Eye Care After Cataract Surgery and Lens Implants
Cataract surgery -- the most performed surgery in the world -- has improved markedly. This surgery has a success rate of more than 97 percent. Still, you need to take good care of your eye or eyes after surgery. The first step is putting in eye drops to prevent infection and control eye pressure.
Your eye or eyes will react to the surgery in several ways. You may have a stinging sensation, an itching sensation, a gritty feeling (your eye feels like there is sand in it), sensitivity to sunlight and bright lights. A Mayo Clinic website article, "Cataract Surgery: What You Can Expect," describes surgery and aftercare. Do not rub your eye or press on it, warns Mayo. You may have a discharge in the corners of your eyes. To remove the discharge wipe your eye gently with a warm wash cloth. Hold the cloth over your eye gently and do not make any pointing motions.
The Cataract Surgery website, in the article "Life After Cataracts: Cataract Surgery Recover Basics," tells patients to take prescribed medicine exactly as the doctor recommended. You can take showers after cataract surgery, the site notes, but keep your eye closed. I had cataract surgery on both eyes and lens implanted in both eyes. When I showered I kept a dry towel close at hand in case I got water or soap in my eyes.
Though my recovery was normal, I had a problem with dry eyes. I have acne rosacea and dry, gritty eyes are a symptom of it. This dryness, combined with the natural itching after cataract surgery, was bothersome, so I used artificial tears several times a day. My eye doctor approved the use of artificial tears, but said I should never use the type that gets the red out.
I also had an odd experience after my second cataract surgery and lens implant. One day, when I was in a hurry, I yanked a t-shirt over my head. I did not know the neck of the t-shit had shrunk, and it scraped against my eyes as I pulled it over my head. Thankfully, my eyes were not hurt. Though I still wear the t-shirt, I stretch the neck a bit before putting it on.
Have you heard of defensive driving? Well, you need to practice defensive living after cataract surgery and a lens implant. Guard your eyes at all times. I found this out after my husband turned over in his sleep, swung his arm over, and barely missed my eye.
Before the surgery I wore prescription sunglasses. Now I do not need them and bought a pair of over-the-counter sunglasses for every day wear. However, I have prescription eye glasses for reading. You can help your eye doctor get the best outcome from cataract surgery and a lens implant by practicing defensive living, using artificial tears if approved, taking your prescribed medicine, and putting in eye drops on schedule.
Today, I have 20/20 in both eyes and the world is a colorful place again. "Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful," Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "for beauty is God's handwriting." God's handwriting has never looked more beautiful.
Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson
Childhood Obesity and Overweight Children
Looking out over the yard during recess, Mrs. Nyeberg saw Adam standing apart from a group of the other children who were playing. She knew that once again Adam had been left out of their games. He was endlessly taunted about his weight by the other children and had very few friends at school. At 8 years old Adam was already 40 pounds heavier than the other children.
The Epidemic
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over 9 million children ages 6 to 19 years old are overweight or obese. In a frightening trend, this number has tripled since 1980. In this same time period, childhood obesity has doubled for preschoolers (2-5 years old) and adolescents (12-19 years).
This problem is not limited to the United States but is a growing epidemic in many countries. In a country that is seemingly obsessed with weight issues we should be declaring this issue a national emergency.
Ignoring the Issue
Believing that children may merely have "baby fat" or grow out of their weight problems is a fallacy. Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This number increases to 80 percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese.
UCSF researcher Robert Lustig, MD, professor of clinical pediatrics at UCSF Children's Hospital notes in a review of obesity research that the Western diet is the key reason for childhood obesity.
Lustig offers that our high calorie, low fiber diets promote hormonal imbalances that encourage children to overeat. Other factors commonly attributed to the rise in obesity include frequent fast food dining, too little physical activity at school and home , larger portion sizes, and lack of sleep. Another key factor cited in numerous studies, and perhaps the most important - parents.
Parents
Parents play an important role in the growth, development, and socialization of children (Darling and Steinberg 1993). Additionally, overweight parents may pass on a combination of genetic predisposition to becoming overweight and unhealthy eating habits to their children. An Australian study showed that fathers who were permissive or disengaged were more likely to have children with a higher body mass index (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/70064.php). Obesity in children is far more than a vanity issue. Along with the rise in childhood obesity is a dramatic increase in diseases and conditions that were previously more prevalent in adults.
Health Problems
A new study revealed that obesity in adolescents is related with reduced heart functions and excessive cardiac mass. Combined with the tendency to become hypertensive this is a life threatening issue.
Being overweight puts a greater strain on the still developing bodies of children. Childhood obesity puts children at greater risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, joint problems, sleep disorders and more. One in three obese children has excess fat in their liver. This excess fat could lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis or liver failure. Not to mention the emotional toll on children who are subjected to teasing and/or isolation by their peers.
Seek Medical Help
Your physician can determine if your child's weight is healthy. The doctor will use a growth chart to compare your child's BMI to other children of the same age and sex.Cutoff points on these growth charts, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), help identify overweight children:
o BMI-for-age between 85th and 95th percentiles - at risk of overweight
o BMI-for-age over 95th percentile - overweight
Your doctor will also evaluate your family history, your child's calorie intake and eating habits, other health conditions, and activity level.
Dr. Kal
I was an overweight child and an obese teen. I understand the physical, emotional, and mental pain it can cause. On my blog, I will provide weight loss strategies for children and their parents. Stay tuned.
Early Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms in Young Patients
Cystic fibrosis or CF is a serious genetic disorder that targets the mucus-secreting glands of the body, such as the lungs and digestive organs. Symptoms can be identified at the age of one or two. However, some symptoms may be delayed and do not appear until puberty or even adulthood. The severity of the disease varies for every person. Some people with CF may be sickly at a young age while others live for many years with manageable symptoms.
Being aware of common cystic fibrosis symptoms can enable parents to give proper management and care for their affected children. The following are early symptoms and the different body systems that are affected with the condition:
1. The Digestive Organs
Seen in infants, Meconium ileus or serious intestinal obstruction usually becomes the first symptom of the disease.
Poor weight gain and lack of energy are also common cystic fibrosis symptoms. This is due to pancreatic and intestinal blockages which eventually lead to chronic malabsorption. CF patients also experience persistent diarrhea, or bulky, foul-smelling and greasy stools. Since they have an inadequately functioning pancreas, fats and proteins are excreted in the bowels instead of being absorbed in the body. Stomach pains and intestinal discomfort caused by too much gas is also a common symptom.
2. The Lungs
Major cystic fibrosis symptoms include coughing, breathing difficulties and repeated pulmonary infections. This is due to the thick mucus build-up in the lung area which clogs the airways. The body tries to cough out the phlegm or mucus but to no avail. The consistency of the mucus is just too thick for the body to be able to expel all of it. After some time, it leads to respiratory irritations and narrowing of the air passages. Mucus is then trapped and becomes a favorable environment for bacteria to thrive. With this condition, pulmonary infections, like bronchitis and pneumonia, become frequent.
3. Salty-tasting skin
Salty-tasting skin is among the common symptoms present in early age. Because of a defective CFTR gene that hinders the movement of salt in and out of the body cells, salt is not absorbed but excreted through the sweat glands. There are even times when salt deposits become visible on the skin. That is why a common test that is used to help diagnose cystic fibrosis is the sweat test.
These are the cystic fibrosis symptoms mostly evident in young patients. Once a diagnosis has been made, appropriate medical treatment and management of these symptoms can be established.
The Types of Seizures Associated With Epilepsy
Epilepsy isn't a single disorder but a group of disorders that are characterized by reoccurring attacks. This is typically caused by abnormal electrical discharges from brain cells inside the cerebral cortex. Types of seizures that occur with epilepsy vary depending on whether they are idiopathic or secondary. Idiopathic ones occur without any clear cause or reason, while secondary ones are due to certain neurological disorders and brain abnormalities. Let's look at those ones associated with epilepsy.
Partial ones are produced initially by electrical impulses in a relatively small part of the brain, whereas generalized ones are produced by electrical impulses from throughout the entire brain. The focus is the part of the brain that is actually generating them. Classification of seizures is as follows: primary ones include generalized tonic-clonic seizures, as well as generalized tonic ones, clonic ones, atonic, absence, a typical absence ones and myoclonic seizures. Focal ones or partial ones include secondarily generalized ones, simple partial ones and complex partial seizures.
They are symptoms of some type of a brain problem. They happen because of abnormal and sudden electrical activity in the brain. When people think of them, they many times think of convulsions, in which a person's body shakes uncontrollably and rapidly. However, not every one of them causes convulsions. There are many kinds of this disorder and some have only mild symptoms. They generally fall into two main categories or groups. Partial ones, also called focal ones, which occur in just one part of the brain; and primary generalized ones, which are a result of abnormal activity in both hemispheres of the brain.
There are distinct signs and symptoms of epilepsy of which you should be aware. Epileptic seizures can cause involuntary changes in body movements or functioning, as well as unusual sensations and awareness or behaviors. It can last anywhere from a few seconds to a serious and continuous one that will not stop without some type of intervention.
Its treatments entail turning the person on his or her side after the convulsion ends. This can help drain any moisture or secretions such as vomit from the person's mouth. Never attempt to hold down or restrain the person during the attack. Generally, most types of seizures are self-limiting and stop by themselves after a certain period of time. However, a person who is having one may be injured during the process by inhaling food, fluids or vomit into the lungs, or not get enough oxygen, so staying close by to help is imperative.
For the vast majority of people who suffer from them, there is one symptom that typically follows having one. This is a very intense and overwhelming feeling of fatigue. They could be just ending one and moments later they are asleep. Some people who experience grand mal seizures or sometimes even partial ones will literally lie down afterwards and be asleep within minutes. The types of seizures an epileptic will experience depend on the area of the brain that is affected.
How to Cure Allergy Naturally?
When the immune system in our body finds or realizes anything as foreign to the body, it immediately releases antibodies like histamines to fight against the foreign substance. This causes inflammation which is called allergy in our body.
There are many natural remedies for allergies available. Although natural remedies are easily available without prescription, it is better to consult a doctor before to take up any medicine as a remedy for allergies.
When a person is taking natural remedies or any other medicines for allergies, it is better to concentrate on the environment in which they live. Avoid moist environments. Moist environments aid the growth of molds that are one of the causes of allergies. Cleanliness of the beds and the carpet plays an important role in treating allergies. Food restrictions also help in treating the allergies well. Certain types of foods should be avoided and certain foods can be taken. A proper nutritional supplement to aid the treatment is also recommended.
Foods like wheat and chocolates cause allergy symptoms like headaches which can also be migraine in nature. Hay fever, hives, childhood allergies, asthma, and eczema are also caused by such foods. Garlic and Onion can be taken daily to treat allergies. It is found that these herbs contain Quercitin which is effective in curing allergies. This is found to reduce the production of histamine that causes allergies in us. Green tea extract which is rich in phytonutrients is used to ward off cellular attacks. It is an excellent anti bacterial and is used to cut down the cholesterol level and to regulate the blood sugar.
Bromelain is used to assist in digestion of vegetable protein. Papain contains an enzyme that breaks down protein is effective in curing allergies. The acidic stage of the allergic reactions can be controlled effectively with Magnesium (Citrate). This is also used in treating asthma which has strong bonding with allergies. Calcium (Citrate) which balances the acid and the alkaline levels in our body is good in curing allergies. Calcium also reduces the production of histamine in our body.
Air filters and dehumidifiers can be used to prevent mold that is present in the humid environments. It is known that onions, garlic, and citrus fruits contain natural antihistamines. Having these would help you prevent and cure allergies. Natural nasal rinses are also available for treating allergies. Allergy can be controlled with the help for a proper diet. You have to note down the food items that are taken by you. Avoiding certain foods and taking some foods would help you in controlling the allergies.
Certain food supplements would also help in treating allergies positively. Natural antihistamines are taken to control allergy. You should know that the histamine released by our immune system is responsible for the allergic reaction. It is also better to know what leads to allergies. It is found that in babies the eating habits during the first year play an important role in a baby's sensitivity to allergy. Lack of breast feeding and feeding babies with solid food too early may lead to such conditions.
How to Cure Cold Sores – Natural Remedies For Cold Sores
Cold sore is an annoying and painful blister that appears out of your mouth, commonly known as fever blisters. Since the cause of cold sore is herpes virus, they might be passed to you from a direct contact with someone else; they may be passed on by kissing, sharing eating utensils, or drinking after another person.
1. Your Immune System
Because the cause of cold sore is virus, it is a good idea to increase your immune system. Make a habit of consuming vitamin C every day, and always eat healthy food. Stress also can have a detrimental effect to your immune system.
2. Ease The Symptom Of Cold Sores
Before know how to cure cold sore, first thing you want to do is finding out how to ease the symptom. Applying ice and tea bag can help easing the symptom. Apply it on the affected area for 15 minutes a day.
A tea bag also can literally cure your cold sure since it contains tannin acid that can be useful as antiviral.
3. Boost The Healing
You can do several things to help boosting the healing of your cold sore. One way is to keep your cold sore dry, also avoid direct contact with outside air whenever you go out, since it can trigger breakouts of the blisters, you can prevent contact by covering your cold sore with petroleum jelly using cotton swab whenever you are outside.
The most important thing to do is to have enough rest and reduce your stress level. Once your immune system is strengthen, your cold sore will disappear on itself. Applying lemon balm also can speed up the healing process.
There are several other cold sores remedies, but the most important thing you want to do is to boost your immune system since the cause of cold sore is a virus.
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