Cataract Symptoms, Causes and Prevention
There is no doubt that failing eyesight is one of the signs of aging. For some, however, a condition called cataracts may eventually lead to blindness if left untreated. Cataracts cover the surface of the eyes with a cloudy film that eventually block your vision either partially or completely.
Signs and Symptoms
Cataracts grow gradually and painlessly and may remain unnoticed until you experience some loss of vision. The following are early warning signs of cataracts:
- Clouded or blurry vision
- Increased difficulty with vision at night-time
- Sensitivity to bright light
- Seeing halos around lights
- Having double vision in one eye
Cataract Causes
Your eyes need a regular balance of calcium, potassium and sodium ions within its lenses. This balance may be disturbed by any of the following factors:
- Excessive exposure to harmful ultraviolet B rays (UVB) found in sunlight and artificial light.
- Exposure to environmental toxins such as lead and cadmium.
- Physical trauma from eye injuries.
- High sugar levels around the eyes as a result of diabetes.
- Chemicals in certain pharmaceutical drugs that treat allergies and gout.
- Nutritional deficiencies in Vitamin-C, B-2, copper, manganese and zinc.
Traditional Chinese medicine blames liver qi stagnation or poor liver function as the usual cause of cataracts. Persons who eat foods that are high in sugar, dairy, alcoholic drinks and sodas tend to gradually form crystalline substances on the lenses.
Cataract Prevention Read more..
Osteoporosis
Bone disease has long been identified with aging as most people, especially women, over 50 years of age are susceptible to osteoporosis. There is an increasing awareness about osteoporosis in the world today because of the high incidence of fractures resulting from this bone disease. While many people feel that having weak bones comes with age and is inevitable, there are things that you can do at an early age to delay the onset of and prevent osteoporosis.
Signs and Symptoms
Osteoporosis affects your bones gradually and silently, without showing any symptoms or signs until it reaches an advanced stage when a bone fracture may occur. Others may experience pain in the joints but may dismiss it as arthritis. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that women in their thirties should see a naturopath for early screening of osteoporosis particularly for those who have a family history of osteoporosis, have had at least 4 childbirths, and a history of hormonal imbalance.
Causes
Osteoporosis or weak bone disease may be caused by several factors including:
- Calcium loss. When your body has inadequate levels of calcium in the blood, bone breakers are released into the bloodstream and leach calcium from your bones to maintain regular levels of blood calcium.
- Low estrogen levels.
- Malabsorption of calcium. Substances like caffeine prevent the proper absorption of calcium regardless of the amount of calcium that you take.
- Vices like alcoholism and smoking
- Poor digestive system
- Hyperthyroidism
- Kidney disease
- Poor liver function
Glaucoma
According to the World Health Organization, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world today. It affects both males and females regardless of age, although it is more common among people over 60, and those suffering from diabetes. Glaucoma is an eye disease which puts pressure on the optic nerve found in the eye, and if left untreated, it may one day lead to loss of vision.
Symptoms
In most cases of glaucoma, there are hardly any warning signs of its onset until peripheral vision is lost. Regular eye examinations may detect the early stages of glaucoma and may lead to a successful treatment plan to prevent its progression.
Causes
Modern medicine views glaucoma as a disease that arises from extremely high pressure occurring inside the eyeball which pushes against the optic nerve and damages it. On the other hand, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) maintains that eye diseases like glaucoma indicate a liver problem. According to TCM, your eyes are closely connected to the liver such that poor liver function may be detected by merely examining your eyes. Furthermore, the liver works non-stop to filter blood and produces “heat” in the process. When you work too much, drink alcohol excessively, don’t get enough sleep and are generally stressed, your liver may produce too much heat which may rise upward towards the head and apply pressure on the eyes.
Healthy Aging Without Tension Headaches
by Hong Curley
in Aging, Head, TCM
Many people are surprised to learn that more than half the population lives with tension headache. In severe cases it can be debilitating, affecting physical and mental performance, along with personal and professional relationships.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are usually the result of a build-up of life’s stresses, be they emotional, mental or physical. So it’s is understandable that they be very common in older people – they’ve had more years to build up these stresses!
Even before the pain of headache occurs, jaw clenching, constant facial-muscle contraction, hyperventilation might indicate symptoms of anxiety and depression. When the headache arrives it is usually in the form of heavy, tight sensation or constant pressure around the head.
