THOUGHT FOR THE DAY...

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.

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Oregano Kills Cancer Cells

Like pizza and pasta? You’ll love the findings of a surprising new study by Long Island University researchers that indicate a key ingredient in oregano may be a potent weapon against prostate cancer cells. The study, presented at the Experimental Biology 2012 scientific sessions in San Diego this week, found the compound carvacrol -- a constituent of the common Italian seasoning herb – kills prostate cancer tumors by inducing programmed “cell death,” known as apoptsis. "We know that oregano possesses anti-bacterial as well as anti-inflammatory properties, but its effects on cancer cells really elevate the spice to the level of a super-spice like turmeric," said lead researcher Dr. Supriya Bavadekar, of LIU's Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Although the study’s findings are preliminary, she said the initial results suggest “a huge potential” for using carvacrol as an anti-cancer agent. "A significant advantage is that oregano is commonly used in food and has a 'Generally Recognized As Safe' status in the U.S.,” she said. “We expect this to translate into a decreased risk of severe toxic effects." Past research has found eating pizza may reduce the risk of developing cancer. But most health experts have suspected lycopene -- a substance found in tomato sauce – to be the likely culprit. “But we now feel that even the oregano seasoning may play a role," said Bavadekar. "If the study continues to yield positive results, this super-spice may represent a very promising therapy for patients with prostate cancer."

Natural Remedies for Arthritis: Are They Worth a Try? How Gin-Soaked Raisins and Cider Vinegar Can Treat Osteoarthritis Pain

Many urban legends and wives’ tales claim a variety of foods are natural remedies for arthritis. And some osteoarthritis patients swear they work. But do gin-soaked raisins or cayenne pepper really ease osteoarthritis pain? Here’s a look at some of the most popular natural treatments, their downsides and how they might really succeed... For centuries, people have been trying natural remedies for arthritis in an effort to ease the pain and stiffness of the joint condition. And while doctors would never suggest you use them to replace a regimen of healthful diet, safe exercise and modern medications, grandma’s home concoctions might have some kick to them. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, patients – as well as some doctors and nutrition experts who treat women with osteoarthritis – support the power of remedies like gin-soaked raisins or hot peppers to ease osteoarthritis pain. “Although there’s no 'quick fix,' I find dietary changes combined with proper exercise therapy can be quite effective in treating and managing osteoarthritis,” says Moshe Lewis, M.D., a rheumatologist and pain management/rehabilitation specialist in Redwood City, Calif. “Even if there’s not a lot of research behind using foods to ease the pain and symptoms of osteoarthritis.” Lewis routinely suggests his patients use everyday foods thought to combat stiffness and reduce inflammation that leads to osteoarthritis pain. After all, there’s little harm. “Foods usually don’t have the risk of side effects like constipation, dry mouth, nausea, etc., that prescription pain relievers do,” says Lewis. Still, many doctors don’t believe natural remedies for arthritis work. “There are no specific foods which cure osteoarthritis or prevent onset of the disease,” says Magdalena Cadet, M.D., director of rheumatology and osteoporosis services at New York Hospital Queens/N.Y. Presbyterian Healthcare System and assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University. “However, I recommend a meal plan, which focuses on whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits and fiber, to help maintain a healthy weight,” Cadet says. "Being overweight can increase symptoms like pain and stress on joints." In fact, many of grandma’s natural remedies for arthritis are part of a healthy diet, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of Pain Free 1-2-3 – A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain Now! (McGraw-Hill). Read on for 5 natural remedies for arthritis that doctors say may be worth a try. (Always check with your physician before trying any new treatments.) Arthritis Remedy #1: Hot Peppers How they work: All chili peppers, including cayenne, contain a substance called capsaicin, a natural analgesic that may help relieve arthritis pain, research shows. A gel with 0.0125% capsaicin was an effective treatment in mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain in knees, according to a study published in a 2010 issue of the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand. “The exact mechanism is unknown and being studied, but it’s believed that capsaicin relieves pain and itching by acting on sensory nerves,” says Lewis. “[It] depletes or interferes with substance P, a naturally produced chemical involved in transmitting pain impulses to the brain.” Without neurotransmitters, pain signals can no longer be sent to joints. “The amount of capsaicin determines how long relief lasts, and the effect is temporary,” Lewis advises. “The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains.” Eating hot peppers also causes the release of endorphins, hormones released in the body that produce a feeling of well-being, which act as the body’s own pain medication. How to use it: Don’t eat hot peppers, especially if you have digestive issues, Lewis advises. Using rubs and creams with capsaicin are safer, because the cream works by desensitizing the surface nerve receptors in the painful area, she says. Creams with up to 0.075 % capsaicin are generally sold in health food stores, pharmacies and groceries. Start with a low dose if you’ve never used it before. And beware: You may feel a burning sensation the first few times the cream is applied until you get used to the product, Lewis warns. Arthritis Remedy #2: Gin-soaked raisins How they work: Gin gets its flavor from juniper berries, which have the anti-inflammatory compound terpinen, says Jaime Schehr, N.D., R.D., a registered clinical dietitian who specializes in working with patients with arthritis. “Raisins contain the compounds ferulic acid, gentisic acid and salicylic acid, which have all been found to be pain relievers,” she adds. Even though there aren’t any credible studies proving that gin-soaked raisins are effective natural remedies for arthritis pain, many women take them, says Schehr. How to use it: “You can use golden or regular raisins, but golden are preferred because they’re treated with sulphur dioxide to prevent darkening of the raisin,” says Schehr. “Sulphur dioxide has been associated with a reported decrease in arthritis pain.” The most common recipe is to empty a small box of golden raisins into a bowl and cover them with gin (pour just enough gin to cover the raisins). Allow the gin to evaporate (about one week). (Don’t let raisins dry out completely.) Eat only 8 to 9 gin-soaked raisins a day, Schehr says. Avoid this remedy if you have a history of alcohol or substance abuse. Arthritis Remedy#3: Cider vinegar How it works: Cider vinegar can dissolve hard deposits from arthritic joints and stop the condition from getting worse, according to Lewis. But if joints are actually worn away, they can only be surgically replaced, he says. "Apple cider vinegar may help restore alkaline-acid balance [in your body], and disperse acid crystals that build up in joints and cause osteoarthritis pain,” says Lewis. Added health bonus: Cider vinegar can control blood pressure and is a natural diuretic, Lewis says. “It [also] can help with calcium deficiency, by assisting your body to deal more effectively with the calcium content of food,” he says. “Like all natural remedies for arthritis, this isn’t for all patients with osteoarthritis pain, and it might not help with severe forms of the disease,” says Lewis. “And it could take a few weeks to see results.” How to use it: Cider vinegar works both internally and applied topically, Lewis says. To drink it, mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in 8 ounces water. Add 2 teaspoons of honey to enhance the taste (unless you have diabetes). “Diabetics shouldn’t add honey, as this increases sugar,” warns Lewis. Repeat up to three times a day. For topical use, mix 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar with 1-1/2 cups warm water. Soak the painful joint in the solution for 10 minutes. If you can’t soak the joint – for example, your knee or shoulder – dip a cloth in the mixture and place it on the affected area. Repeat as needed, up to four times daily, Lewis says. You might end up smelling like salad dressing, but that will dissipate after a few hours or a shower. Arthritis Remedy #4: Cherries How they work: Tart or Montmorency cherries have been shown to inhibit the development of inflammation and pain, says John J. Cush, M.D., rheumatologist and principal investigator of a 2007 study that found cherry pills to be effective in osteoarthritis treatment. “Tart cherries are rich in anthocyanins, potent anti-oxidants that are important in health and controlling inflammation,” he says. More than half of patients enrolled in his 2007 pilot study at the Baylor Research Institute in Dallas had a significant improvement in knee pain and function after taking cherry pills for eight weeks. While researchers aren't sure how they work, “these cherries have a lot of the same properties of common anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen,” says Cush, who led a second, similar study to be published in late 2011. How to use them: The Baylor study found supplements with 100 mg of anthocyanins were the most effective for people with mild to moderate OA. “The patients in these trials didn’t have severe osteoarthritis pain,” says Scott Zashin, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, who was part of the study’s team of researchers. If you don’t want to take a supplement, eat a handful of cherries daily, Teitelbaum suggests. “Cherry juice can also ease symptoms, but contain a lot of sugar, which can lead to weight gain, so I don’t recommend it,” he says. Arthritis Remedy #5: Pectin Pectin is a natural plant fiber used to thicken jams and jellies or for canning, says Teitelbaum. Extracted mostly from citrus fruits, pectin may lower cholesterol levels and ease osteoarthritis symptoms too. “Like many food remedies, we don’t know why it works, yet it continues to be one of the more easy-to-find and inexpensive natural remedies for arthritis that many patients find helpful to ease inflammation and pain,” says Teitelbaum. But it doesn’t work for everyone. In fact, Teitelbaum says, if you don’t notice a change in symptoms within 2-3 weeks of using pectin, it probably won’t work for you. It’s as safe as eating pie, he adds. “Except if you eat just the pectin, you won’t have all the calories and sugar commonly found in pie.” How to use it: The best way to consume pectin, which is normally found on your grocer’s shelves as a powder, is to add it to foods or drinks. For example, mix 1-3 tablespoons of pectin in 8 ounces of a low-sugar beverage. “Drink this mixture 1-2 times a day, for up to two weeks,” says Teitelbaum. “If it’ll ease your symptoms, you’ll see results in as few as 7 or as many as 21 days.” As the pain disappears, you can reduce the amount of pectin to 1 teaspoon and drink the mixture once or twice a day as needed, he advises. For more expert advice and information, visit our Arthritis Health Center. Are You Bad to the Bone? For years, you’ve been the first one on the tennis courts, the weekend hiker, the intrepid gardener on your knees for hours. While all those activities are great for you, they can also be hard on your joints.

5 Heart-Healthy Workouts for Women With Hyperlipidemia

Regular exercise is the most reliable way to maintain weight and prevent a heart attack. But if you have a chronic condition and can’t handle vigorous activity, here are some low-impact ways to protect your ticker… When you’ve had a hectic day and your feet are dragging, it’s more tempting to hit the junk-food drawer and curl up with an episode of “Desperate Housewives” than work out. But those guilty little pleasures could be setting you up for a big fall later. “If [the heart’s] not exercised regularly, blood and fluids start accumulating, and pressure rises in the chambers and blood vessels,” says Nieca Goldberg, founder of the Women’s Heart Program at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. That damages heart muscle and opens the door for cardiovascular disease – which strikes 1 in 3 adult women, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) – and, even worse, could lead to a heart attack. But those issues are easy to prevent with just a few hours of exercise a week. “Regular cardiovascular activity will rev metabolism, help you lose or control weight, boost confidence and improve mood,” says James M. Rippe, a cardiologist and author of Heart Disease for Dummies and The Healthy Heart Cookbook for Dummies (Wiley Publishing). It also helps manage hypertension and lower triglyceride levels – the amount of fat in your bloodstream – which helps to prevent heart disease. Get a check-up first Before you begin an exercise program, see your doctor, especially if you’re diabetic, obese, or have had an embolism or are on heart medications. Some drugs can alter heart rates. Once you get the green light, try these five easy ways to get your blood pumping: 1. Exercise Rx: Take a Walk This simple activity is the No. 1 exercise prescribed by cardiologists for their patients. It improves blood circulation to the heart by moving limbs repetitively in large ranges of motion. It can be done anywhere, anytime: Inside an air-conditioned mall on your lunch hour or outside at a nearby park. The AHA recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio exercise – including walking – throughout the week, which breaks down to roughly 30 minutes five times a week, or 50 minutes three times a week. Do it right: How to tell if you’re walking fast enough for heart health? Take this Talk Test: If you're doing moderate-intensity walking, you should be able to converse but not carry a tune. With vigorous-intensity activity, you won’t be able to say more than a few words without pausing for breath. If speech isn’t possible, you’re working too hard, says Rippe. Watch out: If you’re obese or suffer from joint pain or other chronic conditions – osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia, for example – even walking may be too taxing. Warm water exercises might be easier. 2. Exercise Rx: Climb on an Elliptical Trainer These machines, common in gyms, offer the same health benefits as walking, but are easy on painful joints. If you can walk briskly, it’s safe to use an elliptical machine. Do it right: To use them without injury, here are training tips from the American College of Sports Medicine: Start slowly and warm up for five minutes. Don’t lean on handrails. Breathe deeply; don’t hold your breath. Keep your neck and upper back relaxed. Allow bent arms to swing naturally at sides. Use your whole foot to climb, not just the ball. Watch out: If you have balance issues, talk to your doctor first. 3. Exercise Rx: Ride a Stationary Bike Bike-riding is great for outdoor fun. But for people with heart disease or those recuperating from surgery, it may be too much exertion, especially when wounds are healing. That’s why Goldberg recommends using a recumbent bike in a gym. These put riders in a reclining position, supporting the lower back and evenly distributing weight. Do it right: Gradually warm up for 5-8 minutes. Invite a biking partner and take the Talk Test every 10 minutes. Keep your neck in line with your head; avoid jutting your jaw. Finish with a stretch. Watch out: If you have osteoporosis or feel frail, avoid biking outside where there’s a greater risk of falling and fracture. 4. Exercise Rx: Release the Mind To make sure oxygen and nutrients are transported efficiently, experts recommend daily meditation, even for just 10-15 minutes, to reduce stress, improve attention, boost the immune and circulatory systems, and promote general well-being. Do it right: Don’t know how to relax? Try these tips from the Mayo Clinic: Find a quiet, relaxing spot; sit or recline. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Concentrate on feeling and listening as you breathe through the nostrils. When attention wanders – it inevitably does – gently return focus to your breath. Focus on different parts of your body one at a time – for example, your toes, then fingers, then back – and become aware of various sensations. Imagine breathing heat into and out of them. Repeat a word, chant or pray. Listen to sacred music, spoken words or anything relaxing or inspiring. Concentrate on a sacred object, weaving feelings of love and gratitude into your thoughts. Watch out: No known dangers. If you’re a novice, start with a beginner or introductory DVD. 5. Exercise Rx: Try Yoga “Yoga helps foster a positive attitude, increases blood and lymph flow, boosts immunity and lowers your blood pressure,” says cardiac yoga therapist Nirmala Heriza, author of Dr. Yoga: Yoga for Health (Penguin Books). Her statement is backed by a small 2003 study, published in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (JAPI), that showed yoga and meditation reversed heart disease. The yoga practitioners’ total cholesterol levels were reduced by 23.3% and low-density lipoproteins (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels were also lower in 43.7% of participants. Heart disease progression was stopped in another 46.5% of the yoga patients, and they saw improvements in anxiety levels. Many yoga poses are designed to relax, like Savasana (sha-va-sa-na), the opening and closing reclining pose. Do it right: Lie on your back with arms extended (palms up). Close your eyes. Separate your legs 18 inches apart. Breathe deeply in and out through the nose. Focus on positive or comforting imagery. Watch out: You should feel no strain or pressure. If you suffer from lower-back problems, roll up a thick towel and place it under your knees or your neck for added spine support. From there, try a Standing Mountain Pose, the foundation for all standing postures in many practices. It builds strength and balance. Do it right: Stand with your heels and big toes touching. Keep body weight balanced evenly across both feet. Spread your toes (practice barefoot). Consciously contract your calf muscles and kneecaps. Stiffen and pull up your thigh muscles. Pull your navel in toward your spine. Open your eyes and drop hands straight at your sides. Rotate palms out slightly. Slowly circle arms overhead to press palms firmly together, then lower. Repeat 3-8 times. Not into yoga? Goldberg recommends these activities that may not “feel” like exercise but still get your blood pumping: Ballroom dancing Hip-hop dance DVDs Hands-free home video game systems, like Xbox’s Kinect and Nintendo Wii, that let you virtually golf, exercise or dance in your home. In-line skating Nicole Dorsey is a Los Angeles-based exercise physiologist and sports nutritionist who has provided wellness and lifestyle programming to the NYC Police Department, Prevention, Aol.com, Shape, and Ladies Home Journal. She's been featured in radio spots and on television nationwide, including "20/20," “EXTRA!” and NBC’s "Weekend Today." Find her on nicoledorseyonline.com. Are You on the Road to a Heart Attack? Every 20 seconds, a heart attack occurs somewhere in the United States. Coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in this country, contributes to the 1.5 million heart attacks that occur each year.

Weight-Loss Tips for Fibromyalgia Sufferers

The crippling pain and fatigue you feel with fibromyalgia can leave you inactive and overweight. Other symptoms and even your medication will too – up to 30 pounds for some sufferers. And that only makes ailments worse. It’s not your fault, and you can regain control. Here’s how to battle that bulge... You know fibromyalgia comes with muscle pain, depression and headaches. Excess weight may be another symptom – or the reason why you’re sick. "It's a chicken and egg situation," says Kent Holtorf, M.D., a leading fibromyalgia specialist and founder of Holtorf Medical Group, San Francisco."We don't know if the fibromyalgia causes weight gain or vice versa." Where does all that weight come from? It’s not just from lack of exercise. Several aspects of fibromyalgia contribute to these excess pounds. When you have fibromyalgia, the appetite-signaling hormone leptin may be out of sync. That sends inaccurate hunger messages to the brain, making you eat more, says Holtorf. Or your thyroid, which regulates metabolism, could be dysfunctional. That can slow the body's ability to burn calories. Plus, the condition itself causes a metabolic slowdown. "Fibromyalgia patients have a 25% lower metabolism, on average, than someone without fibromyalgia of the same age and body weight," Holtorf says. That’s 500 fewer calories burned per day, the equivalent of eating two dinners every night. Some fibromyalgia medications, such as Lyrica (pregabalin), also increase appetite. This combination of factors make many people with fibromyalgia gain weight – as much as 30 pounds or more, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., medical director of the national Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers and author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery/Penguin Group). But don't despair. You can still take control of your weight. And you should. Obesity can make symptoms worse, according to a recent University of Utah study. The hard part, when you’re exhausted and sore, is getting started. Here, experts offer proven techniques to overcome common weight-loss obstacles. 1. You hurt all over. Fibromyalgia pain can vary daily and travel to different areas of the body. Some days, you may not feel like moving at all. When your whole body hurts, it’s hard to believe you'll feel less pain if you’re more active. But it’s true. Light, consistent workouts help you move better throughout your day, says Rae Marie Gleason, executive director of the National Fibromyalgia Association. "It won't reduce fibromyalgia pain itself, but exercise makes it easier to function with less pain while doing daily activities." The key is sticking with a regular program. If you start and stop exercising, your muscles have to “rebound” with each new beginning. The solution: Exercise in a heated pool, says Gleason. Warm water relieves muscle pain. Find warm-water pools in your area, or look on the Arthritis Foundation's website for warm-water exercise classes. When you're working out on land, take a hot bath or shower first to warm up muscles, recommends Gleason. To avoid straining muscles, never stretch without warming up thoroughly first. 2. Exercise leaves you too sore. If you were unable to move after the last time you worked out, you might be afraid to try again. "If you do too much in the beginning, you'll be wiped out for days," Holtorf says. The solution: Start slowly and gradually increase. Short, daily workouts – even for just three minutes a day to start – work better than longer, more aggressive workouts fewer days a week. If you're unsure of how to start exercising safely, find a personal trainer, physical therapist or "physiatrist" (a medical doctor trained in diagnosing and treating pain) experienced in working with fibromyalgia patients. Or, check out the Fibromyalgia Information Foundation, a website developed by a nurse practitioner featuring videos of exercises specifically designed for and performed by people with the illness. Working with people familiar with fibro helps you watch your limits. "You want to push a little but not so much that you can't move for the rest of the week," Holtorf says. If you go too far, therapeutic massage (before or after exercise) from a qualified masseuse can ease muscle pain. It helps loosen muscles, reduces trigger points (tender areas) and relieves muscle spasms, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association. 3. You're exhausted from lack of sleep. Many women with fibromyalgia fall asleep and wake up several times during the night, leaving them wiped out the next day. Restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea (both common with this disorder) are likely causes. The solution: Ask your physician to refer you to a sleep lab to identify the underlying problem. Look for a lab run by a neurologist (most are run by pulmonologists – doctors specializing in lungs and the respiratory system – looking for breathing problems). To determine correct treatment, a neurologist will check your brain patterns using an electroencephalogram (EEG) test, which records electrical impulses. 4. You're too depressed to exercise. Muscle pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia can leave you feeling like your life has been turned upside down. "Chronic pain eventually leads to frustration and depression," Gleason says. When you have fibromyalgia, feel-good brain chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine are also likely out of whack, which can play a role in depression. Exercise helps by releasing endorphins. These neurochemicals block pain and stress, improving your mood, says Gleason. The solution: Find a health care professional who recognizes depression as part of the symptoms of fibromyalgia and prescribes medication, if necessary, says Gleason. Since the stress of the disease can make depression worse, try mind-body practices such as yoga, which offers the dual benefits of stress reduction and exercise. Find instructors experienced in working with fibromyalgia patients. And be patient. Easing into an exercise program means it may take weeks before you can exercise hard enough to feel the mood-lifting effect of endorphins, says Gleason. 5. You constantly crave sweets. Do you turn to comfort food packed with carbohydrates, refined sugars and sweets as a way to self-medicate against the pain of fibromyalgia? These foods release insulin, a hormone that packs on fat, says Teitelbaum. And sugar often becomes addictive, making you crave even more. A deficiency of vitamins or minerals, including B-vitamins, magnesium and chromium, may also cause food cravings and reduce your metabolism, says Teitelbaum. The solution: As a preventative measure, take a complete multivitamin to keep energy levels up. And ditch the sodas, substitute fruit for sweets, and read labels carefully. Avoid ingredients ending in "-ose," such as sucrose and fructose, says Teitelbuam. 6. You feel headachy and groggy. Do you often walk around in a daze? Brain fog is common with fibromyalgia. And a dysfunctional thyroid is often to blame. "More than 26 million Americans suffer from an underactive thyroid [hypothyroidism], and less than one third are properly diagnosed or treated," Teitelbaum says. You could also have an iodine deficiency. Low iodine levels contribute to decreased energy, says Teitelbaum. "And when you get tired, muscles tighten." Think of how your neck and shoulders feel after sitting at a desk all day. A tight neck and sore shoulder muscles can then lead to headaches, says Teitelbaum. The solution: Seek out a physician familiar with fibromyalgia to check your thyroid levels for the hormones T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). Treating the thyroid will fix your metabolism. “Without it, long-term weight loss is almost impossible,” Teitelbaum says. Ask your doctor about supplements such as alpha lipoic acid (an antioxidant) and D-ribose (a sugar molecule), which may boost metabolism. "Ribose is the heart of energy production in the body," Teitelbaum says. Alpha lipoic acid also gives you more drive by turning blood sugar into energy. 7. You’re not sure how to eat better. For many women, sticking with fruits and vegetables and eliminating processed foods reduces fibromyalgia symptoms. But some experimentation is necessary. "Studies have yet to find a specific diet beneficial to those with fibromyalgia," says Joseph G. Skender, M.D., director of rheumatology for Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. The solution: Strip out all foods with preservatives or colorings. A clean, all-natural diet helps you stay healthy, according to Dawn Weatherwax, R.D., CSSD, LD, owner of SportsNutrition2Go.com. Here’s a good start: Replace sugars and artificial sweeteners with natural agave nectar or honey. Stick with hormone-free chicken and meats, grass-fed beef and organic fruits and vegetables. And drink plenty of water, which helps rid the body of toxins. For more information and expert advice, visit our Fibromyalgia Health Center. How Much Do You Know About Fibromyalgia? Described by Hippocrates in ancient Greece, fibromyalgia is one of the world’s oldest medical mysteries. The disease – a complex illness marked by chronic muscle, tendon and ligament pain, fatigue and multiple tender points on the body – affects about 2% percent of Americans, most of them women.

Expert Q&A: How to Protect Your Eyes and Prolong Your Vision Get Medical Advice and Patient Information

Yearly eye exams and frequent changes in your prescriptions may be part of life now. But how did your vision problems start? And what are the most effective treatments? To mark Healthy Vision Month, an ophthalmologist answers your most common questions about cataracts, nearsightedness, eye myths and more... The older we get, the more our vision fades, right? And, of course, our moms warned us that reading in dim light or sitting too close to the TV ruins our eyesight. But are these assumptions correct? “It was once simply accepted that you lose some degree of visual acuity with age,” says Uday Devgan, M.D., FACS, FRCS, a board-certified ophthalmologist at Devgan Eye Surgery and chief of ophthalmology at the University of California’s Olive View Medical Center, both in Los Angeles. “But now, thanks to surgical procedures with a high success rate and little pain or downtime, it’s possible for people to have terrific vision throughout their lives.” It’s also getting easier to protect your eyes from environmental dangers, Devgan says, whether it’s intense sunlight, a long plane flight or a ricocheting racquetball. In this exclusive interview with Lifescript, Devgan discusses how to preserve and prolong your vision. What is the single, biggest thing we can do to head off vision trouble? Wear sunglasses that block UV light. Intense exposure to UV light – such as a day spent skiing in bright sunlight – can actually burn the eye’s surface. Too much exposure to even moderate light can accelerate your chances of getting cataracts. Cataracts are very common – it’s the No. 1 surgery in the U.S., and almost everyone gets them if they live long enough – but light damage can cause cataracts at a much earlier age. What should parents know about protecting their children’s vision? An increasing number of kids are nearsighted and thus need glasses. There seems to be a loose correlation between nearsightedness and time spent indoors with computers, video games and books. In Hong Kong, 40% of children wear glasses, and the percentage is rising in the U.S., so pediatricians need to test for it earlier. There’s some debate about what age children need to begin receiving regular eye exams, but they definitely need a screening before they enter kindergarten. If their eyes are healthy, annual screenings are enough, but if the pediatrician finds a problem or you’ve noticed something seems off, such as they seem to favor one eye, take them to an ophthalmologist. Once kids have been diagnosed with a vision problem, they’ll need to see an ophthalmologist every year. What about sports injuries to the eyes? If you’re playing a high-risk sport, like racquetball, wear protective eyewear. It doesn’t have to be those goofy-looking goggles. Nike and other manufacturers are making glasses and sunglasses out of a strong bulletproof polycarbonate.They’re available at all big sports stores in different tints and styles. My kids wear them to play tennis – they look like cool sunglasses. Do diet and smoking affect vision? Oxidative damage affects the eyes just like any other organ, so a diet high in antioxidants can help keep eyes healthy. Smoking is one of the worst things for eyes. It can bring on cataracts sooner than normal and accelerate macular degeneration, the major cause of vision impairment in adults over 50. How does our health affect our vision? What diseases can cause vision change? Any disease that affects blood vessels can affect eyes, since eyes have a network of small but critical blood vessels. Both hypertension and diabetes can permanently damage vessels deep within the eye, which is why if you have either condition, it’s important to see an ophthalmologist annually. These conditions can be nipped in the bud if caught early. Are extra vitamins or minerals needed to prolong optic health? In the U.S., vitamin deficiencies are rare, so your daily multivitamin should be enough for healthy eyes. Since diseases such as macular degeneration are more common in the elderly, you sometimes see “eye health” vitamin compounds marketed toward them. These supplements won’t hurt you, but they’re usually not necessary. Is there any validity to those old wives’ tales about the dangers of reading in a dark room or sitting too close to the TV? No. Sit as close to the TV as you want. Read in a dark room. Kids have better visual function than adults and can read just fine in dim lighting. That’s one reason teenagers love to drive at night and most adults hate it. They have twice as much retinal sufficiency as we do. So when they say they can see just fine, they’re probably telling the truth. Can working at computers harm our vision? Computer use won’t hurt your long-range vision, but you can get dry eye or eyestrain if you work at your desk too long. Eyestrain is a result of focusing on something that’s 18 inches away, as opposed to looking around a room, when your focus is constantly switching between things that are near and things that are far. How does our health affect our vision? What diseases can cause vision change? Any disease that affects blood vessels can affect eyes, since eyes have a network of small but critical blood vessels. Both hypertension and diabetes can permanently damage vessels deep within the eye, which is why if you have either condition, it’s important to see an ophthalmologist annually. These conditions can be nipped in the bud if caught early. Are extra vitamins or minerals needed to prolong optic health? In the U.S., vitamin deficiencies are rare, so your daily multivitamin should be enough for healthy eyes. Since diseases such as macular degeneration are more common in the elderly, you sometimes see “eye health” vitamin compounds marketed toward them. These supplements won’t hurt you, but they’re usually not necessary. Is there any validity to those old wives’ tales about the dangers of reading in a dark room or sitting too close to the TV? No. Sit as close to the TV as you want. Read in a dark room. Kids have better visual function than adults and can read just fine in dim lighting. That’s one reason teenagers love to drive at night and most adults hate it. They have twice as much retinal sufficiency as we do. So when they say they can see just fine, they’re probably telling the truth. Can working at computers harm our vision? Computer use won’t hurt your long-range vision, but you can get dry eye or eyestrain if you work at your desk too long. Eyestrain is a result of focusing on something that’s 18 inches away, as opposed to looking around a room, when your focus is constantly switching between things that are near and things that are far. Focusing at the same depth all the time tires the muscles within the eye, so it’s smart to take a computer break of five minutes or so every hour, where you look away from the screen and walk around. What about dry eye? Is it really becoming more common? Dry eyes are the second computer-related problem. If you’re watching TV, you might look away from the screen during a commercial, and then you’ll blink and relax. But when people stare into a computer, their blink rate drops to a fraction of what it would be if they were watching TV. Less blinking means their eyes dry out. Dry eyes seem to be more common because we spend so much time indoors with processed air. Everyone’s had the experience of getting red, dry eyes on an airplane, and even an air conditioner in an office building is basically a dehumidifier. Dry eyes are also a function of age. Certain hormonal conditions such as menopause can also lead to dry eyes. Will over-the-counter eye drops for dry eyes help? Yes, if you just need it occasionally, such as during certain seasons of the year when your allergies are worse. Ninety percent of people do just fine with OTC medication, but make sure you get a brand that’s “preservative free.” Preservatives can irritate your eyes. Also, look for individual dispensers, so you’re not transferring germs into your eye along with the medicine. If the over-the-counter medication doesn’t take care of the situation, your ophthalmologist will run tests to measure tear production and, if needed, can give you prescription medication that helps your eyes make more tears. How does vision change as we age? Do we need more frequent eye exams? Even in healthy people with healthy eyes, it’s normal for vision to change over time, so after 60, you need an eye exam every year to monitor those changes. The normal cycle of vision goes like this: We have great vision when we’re young, and then about age 45, we begin to lose our near vision. That vision change is called presbyopia, and it’s fine to handle with a pair of cheap reading glasses from the pharmacy. They don’t make your eyes weaker as people sometimes think. Around age 60-65, you start getting cataracts. Exactly what are cataracts and how are they treated? There’s a lens behind the iris of the eye that is very clear when we’re children but gradually grows milkier each year. By the time people are in their 60s, it can be like looking through cloudy water. During cataract surgery, the cloudy human lens is removed and replaced with a new, clear man-made lens. This operation is usually done in less than 10 minutes with no stitches, needles, or bleeding. Recovery time is almost immediate – my patients can see the clock on the wall a few minutes after surgery. Though cataract surgery has a 99% success rate, don’t take it lightly. You’ll be seeing the world through this lens every moment for the rest of your life, so interview your surgeon and make sure you feel comfortable with his or her experience level. What vision problems should send you straight to the doctor? If you lose vision in an eye or part of an eye, get help immediately. A laundry list of things can cause a sudden loss of vision, but all are bad. Also seek immediate help for severe eye pain. How dangerous is the classic eye disease of childhood, pinkeye? Conjunctivitis, an irritation of the clear layer that covers the eyes, is highly contagious, but 99% of the time it’s not dangerous. If the discharge from the eye is watery and clear, it’s just pinkeye, the viral type of conjunctivitis and can be treated with over-the-counter medication. But if the discharge is a thick mucus, it’s bacterial conjunctivitis, and you’ll need to go to the doctor for antibiotic eye drops. What’s new in vision correction? Everyone knows about LASIK surgery, but actually that’s just one of a spectrum of ways to correct vision. Some people are opting to have cataract surgery earlier just to get the better lenses sooner. Permanent contacts can also be implanted in the eye. What do we know now about vision change that we didn't know 10 years ago? The new generation of lasers for cataract surgery is getting better and better, and so are lenses that can be implanted. Medicare pays $100 for the lens you use in standard cataract surgery, which is OK, but it’s about the quality of a $100 camera. When my mom had the surgery recently, I suggested she get one of the premium lenses, which are premium both in quality and cost, which is about $3,000. She’s in her 70s, and now she can see better than I can. For more information, visit our Vision Health Center. Are You Taking Care Of Your Eye Health? As we age, vision and eye health deteriorate. By tackling your eye health problems now, you can prevent or slow the progression of vision loss in the future. While going to regular appointments with health care providers is smart, is it enough? Should you be eating more carrots and taking health supplements?