Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in men, but the third leading cause in women – even though the risk factors are similar for both genders. New guidelines published by the American Heart Association focus on stroke prevention in women, who suffer strokes …
Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash A recent study by the University of Chicago found that feelings of intense loneliness may increase an older person’s chance of premature death by up to 14 percent. Scientists found that feeling lonely may have close to the same …
February is known for Valentine’s day. But what you might not know is that February is also officially “American Heart Month”. Throughout February, organizations all over the country aim to raise awareness on heart disease and start as many people as possible on their journey to a healthy heart.
Heart disease is both preventable and controllable. Even so, it’s still the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. About 715,000 people have a heart attack in the United States every year. One out of every four deaths is a result of heart disease, a term that refers to several kinds of heart conditions. The most common condition is coronary heart disease, which occurs when plaque builds up in your arteries that supply blood to the heart. Coronary heart disease leads to heart attacks, heart failure, arrhythmias, and angina.
Overall, when you add up the steep prices of healthcare services, medications, and loss of productivity, heart disease costs the United States about $312.6 billion each year. Cardiovascular conditions are the leading cause of disability as well.
By taking small measures to improve our heart health, we can help decrease these numbers and lower the vast amount of cardiovascular deaths in the US. Specific lifestyle factors can dramatically increase your risk of heart disease. Here are a few recommendations from the CDC on how to prevent heart-related conditions:
Despite prevention measures and raising awareness about heart disease, the number one cause of death in the United States, heart attacks still occur in 715,000 people each year. With immediate intervention though, you can save yourself or a loved one from a potentially fatal heart attack by knowing the signs. Here are the top five signs of a possible heart attack, according to the CDC:
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately – it could save a life.
Raise awareness for a healthy heart this February by doing one thing every day to reduce your risk of heart disease. Check out some great daily heart-health tips here: CDC’s Tips for a Healthy Heart
Read More from the CDC Here: American Heart Month
Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash If you suffer from diabetes or sensitivity to sugar, then you’ve most likely heard the term “glycemic index”. To put it simply, the glycemic index is a measure of how fast certain foods cause the blood sugar levels in your …
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash The world of vitamins is quite complex, and even more so when you consider the endless information available online. The health benefits of each vitamin, the pros and cons, and the various side effects are often studied as we …
By Kristen M. Leccese and Dr. Millie Lytle, ND.
Good eyesight is one aspect of our health that’s pushed to the side far too often. The ability to see our friends’ faces, breathtaking landscapes, movies, works of art, colors, expressions, and everything else is a blessing that many people take for granted.
February is Low Vision Awareness Month. Low vision is described as “partial sight” – a condition that can’t be repaired through surgery, glasses, contacts or medication. Low vision can affect people of any age, although one of the main causes of this condition is age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. Other causes of low vision include eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. Less often, people are born with chronic conditions that may cause a lifetime of low vision or even complete blindness.
Perfect vision is considered 20/20. This means that the person sees the same line of letters at 20 feet that a “normal” person sees at 20 feet. When the bottom number goes up, this indicates people see objects at 20 feet as if they are further (30 feet, 70, 200, etc.). In the United States, anyone whose vision can’t be corrected to better than 20/200 – or anyone who has 20 degrees or less of their peripheral vision – is considered legally blind. Here’s a breakdown of the numbers and what they mean as far as vision impairment:
Early detection is key in preserving your eyesight. If you’re having trouble getting through your daily routine because of vision problems, even with glasses or contacts, don’t hesitate – see your eye doctor immediately! The issue may be able to be corrected if it’s treated early on. If your vision problem is degenerative though, don’t lose hope. Researchers have made great strides in this area of medicine.
Seeing an ophthalmologist who specializes in low vision can point you in the right direction. A specialist can offer you the best tools for dealing with low vision including electronic reading aids, very strong glasses or loupes for tasks such as using the computer or phone, glare shields to enhance contrast, and other everyday equipment to help you adapt to life with low vision.
There are key nutrients that may help improve your eyesight and slow down vision loss. Dr. Millie Lytle, ND let us know which supplements may help to support healthy vision.
When considering the health of the eyes and vision support, there is no single vitamin that addresses all aspects of eye health. I always consider nutrient families when recommending supplementation for eye health.
Antioxidants have been shown to help repair the various delicate structures of the eyes including the nerves, cones, rods, lens, retina, cornea, fovea and macula. Bioflavenoids and carotenoids such as lutein, xeathanthin and astaxanthin are sourced from orange, red and yellow foods such as carrots, citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, peppers and shrimp. Beta Carotene is a double molecule of Vitamin A, which is the nutrient known to improve night vision, integrity of delicate structures of the eye, and protect again sun’s UV rays.
Keep in mind that other health conditions can affect the eyes! Don’t look back at what you might have done differently if you had only known! For instance, high blood pressure puts pressure on the eyes and increases risk for retinal tears, glaucoma and blindness. You might not like to take pharmaceutical medications, but it’s far safer than walking around with high blood pressure, which can damage the eyes and lead to blindness. Just be wary – some drugs and prescriptions can cause drug-induced nutrient depletions!
Diabetes and high blood sugar damage nerves and arteries leading to the eyes which causes cataracts and gradual vision loss. Certain medications such as cholesterol medications (statins) are related to diabetes and many people will get cataracts as a side effect to diabetes and statin use. It’s very important to avoid smoking as it depletes nutrients and generates free radicals that injure eyes. Stay active as a way to reduce obesity, blood pressure and blood sugar.