Minuman ringan (minuman bergas) biasa mengandungi banyak gula dan kalori yang menjadikan seseorang itu gemuk dan berisiko mendapat diabetes. Namun begitu, minuman bergas jenis diet atau kononnya dilabelkan sebagai tanpa kalori atau berkalori rendah juga menyebabkan seseorang itu menjadi gemuk.
Banyak kajian menunjukkan kesan yang sama dipamerkan oleh minuman gas biasa dengan minuman gas jenis diet, seperti kegemukan dan selalu rasa lapar, kenapa ini berlaku?
Pengambilan banyak fruktos (sejenis gula ringkas), pemanis/gula tiruan dan gula alkohol (sejenis gula tiruan berkalori rendah) akan mengganggu aktiviti bakteria berfaedah dalam usus, yang seterusnya juga akan mengganggu metabolisme badan dengan memberi signal yang salah di mana sepatutnya signal mengatakan seseorang itu sudah kenyang, tetapi sebaliknya memberi signal yang ia masih lapar. Ini akan menyebabkan seseorang itu rasa hendak makan lagi.
Minuman bergas jenis diet juga memberi kesan buruk jika diambil dalam kuantiti yang banyak. Asid lemak yang dihasilkan semasa pencernaan gula atau pemanis tiruan akan menyebabkan radang di lapisan usus, berisiko mendapat diabetes Type 2, strok dan penyakit jantung.
Oleh itu, bagi menjaga kesihatan, jangan mudah terpedaya dengan iklan syarikat minuman ringan bergas diet yang kononnya tiada kalori atau berkalori rendah dan dapat menguruskan badan. Ini semua adalah gimik perniagaan sahaja dan jauh dari kebenaran. Jangan amalkan minum air minuman bergas diet kerana ia lebih mudharat dari segi kesihatan.
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Seperti buah-buah yang lain, mangga juga mempunyai kelebihannya yang tersendiri dari segi kesihatan yang tidak berapa diwar-warkan seperti buah-buahan terkenal yang lain.
Di antara kebaikan mangga yang kurang diketahui ialah:
# Melindungi diri daripada mendapat kanser dan penyakit jantung.
# Memperbaiki sistem penghadaman.
# Menurunkan aras kolesterol dalam badan.
# Memperbaiki sistem pembiakan dengan mengawalatur hormon seks.
# Memperbaiki konsentrasi dan daya ingatan.
# Merawat jerawat.
# Menganduni zat besi yang tinggi yang mana ia adalah baik bagi wanita yang hamil.
# Mengurangkan diabetes (kencing manis).
‘Some unknown Health Benefits of Mangoes’
revents Cancer and Heart diseases
High amount of antioxidants are present in mangoes. So mango when consumed regularly fights against cancer and other heart diseases. As mentioned earlier it also lowers cholesterol.
Improves Digestion
Mangoes are very much beneficial for people suffering from acidity and its enzymes helps to relieve indigestion problems. The Bio-active elements such as Esters, Terpenes and Aldehydes present in mango aids to easy digestion.
Lowers Cholesterol
High level of soluble dietary fiber, Pectin and Vitamin C present in mangoes helps to lower serum cholesterol levels specifically Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol.
For Better Reproduction
The Vitamin E which is abundantly present in mangoes helps to regulate sex hormones and boosts sex drive. In many varieties of mango there is about 2.3 to 3 mg of Vitamin E per mango.
Improves Concentration and Memory Power
Mangoes are useful to children who lack concentration in studies as it contains Glutamine acid which is good to boost memory and keep cells active.
For Treating Acne
Mango helps in clearing clogged pores that causes acne. Just slice the mango into very thin pieces and keep it on your face for 10 to 15 min and then take bath or wash your face. Use warm water for washing your face.
High Iron for Women
It’s a known fact that Mango is rich in Iron. People who suffer from anemia can regularly take mango along with their dinner. Pregnant ladies can also take mangoes occasionally as their body needs iron and calcium during that time But Too much consumption of mangoes should be avoided during pregnancy. .
For Diabetes
Mango is slowly gaining new acclaim as diabetes fighter. Earlier there was a myth that people with diabetes should not eat mangoes but that’s not true.
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Kencing yang terlalu kerap dan tidak sempat-sempat memang menimbulkan masalah dalam kehidupan seseorang kerana ia boleh mengganggu aktiviti hariannya. Keadaan ini selalunya dikenali sebagai pundi kencing terlampau aktif (OAB).
Kenapa dikatakan pundi kencing terlampau aktif?
Pengidap penyakit pundi kencing terlampau aktif (OAB) selalunya kencing lebih daripada 7 atau 8 kali sehari dalam keadaan tergesa-gesa atau tak sempat-sempat, atau terjaga tidur 1 atau 2 kali semalam untuk bangun kencing.
Keadaan ini terjadi kerana saraf yang menghantar isyarat ke otot di sekeliling pundi kencing untuk mengeluarkan air kencing tidak selaras dengan saraf yang menghantar isyarat ke otot uretra untuk terbuka. Ini menyebabkan rasa untuk kencing, terutamanya apabila melihat air mengalir, datang tiba-tiba walaupun pundi kencing belum penuh.
Penyakit atau masalah ini mungkin disebabkan oleh infeksi salur kencing, kecederaan saraf, batu karang dalam pundi kencing, diabetes, penyakit ginjal lain, kesan daripada ubat atau penyakit lain yang berkaitan.
Bagi mengesan seseorang itu mengidap penyakit ini, beberapa ujian boleh dilakukan seperti cystometry (menguji kebolehan pundi kencing menyimpan air kencing, keupayaan mengesan kepenuhan air kencing, dan mengesan otot pundi kencing yang terlampau aktif), menyukat jumlah air kencing yang berbaki dalam pundi kencing selepas kencing, urinalysis (menganalisis kandungan air kencing), dan uroflowmetry (menyukat kelajuan dan isipadu air kencing).
Penyakit ini boleh dikurangkan dengan mengurangkan pengambilan minuman berkafein, alkohol, coklat, tomato, limau, makanan berempah, serta melakukan senaman atau latihan kemut otot bagi memberhentikan air kencing keluar sambil duduk. Selain itu, ubat bagi mengurangkan pengecutan otot pundi kencing tanpa disedari juga boleh digunakan, di samping pembedahan dan penggunaan botox sebagai rawatan alternatif.
Keterangan lanjut dipaparkan dalam artikel berikut…
Treating and Coping With Overactive Bladder
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
What is Overactive Bladder?
How often do you use the bathroom in a typical day? Is it more than seven or eight times — and you can’t wait? Are you getting up more than once or twice a night to urinate? You may have overactive bladder. At least 30 million Americans suffer from OAB. The need to urinate urgently at unpredictable times can cause problems with your career, social life, and relationships.
How the Bladder Gets Confused?
Your body stores urine in the bladder. Nerves signal the muscle that surrounds the bladder — the detrusor muscle — to contract and expel urine. Other nerves signal the urethra to open, which allows urine to flow. Research shows that multiple factors can cause incontinence OAB. Signals from the sacral nerves to the bladder may cause the detrusor muscle to contract, even if your bladder isn’t full (called detrusor overactivity).
OAB vs. Incontinence
Just because you have OAB doesn’t mean you’re incontinent. About 2/3 of women with OAB are “OAB dry” and can make it to the bathroom in time. They may have an urgent need to urinate and urinate frequently. But they can still control the urges. Others are “OAB wet,” meaning that they have urine leakage along with their OAB. Usually, this is urge incontinence, which is leakage after a sudden strong urge to urinate.
What Causes Signal Problems?
Sometimes the cause of OAB is simple and easily treated, like a urinary tract infection. Other possible causes include nerve damage from injury or pelvic surgery, bladder stones, diabetes, kidney disease, side effects of certain drugs, and neurologic disorders like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. But often, the cause of OAB remains a mystery.
How Bad Is It?
Your doctor may ask you a series of questions to determine just how much OAB is disrupting your life. On a scale of one to five, for example, you may be asked to assess how much you’ve been bothered by things like accidental losses of small amounts of urine, frequent daytime urination, and waking up at night to urinate. You also might be asked to keep a voiding diary.
Diagnosing OAB
Several tests can help pinpoint the cause of your OAB:
Cystometry — Checks the bladder’s capacity for storing urine, your ability to sense fullness, and helps detect detrusor overactivity
Postvoid residual volume — Measures the amount of urine left in your bladder after urination
Urinalysis — Tests the composition of your urine
Uroflowmetry — Measures your urine’s speed and volume
Lifestyle Treatments
To ease the effects of OAB, cut down on caffeinated drinks, alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes, citrus, and spicy foods. Many people with OAB limit the fluids they drink in a day. But cutting fluid intake too much can result in concentrated urine, which can irritate the bladder. A high-fiber diet can prevent constipation, which also aggravates OAB. Talk to your doctor. She may teach you to retrain your bladder by practicing scheduled voiding.
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Your doctor may suggest pelvic floor exercises called Kegels. You can covertly do Kegels anywhere — in the car, in a meeting, while watching TV. Just squeeze and hold the muscles you use to stop the flow of urine. Then release and repeat. Sometimes biofeedback therapy can help teach you which muscles to use and help measure your muscle strength.
Medications for OAB
If diet changes, pelvic exercises, and behavioral treatment don’t relieve OAB symptoms, the next step is often medication. Anticholinergics are the most common OAB medications — acting on receptors in the detrusor muscle to suppress involuntary contractions. They are taken by mouth at least once a day. Topical estrogens — vaginal rings, tablets, or creams — are also prescribed to women to treat OAB symptoms.
A Stimulator for Your Bladder
For those who have been unsuccessful with more conservative treatments, a pacemaker-like device for the bladder can be used to stimulate the sacral nerves. This device is surgically implanted through a tiny incision above the tailbone, via outpatient surgery. Another alternative, done in the doctor’s office, is periodic stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve (found near the ankle, surprisingly) to help improve voiding dysfunction.
Botox for Your OAB
Botox isn’t just for your forehead anymore. Doctors inject the drug directly into various sites in the bladder muscle, partially paralyzing it to reduce overactivity, but leaving enough control to empty your bladder. Just as with wrinkles, the Botox effect only lasts so long.
Other OAB Surgical Options
If you’ve tried all other options for control of your overactive bladder without success, you may consider another surgery. The primary surgical option for OAB is bladder augmentation — enlarging the bladder with a patch made from your own tissue. Considered major surgery, this procedure is rarely performed.
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Selalukah anda merasa kebas tangan?
Jika anda merasa kebas tangan dan ia berlaku berulang-ulang, ini menunjukkan ada sesuatu yang tidak kena atau mungkin ada berlaku kerosakan atau penyakit pada saraf di jari, pergelangan tangan, tangan, lengan atau leher.
Kerosakan saraf di tangan mungkin disebabkan oleh kecederaan semasa menjalankan aktiviti yang lasak seperti menaip, menggunakan tetikus komputer, atau mengendalikan mesin/kejenteraan yang bergetar kuat. Oleh itu, eloklah dapatkan diagnosis yang betul daripada doktor supaya punca sebenarnya dapat diketahui.
Pembengakakkan di sendi-sendi seperti di pergelangan tangan yang memberi tekanan kepada saraf median yang mengurangkan kelancaran peredaran darah di tangan.
Tangan kebas juga merupakan salah satu daripada tanda awal serangan strok/angin ahmar….. jadi, kebas tangan ini jangan dipandang enteng sahaja.
Kebas tangan ini boleh juga dikurangkan dengan rawatan alternatif seperti menggunakan sarung tangan yang dilengkapi dengan sinar infrared.
Artikel tentang sebab-sebab tangan kebas dipanjangkan di bawah ini….
Why do my Fingers Go Numb?
Finger Numbness is usually a result of damages and/or diseases to the nerves in your fingers, hands, wrists, arms and even in your neck. Damages to the nerves in your fingers may have been from an accident or trauma to the nerves in your hands. When compared to a RSI (repetitive strain injury), an accident at work that may have crushed or broken your fingers and damaged the nerves is easier to diagnose as the root cause.
Repetitive strain injuries to your fingers that can cause nerve damages are actions like typing, keyboarding, mousing, handling machinery that vibrates (like a power saw, a jackhammer or rototiller), and yes… even text messaging on your “blackberry” phone. Inflammation of the tendons, tendon sheaths and the ligament of your fingers and thumbs can easily be treated with infrared rays.
Diseases and conditions that contribute to your fingers going numb are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, White Finger Disease, Multiple Scleroisis, Diabetic Neuropathy, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Raynaud’s Syndrome and Lupus.
Who Gets Finger Numbness?
Finger Numbness is very common during pregnancy. Some women experience fluid retention which can cause swelling at the joints and, at the knees and wrists. When the wrist swells, there is pressure on the median nerve which can reduce circulation to the fingers.
Hundreds of thousands of people suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome also complain of numbness in their fingers.
About 1 Million people in the United States suffer from a condition called Lupus. (Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is hard to diagnose with numb fingers being only one of the symptoms).
People with Multiple Sclerosis often complain about numb fingers. Some customers have regained sensitivity to the fingers by wearing therapy gloves on a regular basis.
How do I reduce Finger Numbness?
Good thing for infrared!. Studies have shown that infrared rays from special gloves actually help to restore sensitivity back to the dormant cells and tissues. All you have to do is wear the gloves on a regular basis to get the benefits of the natural healing energy into your fingers and fingertips.
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Selalunya serangan sakit jantung tidak dijangkakan dari awal, mungkin kerana kurang pendedahan dan pengetahuan tentang tanda-tanda awal seseorang itu mengidap penyakit jantung.
Sebelum berlakunya serangan sakit jantung, tentu sudah ada tanda-tanda amaran yang menunjukkan ada sesuatu yang tidak kena dengan jantung seseorang itu. Oleh itu, tanda-tanda amaran awal ini jangan diabaikan sama sekali.
Berikut adalah 12 tanda amaran awal yang menunjukkan seseorang itu mungkin mengidap penyakit jantung…
12 Possible Heart Symptoms Never to Ignore
Don’t miss these 12 possible warning signs that something is amiss with your heart.
By David Freeman
Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC
Why is heart disease so deadly? One reason is that many people are slow to seek help when symptoms arise. Yes, someone gripped by sudden chest pain probably knows to call 911. But heart symptoms aren’t always intense or obvious, and they vary from person to person and according to gender.
Because it can be hard to make sense of heart symptoms, doctors warn against ignoring possible warning signs, toughing them out, waiting to see if they go away, or being quick to blame them on heartburn, muscle soreness, or other less serious, noncardiac causes. That’s especially true for men and people over 65, as well as for people with other cardiac risk factors, such as high cholesterol or blood pressure, obesity, smoking, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease.
“The more risk factors you have, the higher the likelihood that a symptom means something is going on with your heart,” says David Frid, MD, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “People often don’t want to admit that they’re old enough or sick enough to have heart trouble. Putting off treatment for other medical problems might not be so bad, but a serious heart problem can mean sudden death. It’s better to go in and get it evaluated than to be dead.”
12 Possible Heart Symptoms Never to Ignore
Here are a dozen symptoms that may signal heart trouble.
1. Anxiety. Heart attack can cause intense anxiety or a fear of death. Heart attack survivors often talk about having experienced a sense of “impending doom.”
2. Chest discomfort. Pain in the chest is the classic symptom of heart attack, and “the No. 1 symptom that we typically look for,” says Jean C. McSweeney, PhD, RN, associate dean for research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing in Little Rock and a pioneer in research on heart symptoms in women. But not all heart attacks cause chest pain, and chest pain can stem from ailments that have nothing to do with the heart.
Heart-related chest pain is often centered under the breastbone, perhaps a little to the left of center. The pain has been likened to “an elephant sitting on the chest,” but it can also be an uncomfortable sensation of pressure, squeezing, or fullness. “It’s not unusual for women to describe the pain as a minor ache,” McSweeney says. “Some women say the pain wasn’t bad enough even to take a Tylenol.”
Women, more so than men, can also experience a burning sensation in their chest, rather than a pressure or pain. “Sometimes people make the mistake that the pain comes from a stomach problem,” says Nieca Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City and another expert on women’s heart symptoms.
3. Cough. Persistent coughing or wheezing can be a symptom of heart failure — a result of fluid accumulation in the lungs. In some cases, people with heart failure cough up bloody phlegm.
4. Dizziness. Heart attacks can cause lightheadedness and loss of consciousness. So can potentially dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities known as arrhythmias.
5. Fatigue. Especially among women, unusual fatigue can occur during a heart attack as well as in the days and weeks leading up to one. And feeling tired all the time may be a symptom of heart failure.
Of course, you can also feel tired or fatigued for other reasons. How can you tell heart-related fatigue from other types of fatigue?
“If you don’t feel well and all the wind is knocked out of your sails, don’t try to figure it out on the Internet or from a book,” says Goldberg. “Wasting time is dangerous.”
6. Nausea or lack of appetite. It’s not uncommon for people to feel sick to their stomach or throw up during a heart attack. And abdominal swelling associated with heart failure can interfere with appetite.
7. Pain in other parts of the body. In many heart attacks, pain begins in the chest and spreads to the shoulders, arms, elbows, back, neck, jaw, or abdomen. But sometimes there is no chest pain — just pain in these other body areas. The pain might come and go.
Men having a heart attack often feel pain in the left arm. In women, the pain is more likely to be felt in both arms, or between the shoulder blades.
8. Rapid or irregular pulse. Doctors say that there’s nothing worrisome about an occasional skipped heartbeat. But a rapid or irregular pulse — especially when accompanied by weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath — can be evidence of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. Left untreated, some arrhythmias can lead to stroke, heart failure, or sudden death.
9. Shortness of breath. People who feel winded at rest or with minimal exertion might have a pulmonary condition like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). But breathlessness could also indicate a heart attack or heart failure.
“Sometimes people having a heart attack don’t have chest pressure or pain but feel extremely short of breath,” Goldberg says. “It’s like they’ve just run a marathon when they haven’t even moved.” During a heart attack, shortness of breath often accompanies chest discomfort, but it can also occur before or without chest discomfort.
10. Sweating. Breaking out in a cold sweat is a common symptom of heart attack. “You might just be sitting in a chair when all of a sudden you are really sweating like you had just worked out,” Frid says.
11. Swelling. Heart failure can cause fluid to accumulate in the body. This can cause swelling (often in the feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen) as well as sudden weight gain and sometimes a loss of appetite.
12. Weakness. In the days leading up to a heart attack, as well as during one, some people experience severe, unexplained weakness. “One woman told me it felt like she couldn’t hold a piece of paper between her fingers,” McSweeney says.
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Mata merupakan organ yang penting dalam kehidupan semua orang dan binatang. Oleh itu, organ ini perlu dijaga dengan sebaik-baiknya, kerana tanpanya atau ia tidak berfungsi lagi, maka gelaplah dunia ini….
Terdapat berbagai jenis penyakit mata, dari kanak-kanak sehingga ke peringkat dewasa dan tua. Ada penyakit yang perlu diubati dengan segera supaya mata tidak menjadi bertambah rosak dan akhirnya buta. Ada yang hanya sekadar kurang jelas penglihatan yang mana ia hanya memerlukan penggunaan cermin mata untuk memperbaiki penglihatannya.
Sekiranya ada tanda-tanda penyakit mata atau sakit mata, segeralah berjumpa dengan doktor atau pakar mata untuk rawatan segera di peringkat awal.
Oleh itu, untuk lebih memahami pelbagai jenis penyakit mata di kalangan kita, berikut dipanjangkan maklumat asas tentang keadaan penyakit mata yang biasa……
Eye Diseases – Recognize These Common Eye Conditions
Reviewed by Andrew A. Dahl, MD
Many People Miss the Mark on Eye Diseases and Conditions.
A recent survey of 1,000 American adults shows that nearly half — 47% — worry more about losing their sight than about losing their memory and their ability to walk or hear. But almost 30% indicated that they don’t get their eyes checked. Many Americans are unaware of the warning signs of eye diseases and conditions that could cause damage and blindness if not detected and treated soon enough. Let’s take a look at some of the most common eye diseases and conditions.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma (the sneak thief of sight) refers to certain eye diseases that affect the optic nerve and cause vision loss. It typically produces elevated pressure inside the eye, called intraocular pressure (IOP) and can usually be classified as either open-angle (chronic conditions of long duration) or closed-angle (angle closure), which occur suddenly. The elderly, African-Americans, and people with family histories of the disease are at greatest risk. There are no symptoms in the early stages and by the time the patient notices vision changes, visual loss due to glaucoma can only be halted, not reversed. Glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops, although lasers and surgery can also be used. Most cases can be controlled well with these treatments, thereby preventing further loss of vision. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preserving sight in people with glaucoma.
Cataracts
Cataract is a painless condition where the normally clear aspirin-sized lens of the eye starts to become cloudy. The result is much like smearing grease over the lens of a camera which impairs normal vision. Causes of cataracts include cortisone medication, trauma, diabetes, and aging. In fact, cataracts will affect most people if they live long enough. Diagnosis can be made when a doctor examines the eyes with a viewing instrument. Symptoms of early cataracts may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. If these measures do not help, surgically removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens is the only effective treatment. Removal is only necessary when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. You and your eye- care professional can discuss the surgery and once you understand the benefits and risks, you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you. In most cases, delaying cataract surgery will not cause long-term damage to your eye or make the surgery more difficult.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease with its onset usually after age 60 that progressively destroys the macula, the central portion of the retina, impairing central vision. It rarely causes blindness because only the center of vision is affected. There are two types of AMD — wet and dry — neither of which causes pain. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula and leak blood and fluid causing loss of central vision which may occur quickly. Treatment includes laser surgery, photodynamic therapy, and injections into the eye. None of these will cure the disease and loss of vision may still progress. In dry AMD, the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down causing central vision to diminish over time. Early stages of dry AMD can be treated with high-dose formulations of antioxidants and zinc which may delay and possibly prevent AMD from progressing to a more advanced stage. Once in the advanced stage, no form of treatment can restore vision loss.
Retinal Detachment
A retinal detachment is a separation of the retina from its attachments to its underlying tissue within the eye. Most retinal detachments are a result of a retinal break, hole, or tear. Once the retina has torn, liquid from the vitreous gel (clear gel that fills most of the inside of the eye) passes through the tear and accumulates behind the retina. The build-up of fluid behind the retina is what separates (detaches) the retina from the back of the eye. Flashing lights and floaters may be the initial symptoms of a retinal detachment or of a retinal tear that precedes the detachment itself. Retinal detachments can occur at any age but occur most commonly in younger adults (age 25 to 50) who are highly nearsighted and in older people following cataract surgery. Surgical repair of a retinal detachment is usually successful in reattaching the retina, although more than one procedure may be necessary. Once the retina is reattached, vision usually improves and then stabilizes.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is redness and inflammation of the membranes (conjuctiva) covering the whites of the eyes and the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids. The term pink-eye is most commonly used to refer to the infectious (viral or bacterial) type of conjunctivitis, but it may also result from allergic reactions or chemical irritants such as air pollution, smoke, or noxious fumes. The infectious form is very common in children and is highly contagious. Children and adults who develop infectious pink eye should see a doctor to determine whether antibiotic treatment is necessary. Most infectious cases are caused by viruses and will not respond to antibiotics. In these instances, the discharge from the eye is clear and watery and symptoms of a cold may be present. Viral infections last from seven to 10 days. Bacterial pink eye generally results in a large amount of discharge that is green to yellow in color. This discharge can accumulate at night and make opening the eye difficult in the morning. Bacterial pink eye usually lasts three to five days and requires antibiotic eye drops to help the body remove the bacterial infection. Application of warm washcloths to the eye area is also effective in removing discharge. To reduce the chance of spreading infectious pink eye, those affected should avoid touching the eye area and wash their hands frequently, particularly before applying medications to the eye area. Sharing of towels, washcloths, cosmetics, or eye drops can also spread the infection.
Uveitis
Uveitis (pronounced you-vee-EYE-tis) involves all inflammatory processes of the middle layers of the eye, also called the uveal tract or uvea. The uvea is very important because its many veins and arteries transport blood to the parts of the eye that are critical for vision. Symptoms of uveitis may include eye redness and irritation, blurred vision, eye pain, increased sensitivity to light, and floating spots. Potential causes include infection with a virus, fungus, bacteria or parasite, inflammatory disease affecting other parts of the body, or injury to the eye. Because uveitis is serious, treatment needs to begin right away. For uveitis not caused by an infection, your ophthalmologist may prescribe eye drops containing steroids to reduce swelling and drugs to relieve pain. Antibiotics are used in patients with infectious uveitis. Dark glasses will help with light sensitivity.
Eye Allergies
Severe allergic eye symptoms can be very distressing and are a common reason for visits to the allergist or ophthalmologist. Occasionally, severe eye allergies cause serious damage that can threaten eyesight. Eye allergies usually are associated with other allergic conditions, particularly hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and atopic eczema (dermatitis). Medications and cosmetics can also play a significant role in causing eye allergies. Most people with eye allergies treat themselves and do so quite effectively with OTC products such as eye drops as well as antihistamines and decongestants. If these remedies don’t work or if there is eye pain, extreme redness, or heavy discharge, you should seek medical advice.
Sty (Stye)
A sty (sometimes spelled stye) is a tender, painful red bump located at the base of an eyelash or inside the eyelid. A sty results from an acute infection of the oil glands of the eyelid that occurs after these glands have become clogged. A sty also may arise from an infected hair follicle at the base of an eyelash. Symptoms are generally redness, tenderness, and pain in the affected area. The eye may feel irritated or “scratchy.” Later symptoms can include swelling, discomfort during blinking, watering of the eye, and light sensitivity. A common sign of a sty is a small, yellowish spot at the center of the bump that develops as pus expands in the area. People of all ages and both genders can develop a sty. Application of a warm compress or washcloth to the affected area for 10 minutes, four to six times a day, can speed rupture of the sty and aid in the relief of symptoms. A sty should not be pressed or squeezed to facilitate drainage. If a sty persists for several days, a doctor may lance (drain) the infection under local anesthesia.
Keratoconus
We see through the cornea, which is the clear, central part of the front surface of the eye. Normally, the cornea has a round shape, like a Ping-Pong ball. Sometimes, however, the structure of the cornea is just not strong enough to hold this round shape. The normal pressure inside the eye makes the cornea bulge outward like a cone, causing distorted vision. This condition is called keratoconus. Often the cause of keratoconus is unknown. The disease usually does not cause blindness. However, the changes to the cornea will make it impossible for the eye to focus well even with glasses or soft contact lenses. Rigid contact lenses or corneal transplantation may be necessary to provide good vision.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids and occurs in two forms, anterior (outside of the eyelid) and posterior (inner eyelid). Both types of blepharitis can cause a burning or foreign body sensation, excessive tearing, itching, sensitivity to light, red and swollen eyelids, redness of the eye, blurred vision, frothy tears, dry eye, flaking at the base of the lashes, or crusting of the eyelashes upon awakening. Common causes for anterior blepharitis are bacteria (Staphylococcus) and scalp dandruff while posterior forms are caused by problems with the oil glands in the eyelid. Treatment for both forms involves keeping eyelids clean and free of crusts. Warm compresses should be applied to loosen crusts, followed by a light scrubbing with a cotton swab and a mixture of water and baby shampoo. Because blepharitis rarely goes away completely, most patients must maintain an eyelid hygiene routine for life. If the blepharitis is severe, an eye-care professional may also prescribe antibiotics or steroid eyedrops.
Chalazion (Eyelid Cyst)
A chalazion is a tiny lump of the upper or lower eyelid caused by inflammation of a gland of the lid. It may be soft and fluid-filled or firmer. A chalazion is also referred to as a meibomian cyst, tarsal cyst, or conjunctival granuloma. The narrow opening through which a meibomian gland secretes its material can become clogged from narrowing of the opening or hardening of the sebaceous liquid near the opening. If this occurs, the gland will have a backup of the material it secretes and it will swell. Most chalazions are treated with warm compresses to the eyelid to promote healing and circulation of blood to the inflamed area. Doctors may prescribe an antibiotic drop or ointment to be used immediately after the compresses. If the chalazion persists and is causing an unsightly lump, it can be removed surgically through the inside of the lid.
Corneal Ulcer
Most corneal ulcers are caused by infections and can be bacterial (common in people who wear contact lenses), viral herpes simplex virus and varicella virus, or fungal (improper care of contact lenses or overuse of eyedrops that contain steroids). Symptoms include red eyes, pain, feeling like something is in the eye, tearing, pus/thick discharge, blurry vision, pain from bright lights, swollen eyelids, or a white or gray round spot on the cornea. Self-treatment consists of removing contact lenses, applying a cool compress to the affected eye, washing hands often, and OTC pain medications such Tylenol or Motrin. Anyone with a corneal ulcer should be seen immediately by an ophthalmologist, who will do testing and most likely prescribe antibiotic and other eyedrops. If the ulcer persists or worsens, a surgical procedure known as corneal transplantation may be performed.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes, affects the blood vessels in the retina (the thin light-sensitive membrane that covers the back of the eye). It is due to the retina not receiving enough oxygen. If untreated, it may lead to blindness. If diagnosed and treated promptly, blindness is usually preventable. There are two types: nonproliferative and proliferative retinopathy. Nonproliferative retinopathy is the less severe type in which there may be hemorrhages (bleeding) in the retina and leakage of blood or serum causing a “wet retina.” As a consequence vision may be diminished. Proliferative retinopathy is a more severe type of diabetic retinopathy. New abnormal fragile vessels develop on the surface of the retina and may grow toward the center of the eye. These vessels frequently bleed into the vitreous (the clear jelly in the center of the eye). Such bleeding episodes cause severe visual problems. Treatment is by laser surgery or surgery on the vitreous. These techniques can slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy and sometimes will reverse visual loss. However, damage done may be permanent. Diabetic retinopathy can often be prevented by lifestyle modification, including weight loss, dietary changes, and exercise. In addition, better control of high blood sugar decreases the incidence and the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Strabismus (crossed eyes)
Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, is a condition in which the eyes don’t look toward an object together. One of the eyes may look in or out or turn up or down. The danger with strabismus is that the brain may come to rely more on one eye than the other and the less-favored eye fails to develop properly, leading to blindness in that eye. The classic treatment for mild-to-moderate strabismus has long been an eyepatch covering the stronger eye, which forces the weaker eye to do enough work to catch up. Severe strabismus may require surgery.
Floaters
“Eye floaters” are deposits or condensation in the vitreous jelly of the eye. People use the term eye floaters to describe seeing floating spots within their vision when they look around. People describe eye floaters as spots, straight and curved lines, strings, or “O” or “C” shaped blobs. Some see a single floater while others may think they see hundreds. Floaters may be present in one or both eyes. The majority of eye floaters are caused by normal aging changes within the eye. However, a person developing symptoms of eye floaters should be checked by an ophthalmologist to make certain that there is no associated eye abnormality which requires treatment. Most floaters will fade over time and become less annoying or noticeable. Herbs, vitamins, and iodine-containing products have been touted as effective in decreasing eye floaters. However, none of these have been proven effective in clinical trials.
Farsightedness (hyperopia)
About one in four people in the U.S. have hyperopia or farsightedness, in which people have difficulty focusing on close objects. The occurrence of hyperopia increases with age; at least half of all people over the age of 65 have some degree of farsightedness. The condition occurs when light entering the eye focuses behind the retina instead of directly on it. An abnormally flat cornea or short eye can cause the light to be focused in this fashion. To correct hyperopia you must change the way the light rays bend when entering your eye. Glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery can all be used to correct farsightedness.
Nearsightedness (Myopia)
Nearsightedness affects 20%-30% of the population, but this eye disorder is easily corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery. People who have myopia or nearsightedness have difficulty seeing distant objects, but can see objects that are near clearly. In people with myopia, the eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, so the light entering the eye is not focused correctly. Light rays of images focus in front of the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye, rather than directly on the retina, causing blurred vision.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a common form of visual impairment in which an image is blurred due to an irregularity in the curvature of the front surface of the eye, the cornea. In astigmatism, the curve of the cornea is shaped more like an American football or a rugby ball rather than a normal spherical basketball. Astigmatism occurs in nearly everybody to some degree. Astigmatism can be hereditary and is often present at birth. It can also result from pressure from the eyelids on the cornea. Almost all degrees of astigmatism can be corrected with properly prescribed eyeglasses or contact lenses. For a person with only a slight degree of astigmatism, corrective lenses may not be needed at all, as long as other conditions such as nearsightedness or farsightedness are not present. Another method for correcting astigmatism is by changing the shape of the cornea through refractive laser eye surgery.
Color Blindness
When we see different colors, we are perceiving differences in the light that is reaching our eyes. The way we see different colors is something like the way we hear different sounds as being low or high. The colors of every rainbow always appear in the same order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The different colors in each part of the rainbow correspond to a different wavelength of light. Color blindness results from an absence or malfunction of certain color-sensitive cells in the retina. The retina is the nerve layer at the back of the eye that converts light into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. A person with color blindness has trouble seeing red, green, blue, or mixtures of these colors. Most color vision problems are inherited (genetic) and are present at birth. Other color vision problems are caused by aging, disease, injury to the eye (acquired color vision problems), optic nerve problems, or side effects of some medicines. Tests are used to measure the ability to recognize different colors with the most common test being the pseudoisochromatic plate test (also known as the Ishihara color test). The type of color vision problem you have can often be determined by which patterns you can and can’t see in the various plates used for the test. Inherited color vision problems cannot be treated or corrected. Some acquired color vision problems can be treated, depending on the cause.
Proactive Eye Health
Good eye health and eye care are crucial to the value of sight. Be proactive in your eye health by taking a role in maintaining and protecting your sight, preventing common eye disorders, and treating problems early. Eye-care professionals, including ophthalmologists (medical doctors specializing in diseases and surgery of the eye) and optometrists recommend that everyone with visual or other eye signs or symptoms have their eyes checked. In people who have no symptoms, it is recommended that people over 40 have their eyes checked every two years and people over 60 have their eyes checked annually.
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Kajian terkini menunjukkan terdapat beberapa cara bagi mengurangkan atau melambatkan kulit berkedut, di antaranya ialah:
1. Tidur dengan cara terlentang
Kajian menunjukkan tidur pada kedudukan tertentu meninggalkan kesan garis-garis pada kulit dalam tempoh tertentu. Tidur mengiring menambahkan kedut pada leher dan dagu, manakala tidur menangkup menyebabkan dahi berkerut atau mudah terbentuknya garis menegak di dahi dan di kawasan di antara dua mata. Oleh itu, tidur secara terlentang dapat mengurangkan kedut di dahi.
2. Makan lebih ikan
Daging ikan kaya dengan omega-3 yang dapat membantu kulit tegang dan ini dapat mengurangkan kedut.
3. Jangan selalu kerutkan dahi,
terutamanya bagi mereka yang penglihatannya kabur. Sebaik-baiknya gunakan cermin mata.
Mengerutkan dahi menyebabkan otot muka bekerja lebih dan akan membentuk alur-alur di bawah permukaan kulit. Alur-alur ini akhirnya akan menjadikan kulit berkedut.
4. Senyum selalu
Senyum selalu menyebabkan otot muka kurang bekerja dan tidak stres dan ini dapat melewatkan kulit berkedut berbanding dengan muka masam dan stres yang menyebabkan otot muka bekerja lebih dan membentuk alur yang akhirnya menjadi kulit berkedut.
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