Macular Degeneration

Our eyes provide us with a daily visual feast of the world around us. Ironically, it's so easy to take our eyesight for granted. However, as we age, many parts and body systems begin to lose resiliency. We develop little arthritic pains in joints and hands, or lose muscle tone and strength.

However, these are far easier to deal with than loss of eyesight. Age related macular degeneration is such a condition and the most common cause of blindness in people 50 years or older.

Age related macular degeneration attacks the central part of the retina, with the formation of additional blood cells beneath the retina. The growth of these blood cells causes leaking of fluids from the eyes, often resulting in scar tissue and eventual loss of sight. Typically, both eyes are affected, although sometimes in varying degrees.

There are two types of age related macular degeneration, referred to as ”dry” or “wet”. The dry type accounts for 90% of cases. With the dry type, visual cells cease functioning. To date, there is no effective treatment for this type.

The wet form of age related macular degeneration is treatable, but is also far more aggressive, usually resulting in blindness in a period of three months to a few years. Laser treatment may help in the shorter term.

Because this condition affects the central portion of the retina, the patient retains some peripheral vision, but that vision is often distorted and cloudy. People with this form of age related macular degeneration are often quite sensitive to light and may perceive light where there is none.

Early symptoms of age related macular degeneration include blurry vision in the central portion of the eyes, distortions of perception of shape or size of objects and light sensitivity. The condition is not particularly painful, although some degree of discomfort may occur.

Recent research suggests that genetic factors are involved in the development of age related macular degeneration. It is certain that diet plays an important role as a preventative factor.

It's been found that people who disdain foods throughout their lifetime, known to help prevent age related macular degeneration, are far more likely to develop this condition.

Here are some foods that are shown to be powerful preventatives. It's never too late to start including quantities of these food in your diet.

It's fairly easy to identify foods high in carotenoids, antioxidants valuable to the prevention of AMD. Carotenoids produce the bright yellow, orange and green colors in produce. Ample amounts of these fresh fruits and veggies can prevent AMD.

The list is long, so if you dislike some, there's plenty more from which to choose.

Carrots, collards, cantaloupe, carrots, grapes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, peaches, yams, yellow corn, and yellow, orange and red bell peppers are all rich sources of these antioxidants. Among the dark green vegetables, asparagus, aragula, broccoli, chard, endive, dandelion leaves, lettuce, mustard greens, spinach, and parsley are among the best.

So protect yourself against age related macular degeneration. It is preventable.

See Ya Later!

Charles

Am I Suffering From Depression?

There are times in just about everyone’s when the question, “Am I suffering from depression?” surfaces. The mere fact that you are asking yourself this question isn’t necessarily a reason to run out to get a prescription for an antidepressant. There are symptoms of depression to consider before opting for meds.

One morning, I found myself asking this very question. Am I suffering from depression just because I am pondering the notion? Not necessarily. There are things that factor into our everyday moods. Clinical depression is quite different from simply feeling down or out of sorts.

After considering the symptoms of depression, I determined that I was simply going through an emotional. I had to ask am I suffering from depression because of my sloping emotional state but I also had to consider other symptoms that come into play when a person is clinically depressed as well.

Am I suffering from insomnia? Am I sleeping too much? Do things that I used to enjoy no longer bring me pleasure? Am I irritable and cantankerous? Do I have thoughts about death or suicide that are overwhelming and consuming? Am I suffering from depression really?

The problem lies in the simple fact that people feel depressed from time to time. However, clinical depression is persistent. Others may tell you to snap out of it but when you are truly in a depressive state, it is impossible. There is also no real reason for the dark emotions, either.

Am I suffering from depression or am I going through a rough patch? Life changing events and tragedies like a death in the family or a divorce can spiral you into a dark chasm of dread and gloom. There is good reason for the emotions and feelings of dread. When those emotions become all encompassing, then you may want to seek help.

Basically, you have to ask yourself if your state of mind is interfering with your ability to function normally. Am I able to complete tasks as usual in spite of my current dreary outlook? Am I unable to maintain healthy relationships with coworkers, friends and family because of my mood? Am I suffering from depression really?

These questions are never easy to answer, especially when you are in the emotional throws of a life changing event. Talking to a professional is a good idea but remember to try and stay objective rather than letting your dreary feelings get in the way of a real diagnosis.

Charles

Natural Cure For Constipation

Although most of us are a bit embarrassed to talk about it, constipation is something many of us have to deal with at some point in our lives. Staying regular is very important to maintaining proper health and finding natural cures for constipation is a good alternative for those of us not comfortable with the idea of taking a medication to solve the problem.

One of the best known, as well as nutritious ways to keep your body’s digestive system functioning the way nature intended, is with prunes. Prunes are one of the natural cures for constipation that are safe, effective and inexpensive. Almost everyone enjoys the taste of prunes and they can easily be worked into anyone’s diet. If a person isn’t fond of eating prunes they can certainly drink a glass of prune juice every few days to keep things moving.

Licorice isn’t only a favorite candy of millions of children but it has another lesser known appeal. It’s actually one of the most effective natural cures for constipation. Anyone who has over indulged in black licorice has probably already discovered this. Parents will sometimes use licorice as natural cures for constipation with children.

It’s much easier than trying to convince a child to take an over the counter medication. In fact, as one of the most flavorful natural cures for constipation, parents should keep a close eye on just how much licorice their children are consuming. Too much licorice, too often, can actually lead to too many trips to the washroom.

Another very gentle method of helping the body to become more regular is increasing the amount of water that is consumed. Water is viewed as one of the most natural cures for constipation. This is mainly due to the fact that many people simply don’t consume enough liquid in the course of the day. By increasing their daily intake to at least eight glasses of water, they can regulate their systems in no time at all.

Herbal remedies seem to be available for just about anything that can possibly ail a person and constipation problems are no exception. There are many herbal concoctions that are considered natural cures for constipation. It’s advised that if a person is already taking prescription medication for a medical condition, they should consult their physician before beginning any herbal supplements as natural cures for constipation. Herbal products can interact with traditional medicines and the results can be serious.

Taking care of yourself by eating a balanced diet, drinking lots of water and staying active will likely help your body functions stay in sync. If you do need a little extra help, consider natural cures for constipation. They’ll get the job done with few side-effects.


Charles