One of the most annoying things about growing older is that the body starts to wear out. Knees and hips have to be replaced. Hearing aids and prescription glasses become necessary accessories. Sometimes seniors have vision problems eyeglasses won't fix. The macular degeneration Washington DC senior suffer is one of them. Also referred to as ARMD, this condition involves the area of retinas that affect the sharpness of a person's vision. When it degenerates, reading, driving, watching television, and working on a computer are no longer options.
There are two forms of this disease, the wet and the dry. Of these two, dry ARMD is far and away the most common. The wet form is more severe and more likely to lead to a serious loss of eyesight. The dry form is the earliest stage of the disease. Vision loss is gradual with dry ARMD, but can degenerate into geographic atrophy which causes severe loss of eyesight. Early signs of the disease include fuzziness, distortions, and shadowy areas in a person's line of vision.
The loss of one's eyesight is a scary proposition. Everyone is concerned about what causes this disease, and what can be done to prevent it. The experts believe age is the highest risk factor, but there are other possibilities as well. Those most at risk are Caucasian women, the obese, and smokers. It seems to be hereditary as well.
One of the highest risk factors is smoking. There is evidence that individuals who smoke comprise nearly a quarter of those with the most severe form of this disease. Just living with someone who smokes is a risk factor. You are twice as likely to fall victim to this disease if you live with a smoker.
Other possible factors, ones out of an individual's control, are genetics and eye color. Many twins get the disease. Those with light colored eyes are more apt to develop ARMD. People who have dark eyes, which have extra pigment, are believed to be protected from sun exposure. The evidence is not conclusive however when it comes to this theory.
ARMD can be an unpleasant side effect of some drugs. An anti-malarial drug is one of these. Anti-psychotic drugs like thorazine are included in the list. Thorazine is also prescribed to treat nausea, hiccups, and vomiting. There are conflicting conclusions about all of these risk factors, except aging and smoking.
Macular degeneration is not curable at the present time. The most effective treatments only slow the disease's progression and help prevent sufferers from developing the more severe wet form. There is growing evidence certain diets can help prevent ARMD or slow the progression at least.
Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and other cold water fish are among the foods scientists are studying. Until a cure is found, the best idea for seniors is to eat a diet high in omega-3s, and exercise regularly. Most importantly, stay away from tobacco.
There are two forms of this disease, the wet and the dry. Of these two, dry ARMD is far and away the most common. The wet form is more severe and more likely to lead to a serious loss of eyesight. The dry form is the earliest stage of the disease. Vision loss is gradual with dry ARMD, but can degenerate into geographic atrophy which causes severe loss of eyesight. Early signs of the disease include fuzziness, distortions, and shadowy areas in a person's line of vision.
The loss of one's eyesight is a scary proposition. Everyone is concerned about what causes this disease, and what can be done to prevent it. The experts believe age is the highest risk factor, but there are other possibilities as well. Those most at risk are Caucasian women, the obese, and smokers. It seems to be hereditary as well.
One of the highest risk factors is smoking. There is evidence that individuals who smoke comprise nearly a quarter of those with the most severe form of this disease. Just living with someone who smokes is a risk factor. You are twice as likely to fall victim to this disease if you live with a smoker.
Other possible factors, ones out of an individual's control, are genetics and eye color. Many twins get the disease. Those with light colored eyes are more apt to develop ARMD. People who have dark eyes, which have extra pigment, are believed to be protected from sun exposure. The evidence is not conclusive however when it comes to this theory.
ARMD can be an unpleasant side effect of some drugs. An anti-malarial drug is one of these. Anti-psychotic drugs like thorazine are included in the list. Thorazine is also prescribed to treat nausea, hiccups, and vomiting. There are conflicting conclusions about all of these risk factors, except aging and smoking.
Macular degeneration is not curable at the present time. The most effective treatments only slow the disease's progression and help prevent sufferers from developing the more severe wet form. There is growing evidence certain diets can help prevent ARMD or slow the progression at least.
Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and other cold water fish are among the foods scientists are studying. Until a cure is found, the best idea for seniors is to eat a diet high in omega-3s, and exercise regularly. Most importantly, stay away from tobacco.
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