Don't miss any of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line.
Add our address, HealthyWomanfromBottomLine@news.bottomlinepublishing.com,
to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. | July 17, 2011 | |  |  | How to See Better at Night | | | Blast Away High Cholesterol. Lose 67 Points in Just 28 Days | | | Time to Switch Gynecologists? | | | Shocking #2 Cause of Cancer | | | Fascinating Facts | | | |  |  | |  | |
 | | How to See Better at Night I gripped the steering wheel hard, leaned forward and peered at the twisting Adirondack mountain highway ahead. As cars zoomed past, I wondered how the drivers dared to go so fast. I didn’t usually feel nervous about driving at night, but I realized then that I simply couldn’t see as well in the dark as I used to. Not wanting to repeat that scary experience, I called Marc Grossman, OD, LAc, a holistic developmental/behavioral optometrist and licensed acupuncturist in New Paltz, New York, and coauthor of Greater Vision, to talk about night vision. He confirmed that aging often brings a reduction in the ability to see well in low light. Reasons: Night vision has two elements. First, the pupils must dilate to let in as much light as possible. Normally this happens within seconds of entering a darkened environment—but as we age, the muscles that control pupil dilation weaken, slowing down and/or limiting dilation. Second, chemical changes must occur in the light-sensitive photoreceptors (called rods and cones) of the retina at the back of the eyeball. Some of these changes take several minutes and some take longer, so normally full night vision is not achieved for about 20 minutes. Even brief exposure to bright light (such as oncoming headlights) reverses these chemical changes, so the processes must start over. With age, these chemical changes occur more slowly... and some of our photoreceptors may be lost. While we cannot restore the eyes’ full youthful function, we can take steps to preserve and even improve our ability to see in low light, Dr. Grossman said. Here’s how... First, see your eye doctor to investigate possible underlying medical problems. Various eye disorders can cause or contribute to reduced night vision, including cataracts (clouding of the eye’s lens), retinitis pigmentosa (a disease that damages the retina’s rods and cones) and macular degeneration (in which objects in the center of the field of vision cannot be seen). Night vision also can be compromised by liver cirrhosis or the digestive disorder celiac disease, which can lead to deficiencies of eye-protecting nutrients... or diabetes, which can damage eye nerves and blood vessels. Dr. Grossman said that diagnosing any underlying disorder is vital because the sooner it is treated, the better the outcome is likely to be. Adopt an eye-healthy diet. Eat foods rich in the vision-supporting nutrients below... and ask your doctor whether supplementation is right for you. Especially important... - Lutein, a yellow pigment and antioxidant found in corn, dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, kiwi fruit, oranges and yellow squash. Typical supplement dosage: 6 milligrams (mg) daily.
- Vitamin A, found in carrots, Chinese cabbage, dark green leafy vegetables, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and winter squash. Typical supplement dosage: 10,000 international units (IU) daily.
- Zeaxanthin, a yellow pigment and antioxidant found in corn, egg yolks, kiwi fruit, orange peppers and oranges. Typical supplement dosage: 300 micrograms daily.
- Zinc, found in beans, beef, crab, duck, lamb, oat bran, oysters, ricotta cheese, turkey and yogurt. Typical supplement dosage: 20 mg daily.
Update prescription lenses. Many people just keep wearing the same old glasses even though vision tends to change over time, Dr. Grossman said—so new glasses with the correct prescription often can improve night vision. Keep eyeglasses and contacts clean. Smudges bend rays of light and distort what you see. Wear sunglasses outdoors on sunny days, especially between noon and 3 pm. This is particularly important for people with light-colored eyes, which are more vulnerable to the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Excessive sun exposure is a leading cause of eye disorders (such as cataracts) that can impair eyesight, including night vision. Amber or gray lenses are best for sunglasses, Dr. Grossman said, because they absorb light frequencies most evenly. Do not use yellow-tinted lenses at night. These often are marketed as "night driving" glasses, implying that they sharpen contrast and reduce glare in low light. However, Dr. Grossman cautioned that any tint only further impairs night vision. Safest: If you wear prescription glasses, stick to untinted, clear lenses—but do ask your optometrist about adding an antireflective or antiglare coating. Exercise your night vision. This won’t speed up the eyes’ process of adjusting to the dark, but may encourage a mental focus that helps the brain and eyes work better together—thus improving your ability to perceive objects in a darkened environment. What to do: For 20 minutes four times per week, go into a familiar room at night and turn off the lights. As your eyes are adjusting, look directly toward a specific object that you know is there... focus on it, trying to make out its shape and details and to distinguish it from surrounding shadows. With practice, your visual perception should improve. For an additional challenge, do the exercise outdoors at night... while looking at unfamiliar objects in a dark room... or while using peripheral vision rather than looking directly at an object. When driving at night, avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights. Shifting your gaze slightly to the right of center minimizes the eye changes that would temporarily impair your night vision, yet still allows you to see traffic. Also: Use the night setting on rearview mirrors to reduce reflected glare. Clean car windows and lights. When was the last time you used glass cleaner on the inside of your windshield... or on rear and side windows... or on headlights and taillights? For the clearest possible view and minimal distortion from smudges, keep all windows and lights squeaky clean. Source: Marc Grossman, OD, LAc, is the medical director of Natural Eye Care in New Paltz, New York. A holistic developmental/behavioral optometrist and licensed acupuncturist, he is the coauthor of Greater Vision and Natural Eye Care (both from McGraw-Hill). www.NaturalEyeCare.com
| | |
 | | Time to Switch Gynecologists?
Q: I have used the same obstetrician/gynecologist for more than two decades, since before my first child was born. She does handle routine gynecologic care, but her main focus is pregnancy. Now that I’m going through menopause, should I switch to a gynecologist who specializes in older women?
A: That is probably a good idea. Since your ob/gyn is in the business of delivering babies, she may not have time to stay on top of the scientific literature on menopause or the options for managing potential menopause-related problems. Menopause is a complex field, and our understanding of it is constantly growing. A thorough doctor/patient discussion of menopausal issues, such as the benefits and risks of hormone therapy, often takes much longer than a typical 15-minute office visit. Keep in mind, too, that physicians get scarcely any training about menopause in medical school—it is essentially just one lecture! If you go to a doctor who isn’t knowledgeable about this life transition, you will not get the same degree of attention to issues that can affect midlife and older women. It is especially important to switch gynecologists if you do have bothersome menopausal symptoms—hot flashes, sleeplessness, moodiness, vaginal dryness and/or discomfort during sex—that are not getting addressed with your current doctor. To find a specialist, visit the Web site of the North American Menopause Society at www.Menopause.org, click on "for consumers" and then on "find a NAMS certified menopause practitioner." Source: Michelle P. Warren, MD, is founder and medical director of the Center for Menopause, Hormonal Disorders and Women’s Health at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City and a nationally certified menopause practitioner.
| | |
 | | Shocking #2 Cause of Cancer An official at the American Cancer Society said that it’s easy to avoid half of all cancers. However, an adviser to the American Institute for Cancer Research was even more optimistic when he said that nine out of 10 cancers are related to factors we control. Of course, their #1 piece of advice is "stop smoking." We all know that. But I bet you don’t know the #2 cause of cancer. It’s something totally under your control—it’s much easier than quitting cigarettes—and it’s the last thing you’d ever expect. I’ll tell you about it in a moment. | |
Keep reading...  | |  | | |
| | | Fascinating Facts 25%... Women in the US who will become victims of domestic violence at some point during their lives. Source: Society for Women’s Health Research 26%... Americans age 74 and older who have lost all of their teeth. Source: American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 27%... US women responding to a survey who realized that diet can affect a person’s risk for the bone disease osteoporosis—which means, of course, that nearly three out of four respondents did not know that the foods we eat impact our bones! Source: National Osteoporosis Foundation/Harris Interactive
| | |
 |
 | |  Tamara Eberlein, the editor of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line, has been a health journalist for nearly three decades. An award-winning author or coauthor of four books, she is committed to helping other women in midlife and beyond live healthy, fulfilling lives. Her latest book is the updated, third edition of When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads (HarperCollins). She is also the "chief health adviser" to her husband of 26 years and three college-age children. | |  | | Bottom Line Publications | 281 Tresser Boulevard, 8th Floor | Stamford, CT 06901
You received this free E-letter because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Click here to easily unsubscribe. To change your e-mail address click here. To update your e-mail preferences click here.
© 2011 by Boardroom Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
No comments:
Post a Comment