Women's Health Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Natural Eye Care Blog: News & Research on Vision

Could Folate Prevent Glaucoma? (Vitamin B9, Folic Acid)

The eye disease glaucoma can be devastating to eyesight, so scientists are looking at risk factors such as folate intake. There are few good therapies once the disease sets in. Vitamins could potentially prevent glaucoma. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at folate intake and the risk of developing open-angle glaucoma, also called “pseudoexfoliation” or “exfoliation syndrome.”

Glaucoma mostly strikes the elderly. In open-angle glaucoma, a part of the eye does not drain correctly. Fluid builds up in the eye, damaging the optic nerve. Fluid pressure builds up in the eye. Glaucoma can Continue reading “Could Folate Prevent Glaucoma? (Vitamin B9, Folic Acid)”

Two Eye Washes for Irritated Eyes

baby shampoo eye washes Eye washes provide natural relief for irritated, inflamed eyes. Natural Eye Care recommends eye washes for a wide variety of eye conditions. Good lid hygiene can both soothe and prevent eye irritation.

Eye irritation can be caused by conjunctivitis, bacterial or viral infections, dry eyes, hormonal changes, allergies, drug side-effects, dehydration, excessive screen time, Continue reading “Two Eye Washes for Irritated Eyes”

“Smoking Causes Blindness” on Australian Cigarette Packets

Smoking damages the entire body, including the eyes. The Australian government has introduced harsh laws to discourage the addictive habit. Cigarette packaging is plain, featuring gruesome color photos and statements such as “Smoking Causes Blindness.” What are Australia’s anti-smoking laws, and will they work? How does smoking cause blindness?

Smokers have a significantly higher chance of developing heart disease, lung cancer, emphysema, macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. Smoking during Continue reading ““Smoking Causes Blindness” on Australian Cigarette Packets”

Baby’s Gender May be Tied to Diet, Nutrition.

We came across a perfectly fascinating article about the fact that whether a baby is a boy or girl may be related to the mother’s diet at the time of conception … which is also true in nature.

“A joint study conducted by researchers at the Universities of Oxford and Exeter has turned up the tantalizing evidence that a child’s gender might be determined by mother’s diet around the time of conception.

If this is true, it goes a long way in solving the mystery of why there is a decreasing number of male babies born each year in the industrialized nations of the world, including the United States, Canada, and the UK.” (from Medweb)

Continue reading “Baby’s Gender May be Tied to Diet, Nutrition.”

Smokers’ Life: How Smoking Changes Your Life (Infographic)

From before birth to the end of your life, smoking has a radical, nasty effect on your life: not only your health, but your social and mental life as well. It impacts every aspect of your life – your vision, your health, your happiness – from the time in the womb until your old age.

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Higher Chances of Stroke Linked to Low DHEAS Hormone Levels

The study appeared in Stroke, the journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Schools of Public Health reported that the risk is especially high for older women. They connect lower levels of the hormone DHEAS, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, with this higher stroke risk.

The study’s subjects included women from the Nurses’ Health Study of 1976. They had no reported history of strokes when they joined that study. The levels of DHEAS of these women were tested between 1989 & 1990. The 461 stroke patients were matched up for age, race, Continue reading “Higher Chances of Stroke Linked to Low DHEAS Hormone Levels”

Dose Size of Sleeping Pill Ambien Lowered Due to Negative Effects

sleeping pill is a quick fix The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that the block-buster sleeping pill Ambien (zolpidem) dose be lowered, especially for women, due to negative side-effects. The drug stays in women’s system much longer than in men’s. Too many car accidents the day after taking Ambien have lead to the government agency to halve the recommended dose for women, and re-consider the dose for men.

Continue reading “Dose Size of Sleeping Pill Ambien Lowered Due to Negative Effects”

Congenital Cataract Can Lead to Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)

Young girl with lazy eye - amblyopia A cataract is defined as a clouding of the lens of the eye that is usually associated with aging. However, approximately 1 in 250 newborns in the US have a cataract on at least one eye at birth, or develop a cataract soon after they are born. While many cases of congenital cataracts are detected and treated quickly, it is estimated that up to 1/3rd of older children diagnosed with a cataract had it at undetected at birth. Early treatment is crucial for the brain to develop normally, and to prevent lazy eye (amblyopia) and other vision problems.

The reasons for congenital cataracts in newborns may include infection (especially measles during pregnancy), genetics, metabolic problems, inflammation, diabetes, trauma or reactions to drugs. Common tetracycline antibiotics taken during pregnancy can cause cataracts in the developing baby. Older children can get pediatric cataracts for reasons comparable to the ones above; eye injuries such as a blow to the eye are more typically the cause, associated with 40% of pediatric cataracts cases.

Continue reading “Congenital Cataract Can Lead to Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)”

Solutions for Dark Circles Under the Eyes and Puffy Eyes

Puffy eyes can usually be helped - no sunglasses needed Do you dread looking in the bathroom mirror when you first wake up? Scared of seeing baggy, puffy eyes or horrible dark circles under your eyes?

Well, flick on the bathroom light and gaze at your reflection! There are natural solutions to these eye problems. You don’t have to walk around looking like you stayed up all night or got into a fight.

The skin around your eyes is very thin and sensitive. This thin eye skin helps your eyes move easily. Unfortunately, this thin skin easily reveals color changes and swelling.

Instead of skulking around in dark glasses, look into natural eye care that can help with dark circles under the eyes and puffy eyes. Continue reading “Solutions for Dark Circles Under the Eyes and Puffy Eyes”

Antioxidants & L-Arginine Help Pregnant Mothers with Pre-Eclampsia

Pregnant woman — image via www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov

Antioxidants have been found to successfully treat yet another medical condition: pre-eclampsia, a condition experienced by 5% of pregnant women that is marked by abnormally high blood pressure.

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, taking a dietary supplement containing an amino acid and antioxidant vitamins significantly reduced pregnant women’s chances of developing pre-eclampsia.

A trial involving 228 women at high risk of pre-eclampsia were given either a food bar containing the amino acid L-arginine and antioxidant vitamins or a bar containing only vitamins or a placebo food bar. Results showed that only 12.7% of women taking the amino acid-antioxidant supplements developed pre-eclampsia. This was compared to 22.5% who received antioxidants and 30.2% who received the placebo.

Researchers are now wondering how L-arginine and antioxidants work together and whether there are any contraindications to this natural therapy.

Source: Science Daily