your eye doctor can examine your eyes and contact lenses and make the proper recommendations to improve your situation with contact lenses.
Brendon J. Weaver, OD
Berks Eye Physicians & Surgeons, LTD
1802 Papermill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610
610-372-0712]
askdoctorweaver@yahoo.com
Flu Vaccine Tackles New Strains
Information from UCLA Healthy Years, October 2008
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a seasonal flu vaccine that targets three new strains of the virus likely to cause flu in the United States during the 2008-2009 season. Each year, the flu vaccine is altered to include the strains of the virus deemed most likely to cause illness. The closer the match between the circulating strains, the better the protection; however, even if the vaccine and the circulating strains are not an exact match, the shot will provide some protection and may reduce the severity of the illness or prevent complications such as pneumonia.
More than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with the flu each year, and roughly 36,000 flu-related deaths occur annually. Children, older adults, and those with other chronic disease, are at greatest risk of complications from the flu. If you havent already gotten your flu shot, NOW is a good time.
The Berks Visiting Nurse Association will be providing flu shots at Senior Expo at the Body Zone from 9 -3 on October 28; at Berks Encore Kutztown from 10 noon on Monday, October 27; at Providence House from 1 3 p.m. on Friday, October 31; and at Berks Encore- Wernersville from 9 noon on Tuesday, November 18; as well as at community locations throughout the county. The cost is $30 which will be covered by Medicare Part B (NOT Medicare HMOs). You can also get your flu shot from your primary care doctor.
How to Dispose of Unused Medicine
Most unused drugs can be thrown in the household trash, but consumers should take certain precautions before tossing them out.
Follow any specific disposal instructions on the drug label.
Do not flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so.
If no instructions are given:
Take the drugs out of their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. The medication will be less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through your trash.
Put them in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container to prevent the medication from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.
Before throwing out a medicine container, scratch out all identifying information on the prescription label to make it unreadable, This will help protect your identity and the privacy of your personal health information.
Do not give medications to friends. A drug that works for you could be dangerous for someone else.
The same disposal methods for prescription drugs apply to over-the-counter drugs.
Resource: FDAs Consumer Health Information; fda.gov/consumer
Relieving Holiday Stress
A popular Christmas song calls the weeks leading up to Christmas, the happiest time of the year, but for many people the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are stressful, hectic sometime even depressing. The holiday spirit was never meant to be synonymous with buying, wrapping, partying and celebrating. To revive YOUR Christmas spirit, try these 15 suggestions.
1. Count your blessings every day.
2. Strive for progress, not perfection.
3. At least once a day, sit and do nothing.
4. Never put yourself last.
5. Cry when you feel like it.
6. Keep good company.
7. Do a kind deed for someone else.
8. Be patient.
9. Slow down and enjoy the present.
10. Know when to say NO!
11. Respect the wishes of others when they say no.
12. Look at the positive side of negative situations.
13. Celebrate your accomplishments instead of dwelling on what you have not done.
14. Start a new tradition.
15. Take care of yourself.
Ask the Doctor
Dr. Brendon J. Weaver
Computer Vision Syndrome
As people continue to become more reliant on technology, computer use is increasing among all age ranges, especially with baby boomers and seniors. Whether its for playing games, entertainment, e-mail, news, weather or general information, using computers can be a time-intensive hobby. As the recent years have passed, you may have found yourself using the computer more and more. With this continued computer usage, you may be unknowingly suffering from computer vision syndrome (CVS).
Computer vision syndrome involves fluctuation, doubled or blurred vision, eye redness and dryness, eye strain or fatigue, and headaches. Some people develop one or many of these symptoms, which can arise after a few hours or as quickly as a few minutes. Even if you are wearing updated corrective lenses (eyeglasses or contacts), you can still experience CVS.
There are two main causes to computer vision syndrome. One reason is a problem with an eyes ability to accommodate, or to focus properly. The other problem is the ability of both eyes to work well together, to form a single, clear image. This usually occurs when your eye muscles weaken or get tired. Whether it is late in the day or you are doing excessive reading or computer work, one or both of these functions may break down and cause the numerous symptoms of CVS.
The best way to relieve eyestrain is to have your vision evaluated by an eye care professional, so that he/she may be able to examine your eye muscle function and your ability to accommodate. Your eye doctor may recommend a separate pair of eyeglasses for computer tasks, to make everything more clear and comfortable. But there are other things that you can do on your own to alleviate symptoms of extended computer use.
The main goal is to minimize glare. Sometimes you cant change the position of the computer monitor. But if you can, position the monitor directly in front or slightly below eye level. This minimizes reflections from lights on the ceiling. There are also anti-glare screens that can be placed on the monitor, but you can also adjust the brightness and the contrast levels to make the viewing area more comfortable to your eyes. Also, you should check the refresh rate level of your computer screen. If its too low, the screen will flicker and be very bothersome. A refresh rat level of 70 Hz or higher should be adequate. Finding the right resolution on the monitors display is also important. High resolution is best, but sometimes if its too high, the print and pictures may appear very small.
Unwanted light reflections can add to glare issues and CVS. If possible, use window blinds or curtains to reduce bright reflections of incoming sunlight. Desk lamps should be pointed away from your eyes and the computer screen to also reduce glare.
It is important to remember to blink regularly and keep your eyes from drying out. When people concentrate either from reading or looking at a computer screen their eyes tend to become dry, usually a result from a decrease of their normal blink rate. You can also use artificial tear lubricating eye drops (brands such as Systane, Refresh, Optive work well) if your eyes feel dry or tired, especially if you are a contact lens wearer. Taking scheduled breaks from staring at the computer screen will also allow your eyes to relax. Optimally, it would be great to take a 5-10 minute break and look away from the computer screen into the distance for very one hour of computer work.
These are just some of the tips recommended for computer vision syndrome. First and foremost, if you suffer from symptoms relating to CVS, I would strongly recommend that you get your eyes checked out from an eye care professional. Any slight blur in you eyeglass or contact lens prescription will cause symptoms of CVS, and updating your prescription may be enough to alleviate your complaints. But if you are still having problems after seeing your eye doctor, feel free to try some of the tips mentioned above to see if you notice an improvement.
Contact:
Brendon J. Weaver, O.D.
Berks Eye Physicians & Surgeons, LTD
1802 Papermill Rd.
Wyomissing, PA 19610
610-372-0712
askdoctorweaver@yahoo.com
Avoiding the Pain of Shingles
About one-third of Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Older adults are particularly at risk for this painful nerve condition, which is linked to the chickenpox virus. Stress, poor sleep, unhealthy diet, and having a close relative who has had shingles are also thought to increase risk for the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) which causes both chicken pox and shingles.
After someone gets chicken pox, VZV lies dormant. But as immunity wanes with age, the virus can reactivate in the spinal nerves leading to the skin, causing pain, itching, tingling, and a rash along the part of the body associated with that particular spinal nerve. The areas most often affected by shingles include the forehead, chest, abdomen and shoulder. A rash may not be visible at first.
While the rash can last up to five weeks, the pain can last from months to years.
Starting anti-viral medication within 72 hours of shingles onset can reduce its pain and duration, so call your doctor if you have pain, itching or tingling on one side of your body or face and have had chicken pox.
Better yet, you can improve your odds of avoiding this condition by getting the varicella-zoster vaccine, Zostavax, which the CDC now recommends for people age 60 and older. The vaccine doesnt guarantee that you wont get shingles, but it can reduce your risk by about half. The vaccine is not recommended for people with weakened immune systems or who are severely ill.
Ask your doctor about the shingles vaccine, but keep in mind that you may have to meet some of the cost, as it falls under the Medicare Part D drug benefit.
Information for this article taken from UCLA Division of Geriatrics Healthy Years, Volume 5/ Number 10 October 2008.
Cranberries Are in Season
We have all heard that blueberries, that summertime favorite, provide health benefits for our hearts and circulatory system, and even help to maintain a healthy brain. Researchers are now finding that cranberries may provide the same and possibly additional health benefits.
Cranberries are abundant in flavonoids and rank among the highest of all fruits and vegetables for antioxidant properties per serving. Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. Many experts believe that this damage is a factor in the development of blood vessel disease, macular degeneration, some cancers, Alzheimers Disease, and some arthritis-related conditions. Antioxidants include some vitamins (such as vitamins C and E), some minerals, and flavonoids found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables.
A study published in June, found that in addition to promoting mechanisms that counteract oxidative stress and decrease inflammation, extracts from cranberries inhibit the growth and spread of breast, colon, prostate, lung, and other cancers. In fact, cranberries are now being studied as a supplement to standard chemotherapy. A recent study presented at the American Chemical Societys annual meeting in August found that ovarian cancer cells pre-treated with purified cranberry juice extract were six times more likely to be destroyed by standard chemotherapy than cells that were not pre-treated.
Although preliminary results are promising, researchers caution that they need to learn more about the important compounds in cranberries before a synthesized form can be used for medicinal purposes. Doctors also encourage patients to get their antioxidants from a healthy diet rather than from supplements.
Most people should eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Whenever possible, choose fruits and vegetables that are red, orange, purple or dark green because these tend to be good sources of antioxidant flavonoids.
Since cranberries are near the top of that list, why not add these tasty and powerful berries to your holiday menu this year?
Information for this article taken from AICR Science Now, Winter 2008
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