Antidepressants Blog

At least two million Americans have glaucoma, the second leading cause of preventable vision loss after diabetes. The disease – a result of extra pressure on the optic nerve from improperly draining eye fluid – isn’t curable, but it’s treatable, often with pressure-reducing eye drops.

In other words, you don’t have to go blind if you get glaucoma. But some people do.

“There’s no excuse for vision loss from glaucoma other than personal neglect,” insists Richard Bensinger, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmologists in Seattle. “Either you never got your eyes checked or your physician didn’t nag you hard enough to follow the medical regimen.”

Why should you have to be nagged into not going blind? According to Dr. Bensinger, it’s not just the mild inconvenience of an eye drop routine but also the lack of immediate payoff. “We don’t have to encourage people with arthritis because they’re hurting, and when they take their medicine, the pain goes away,” he says. “But with glaucoma the results seem like nothing. You don’t see any better or feel any better after you take the drops.”

There’s a similar reluctance about eye checkups, even though if you catch glaucoma in the bud via an eye-pressure test, you keep most of your sight. “The problem is that garden-variety glaucoma doesn’t have any symptoms,” Dr. Bensinger says.

So don’t wait till it’s too late. Dr. Bensinger recommends that you get your eyes examined every five years from age 25 to 50, and every two years after that. And you should have your eyes checked more often if there is a history of glaucoma in your family.

And please, take your medicine.

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KNOW

A diet which is deficient in zinc may lead to infertility in some men, according to recent findings from a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The study involved 11 men who maintained a diet containing only 10 percent of their RDA for zinc. As a result, researchers say that the subjects’ semen volume decreased more than 30 percent compared with semen levels later in the study when the men were consuming adequate amounts of zinc. The findings suggest that while the men’s total sperm count did not suffer a significant change, the lowered volume could cause a decrease in fertility by reducing the migration of sperm in the woman’s reproductive tract.

According to researchers, when stores of the mineral zinc—which is necessary for proper cell growth and repair—are low, the body may “sacrifice” its capacity for reproduction in order to maintain other more critical zinc- essential operations such as wound repairing wounds.

Since zinc deficiency is difficult to detect, researchers recommend that all men who have fertility problems check with a doctor to make sure they are getting the Recommended Daily Allowance of the essential mineral. In most cases, men should be able to get an adequate intake of zinc through their diets— red meat and dark turkey meat are excellent sources. However, vegetarians may need to take a zinc supplement. In any event, men should consult their doctors before increasing their zinc intake because too much zinc can irritate the stomach and cause vomiting.

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There is a new blood test that will soon allow mass screenings of patients who are likely to develop diabetes. According to the American Diabetics Associaton this new test can identify potential diabetics several years earlier. This could allow for earlier treatment and result in less diabetes-related complications. The new test was developed by Allergy Immuno Technologies in Newport Beach, California.

Researchers have made some dramatic progress in the actual treatment of diabetes. With the new blood test and earlier detection, new methods of treatment of diabetes, including self-monitoring of blood sugar; new insulin delivery systems; improved oral medications; laser therapy to prevent blindness caused by diabetes; and a better understanding of the dietary needs of people with diabetes, can all be even more effective.

Brain Chemical May Cause Complications For Diabetics

Many diabetics are plagued with an almost insatiable appetite and subsequent obesity. Now, researchers say they have found a chemical in the brain which is likely to be responsible for those complications of diabetes.

In a study reported in the December 1992 edition of Endocrinology, researchers tested laboratory rats, focusing on abnormal levels of neuropeptide Y, called NPY. According to a leader of the research team, “overproduction” of NPY in many diabetics may lead to a heightened appetite and a propensity for obesity, as well as high blood pressure and “impaired reproductive function”.

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While medication can relieve the pain and discomfort of assorted muscle aches and pains, a natural remedy—massage—often works better. Massage can increase the circulation of blood and relieve the pain by reducing muscle spasms and loosening cramps.

To massage a muscle cramp, you’ll need to work on the entire area, and not just that part that has a cramp. For example, if the cramp is in your foot, you should massage the entire leg. Using your hands, stretch the area of the muscle cramp. For best results, use gliding and then kneading strokes until you feel the cramp begin to loosen. You can end your “self-massage” with some chopping strokes to help the blood supply in the cramp area.

Natural Ways To Get Rid Of A Fast

Some studies indicate that as many as 70 million Americans may suffer from frequent and chronic headaches. And many of those people take medication to chase away the pain. While medication can certainly help combat headaches it can also cause unwanted side effects. That’s why some experts are now recommending natural, nonmedical treatments instead of drugs. These natural treatments, while not guaranteed headache-pain relievers, sometimes work as effectively as drugs, but without the negative side effects.

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Many people are under the mistaken impression that in order to lose weight you have to suffer through meals featuring bland foods that are fat-free. Experts agree that the most efficient way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. Generally, to lose weight, people should eat 500 to 1,000 calories a day less than their energy requirements. Cutting out fat and eliminating your favorite foods to lose weight is simply not necessary.

It is neither practical nor recommended that you eliminate high-fat foods from your diet altogether. The key is to eliminate only excess fat. Most experts say that your total intake of fat should not exceed 30 percent of your daily caloric intake. As long as you stick to a total fat intake within the recommended guidelines, you can still enjoy such high-fat foods as porkchops, hamburger, french fries, cheese, dairy products, high-fat dressings such as hollandaise, mayonnaise, veal, and so on.

Obviously you should not eat such high-fat foods three times a day. You must be aware of your total fat intake. If it exceeds the number of grams per day of fat that’s right for you, you won’t lose weight. If, on the other hand, you exercise discipline and willpower and keep your total fat intake within or under the recommended limits, you can still enjoy high-fat foods and lose weight.

You can use the following formula to calculate the number of grams of fat that’s right for you:

1) Multiply your ideal (desirable) weight by 15 if you are moderately active, or 20 if you are very active. Then subtract 100 if you are 35 to 44 years old; 200 if you are 45 to 54; 300 if you are 55 to 64; or 400 if you are 65 or older. The number you get is your “ideal daily caloric consumption”.

2) To determine your daily limit of calories from fat, multiply your ideal caloric intake (see above) by 0.30.

3) Divide the above number by 9, as each gram of fat contains nine calories. The result is the maximum number of grams of fat you should eat daily.

To determine your daily limit of saturated fatty acids (recommended at less than 10 percent of total caloric intake), use the above formula you used for fat grams, substituting 0.10 for 0.30. Or, even simpler, you can divide the number of grams of total fat by 3.

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Fiber consists of the indigestible matter in the diet. It can be divided into two types—soluble and unsoluble—depending on its ability to dissolve in water. An adequate supply of fiber in the diet increases the speed with which food passes through the intestines, helps to prevent constipation and reduces the risk of hemorrhoids, and may help reduce the risk of bowel cancer. A diet high in fiber will also slow down the absorption of sugar from the intestine, resulting in reduced blood sugar levels. And new research indicates that a high-fiber diet may cut down on the risk of breast cancer.

How To Add More Fiber To Your Diet

Current research indicates that the average American consumes 10 to 12 grams of fiber per day which, according to the National Cancer Institute, is not nearly enough. The NCI advises that you increase your daily consumption of fiber to 25 to 30 grams. This increase doesn’t have to occur overnight— it can take place gradually. Experts at the NCI suggest that you first try to reach 20 grams per day, and then increase to the 25 to 30 gram level.

A gradual, but determined increase in the amount of fiber in your diet doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. The best approach is to cut down on all the visible fat from the meat you consume, switch to low-fat dairy products, and increase your intake of whole-grains, fruits and vegetables. Such items as bran, apricots, prunes, cabbage, and celery, are all excellent sources of fiber you can add to your daily diet to help you attain the recommended 25 to 30 grams per day.

Best Fiber-Rich Foods To Lower Your Cholesterol

Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is present in peas, beans and oats. Research indicates that soluble fiber may help lower your cholesterol level. Insoluble fiber, which is found in whole grains, such as wheat bran and many vegetables, does not dissolve in water. This type of fiber helps hold water in the colon, and can also help prevent constipation.

Eating Too Much Fiber Can Cause Bowel Problems

Even though an inadequate amount of fiber in your diet can lead to serious health problems, you shouldn’t become unduly alarmed and try to consume as much fiber as you possibly can. That’s because, just like any other nutrient, too much fiber in your diet can also cause health problems. An excessive amount of fiber in your diet can bind important minerals in your intestine, not allowing your body to absorb them. This can cause abdominal cramps and lead to an irritation of your digestive tract. While it is not likely that you will take in too much fiber from food sources alone, there are limits to the amount of high-fiber foods you can comfortably consume. And you should be especially prudent if you consume products that are highly concentrated sources of fiber, such as processed bran or commercial fiber supplements. People who have a low mineral intake, such as the elderly, are especially vulnerable, and should try to avoid concentrated forms of fiber as much as possible.

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