Showerheads a breeding ground for bacteria

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns of bacterial buildup in showerheads and the effect that may have on people with compromised immune systems.

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns of bacterial buildup in showerheads and the effect that may have on people with compromised immune systems.

The opportunistic microbes, which thrive in the most, dark and wet environment of a showerhead, might cause problems if you’re pregnant, a substance abuser or otherwise immune compromised with cystic fibrosis, cancer, AIDS or a recent organ transplant.

The main culprit is an organism called Mycobacterium avium, a relative of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. M. avium infections are increasingly common, perhaps because we take more showers than baths. Unlike baths, showerheads deliver the microorganisms as aerosolized particles that are small enough to be inhaled into the lungs.

See natural approaches for supporting your immune system and helping prevent colds and flu.

New Harvard Study links 45,000 U.S. deaths to lack of insurance

Researchers in a new Harvard estimated that nearly 45,000 people die in the United States each year, nearly one every 12 minute due to lack of health care insurance. American adults age 64 and younger who lack health insurance have a 40 percent higher risk of death than those who have coverage.

Researchers in a new Harvard estimated that nearly 45,000 people die in the United States each year, nearly one every 12 minute due to lack of health care insurance. American adults age 64 and younger who lack health insurance have a 40 percent higher risk of death than those who have coverage.

An similar study in 1993 found those without insurance had a 25 percent greater risk of death, according to the Harvard group. The Institute of Medicine later used that data in its 2002 estimate showing about 18,000 people a year died because they lacked coverage.Part of the increased risk now is due to the growing ranks of the uninsured, researcher Himmelstein said.  Roughly 46.3 million people in the United States lacked coverage.

The Harvard study’s six researchers closely followed the methodology used in the 1993 study conducted by researchers in the federal government as well as the University of Rochester in New York.

For information on how to maintain healthy vision and overall health naturally, visit www.naturaleyecare.com

Increasing antioxidants may help Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES)

Study suggests that Increasing antioxidants may help Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome (PES) which can cause glaucoma.

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) is an eye condition that leads to glaucoma. This condition has been called this because deposits on the surface of the lens look like flakes of dandruff, as if the lens capsule has exfoliated (shed the flakes). This is due to parts of the eye creating these flakes. If PES results in increased intraocular pressure and/or resulting changes on the optic nerve, then treatment is typically prescribed eyedrops to lower eye pressure.

A recent study suggests that PES is a secondary result of aging, and may be due to lower availability of antioxidants to the eyes. The result may result of higher intensity of oxidative stress.Eur J Ophthalmol. 2006 Mar-Apr;16(2):268-73.

For more related information on nutrition and glaucoma, go to www.naturaleyecare.com

Computerized Glasses Help Vision-Impaired

An Ottawa company is developing computerized glasses to help those with severe visual impairments maximize the vision they have left.

The glasses, which look like an oversize pair of sunglasses, have a high-resolution camera on the outside and tiny LCD screens on the inside that project images to the wearer’s eyes.  The glasses will also zoom in on and replay what has been seen with the press of a button.

The company, eSight Corp., received a $500,000 grant from the Ontario government to develop its evSpex product, and hopes to start commercial production next year.

Before the image is projected, it’s custom-processed by a tiny computer.  “So that when it’s presented to a person who has diseased eyes … it’s presented to the pieces of their vision that are most functional,” said eSight Corp. company president Rob Hilkes.

Because the device continually records a loop of video, the user can save the last 10 seconds of what they saw at the press of a button so they can look again at something that went by too quickly.  The video can be viewed later on a DVD player or computer.   Users can also zoom in on certain things in their field of view

The product is expected to be able to help people with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa.  In the future, the company hopes to market the technology to people with normal vision as wearable binoculars, night vision goggles or video gaming devices.

SOURCE:  High-tech glasses help the nearly blind see, CBC News, Sept. 11, 2009, https://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/09/11/ottawa-esight-glasses-technology-company-blind.html

Update – More Technology

Another new technology designed to detect glaucoma earlier may soon be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

According to the press release from the manufacturing company, Paradigm Medical Industries, Inc., the Paramax is moving through the FDA approval process.  This machine is called “the next generation of standard ocular electrophysiology utilized for early glaucoma detection.”  This device has been designed for office use and promises that it requires only 2 minutes to run a diagnostic test.

Source: https://www.paradigm-medical.com/

Learn more about who is at risk for developing 

Vitamin E supplementation may slow Alzheimer’s disease

An analysis of “real-world” clinical data indicates that vitamin E, and
drugs that reduce generalized inflammation, may slow the decline of mental and physical abilities in
people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over the long term.

An analysis of “real-world” clinical data indicates that vitamin E, and drugs that reduce generalized inflammation, may slow the decline of mental and physical abilities in
people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over the long term.

Dr. Alireza Atri, at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the VA Bedford Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, led the National Institutes of Health-sponsored research. The findings, reported at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society in Chicago, stem from data on 540 patients treated at the MGH Memory Disorders Unit.

All of the patients were receiving standard-of-care treatment with a drug intended to help patients with Alzheimer’s. As part of their clinical care, 208 patients also took vitamin E but no
anti-inflammatory, 49 took an anti-inflammatory but no vitamin E, 177 took both vitamin E and an anti-inflammatory, and 106 took neither.

While the daily dose of vitamin E ranged from 200 to 2000 units, the majority of patients were given high doses that ranged from 800 units daily to 1000 units twice daily.

See more related information on Alzheimer’s Disease and nutrients.

High-Risk Glaucoma Patients: Risk Factors

Damage to Hemifields

Scientists have determined that glaucoma patients who have damage to both hemifields (half of the visual field) of their eye will experience more rapid progression of the disease than patients who have damage to a single hemifield.

The study, published in the September 2009 journal Archives of Ophthalmology, reviews data from 205 patients.  79 were found with an initial superior defect, 61 with an initial inferior defect, and 65 with both hemifields affected.

Analysis showed significantly higher baseline intraocular pressure and thinner central corneal thickness in patients with initial damage to both hemifields.

The study authors concluded that initial damage to both hemifields increases the risk of glaucoma progression, and that doctors should consider more aggressive therapy for these patients.

Source:  Glaucoma With Early Visual Field Loss Affecting Both Hemifields and the Risk of Disease Progression, De Moraes, et al,  Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(9):1129-1134.

Race & Glaucoma Risk

Specific gene mutations can be the cause of glaucoma, according to Indian researchers. Almost 4% of glaucoma sufferers exhibit gene mutations.  Scientists are identifying the specific mutations found in glaucoma patients in India and across the world; they have developed a database to make the statistical and clinical information and published it in the journal Bioinformatics. Since 20% of all glaucoma cases affect Indians and people of Indian decent, this research is of specific interest to this country’s researchers.

Source: The Times of India

Glaucoma tends to affect some racial groups more than others.  In the US, African Americans are more than twice as likely to develop the disease than non-Hispanic whites.  It has also been known for some time that Latinos have an elevated risk of glaucoma as well.

A 2011 study published in the journal Ophthalmology shows that Asian Americans also run a higher risk of developing glaucoma than their white American counterparts.  Asian Americans have about a 6.5% chance of getting glaucoma.

The report also offered some specific details by ethnic group as well.  People of Japanese decent are 10 times more likely to develop normal-tension glaucoma (when the intraocular pressure is not elevated; IOP has generally been considered the telltale sign of glaucoma, but you can have the disease without having elevated eye pressure.

Source: Medical News Today

Myopia & Glaucoma Risk

A Chinese study finds that there is a relationship between the biomechanical properties of the cornea and the degree to which an individual suffers from myopia.  Amongst their findings, researchers describe how highly myopic subjects were more likely to have decreased corneal hysteresis (CH).  CH is a measure of viscous damping in the corneal tissue.  The figure indicates the “energy absorption capability” of the cornea – in other words, how it is able to scatter and diffuse light.

Scientists also notes that severe cases of myopia have been associated with an increased risk of glaucoma.

Source: Eye, (6 May 2011)

Learn more about myopia, also known as nearsightedness.

Glaucoma – Myopia Connection Studied

Researchers in Australia are working to unravel the genetic code of glaucoma and myopia.

Teams across the world have been building upon one another’s work to pinpoint the Caveolin that is thought to be responsible for glaucoma.  These same researchers are also working with the results of studies in Europe that show the genes GJD2 and RASGRF1 to be related to the development of myopia.

Both of these discoveries rely on using Twins Eye Study to corroborate the researchers findings.  Twins studies are essential to genetics twins share nearly 100% of their genetic polymorphisms and can help scientists determine whether conditions are causes by inherited or genetic factors.

Source: https://www.news.uwa.edu.au/

 

 

 

 

Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Vitamin E Reduce Risk of Cataracts

Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Vitamin E Reduce Risk of Cataracts Jan. 2008 Study

An observational 10-year study of more than 35,000 middle-aged U.S. women observed the women’s use of dietary supplements and occurrence of cataracts.*

The study found significant evidence that women who got more lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E were less likely to develop cataracts than women who are lacking intake of these nutrients. In fact, the women who got the most lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E were 18% less likely to get cataracts.

Archives of Ophthalmology (Arch. Ophthalmol. 2008;126:102-9) gathered from the Women’s Health Study.

For more related research studies, go to www.naturaleyecare.com

Does Your Back-to-School Checklist Include a Vision Screening?

Your child’s academic success depends on good vision.  The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, estimates that only one in three preschoolers receives vision screening.  NEI also estimates that:

  • 300,000 to 750,000 children aged 3 to 5 have amblyopia (lazy eye)
  • 450,000 to 600,000 have strabismus (eye misalignment), and
  • 1.5 million to 2.3 million children have a significant refractive error (poor vision that can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses).

“We know that children who see well are better prepared to learn,” said Michael X. Repka, MD, secretary for federal affairs at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University. “The eyes are directly connected to the brain, so if they are not functioning properly, it can be more difficult for a child to absorb information in the classroom. Most common eye disorders do not have warning signs and may lead to blindness in one or both eyes if left untreated. Early detection is the key to a successful outcome.”

The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers this schedule for pediatric vision screening:

  • Newborn to 3 months
  • 3 to 6 months
  • 6 to 12 months
  • 3 years
  • 5 years
  • Every 1 to 2 years after age 5 until age 18

In preparation for your vision screening, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents consider the following questions:

  • Does your child seem to see well? 
  • Does your child hold objects close to his or her face when trying to focus?
  • Do your child’s eyes appear straight or do they seem to cross or drift or seem lazy?
  • Do your child’s eyes appear unusual?
  • Do your child’s eyelids droop or does 1 eyelid tend to close?
  • Have your child’s eye(s) ever been injured?
  • Do you have a family history of eye disorders, or of early childhood use of glasses in parents or siblings?

Vision screenings can be performed as part of the child’s annual well-child exam.  In addition, many public school systems provide vision screenings for students.  Parents who do not have access to screenings can contact their local health department for support.

Sources: 
Ensure Your Back-to-School Checklist Includes a Vision Screening, American Academy of Ophthalmology

American Academy of Pediatrics, Eye Examination in Infants, Children, and Young Adults by Pediatricians

Acupuncture and Headache Treatment

Acupuncture can effectively relieve headaches, as well as treat their underlying causes. In fact, headaches are one of the conditions most commonly seen in acupuncture clinics today. It can offer powerful relief without the side effects that prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause.

Temples: Gall-Bladder Meridian (Liver-Yang, Liver-Fire or Liver-Wind Rising)
Behind the Eyes: Liver Meridian (Liver Blood Deficiency, Liver Yang Rising)
Forehead: Stomach Meridian (Stomach Deficiency or Stomach-Heat)
Back of Head (Occipital): Bladder Meridian (Kidney Deficiency or Damp-Heat in the Bladder) or External Wind
Two separate systematic reviews by Cochrane Researchers show that acupuncture is an effective treatment for prevention of headaches and migraines.

British Medical Journal, July 2005
Acupuncture for tension-type headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD007587 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007587
Acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2009, Issue 1. Art.No.: CD001218 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub2

Learn more about <a href=”https://www.naturaleyecare.com/health-conditions/migraine-headaches/”>migraines and headaches</a>.

Supplementing with Red Rice Yeast Can Lower “Bad” Cholesterol

Supplementing with Red Rice Yeast Can Lower “Bad” Cholesterol

By some estimates, as many as 10% of people who take cholesterol-lowering statins experience troubling muscle pain, and many stop taking the drugs because of it.

Now a new study suggests that a dietary supplement sold in nutrition centers and grocery stores may be a useful alternative to statins for some. Common statin drugs include Vytorin, Lipitor and Zetia.

The newly published study included 62 people with high LDL cholesterol who had stopped taking statins because of muscle pain.

Half the study participants took three 600-milligram capsules of red yeast rice a day and half took
placebo capsules that were identical in look and smell to the red yeast rice.

People who took red yeast rice supplements and completed a 12-week lifestyle intervention program
experienced bigger reductions in LDL “bad” cholesterol than patients who completed the same lifestyle program but took placebo pills.

For more related information, learn about managing and understanding cholesterol.