As we begin to welcome more than fifty new campus residents as the patio homes move ins occur over the next few months, I encourage you to extend that special Beatitudes welcome to help them discover these treasures of the campus.
More than one in three adults has some form of cardiovascular disease. The good news is 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented.
When was the last time someone sat you down, looked deep into your eyes and measured your intraocular pressure?
That’s the pressure inside your eye. Measuring it can find early signs of glaucoma, one of several common eye disorders that can appear without much warning.
Like many health conditions, eye diseases often are easiest to treat when found early. It’s one reason why eye experts suggest regular eye examinations—and why it might be time for you to schedule one.
A good look at your eyes
A comprehensive exam at an ophthalmologist’s office can be an eye-opening experience in many ways.
People often aren’t aware that their vision could be better than it is, according to the National Eye Institute (NEI). You may be surprised at how much more clearly you could be seeing.
You also might undergo some testing that literally widens your eye—or your pupils, at least. Called a dilated eye exam, it uses drops to enlarge your pupils so the doctor can more easily spot damage or eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Keep in mind that the test can leave your vision blurry for a few hours.
Other testing you can expect during a complete eye checkup:
When to schedule eye checkups
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends vision exams for children:
For adults, the AAO recommends comprehensive exams to screen for eye disorders at the following intervals:
The above schedule is in addition to updates for lens prescriptions or treatment for eye injuries or ongoing problems.
Your eye doctor might suggest more frequent checkups if you:
Keep your eyes healthy
There are a number of steps you can take between exams to keep your eyes healthy, according to the NEI. These include:
Ban rays. Wear protective sunglasses when outdoors. Look for shades that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.
Go for goggles. Wear the appropriate protective eyewear when working around the house or playing high-impact sports.
Look away. Give your eyes a rest after staring at the computer or focusing on anything for a long period of time. The NEI suggests looking away into the distance for about 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
For more information log on to www.azblue.com.
According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 25% of Americans over the age of 60 have diabetes, and the aging of the U.S. population is one of the primary drivers of the diabetes epidemic. As we age, our risk for diabetes increases. The exact causes of diabetes are not entirely clear. However, it is commonly accepted that genetics and lifestyle factors, such as weight, play an important role in the development of diabetes.
What exactly is diabetes? Diabetes is a group of diseases, but type 2 diabetes is the most common. In short, when we eat food, it is broken down into a sugar called glucose, which gives us energy. To use glucose as energy, our bodies need insulin. When one has diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or use it efficiently enough. When individuals with diabetes or prediabetes successfully manage their blood sugar and insulin through monitoring, diet, exercise, and/or medications, they can lead fulfilling and active lives.
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the longer one has diabetes – and the less controlled one’s blood sugar – the higher the risk of complications. Possible complications include: heart disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, skin conditions, hearing impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.
You can help prevent and manage diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight and staying active. If you are interested in your diabetes risk, the American Diabetes Association encourages you to ask your doctor about the ABCs of diabetes:
For those who have diabetes or prediabetes and those who care for individuals with diabetes, there will be a 6-week Diabetes Management Workshop starting this Friday (2/5/2016) at 10AM in the Agelink Great Hall. The course is designed to support and educate individuals with diabetes, so they can continue to live life to its fullest! This workshop is sponsored by Medicare and will address exercise, nutrition, diabetic medications, caring for eyes, teeth, and feet, and much more. The workshop is also open to the public, so if you have children or friends living with diabetes, they are welcome to register. Call Jessica at x6110 to reserve a spot today. *
