Health News
- Astigmatism - Is that an Eye Disease?
- Massage - The Drug Free Treatment for Insomnia
- Movement Heals
- Watch Out At Your Nail Salon
- Ready for a Lift?
- Hide Your Age on a Budget
Astigmitism ― Is That an Eye Disease?
By Dr. Mark Jury
Astigmatism is a common eye problem. It is not an eye disease though it may sound like one. Due to an unequal shape of the eye, either on the front corneal surface or inside the eye at the lens surface, entering light is focused at different points at the back of the eye. Some people have low degrees of astigmatism that cause minimal blur and strain, while others have a significant amount that causes symptoms such as blur, double vision (in one eye), headaches in the temporal region of the head, light sensitivity, and glare while under fluorescent lights or while driving at night.
When glasses or contact lenses are worn they can neutralize the astigmatism and provide clear and comfortable vision; glasses and most contact lenses will not eliminate the astigmatism to make their use unnecessary though. Other treatment options are Laser Refractive Surgery for significant astigmatism, and Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) ― a modern hard contact lens approach to changing the shape of the cornea for low degrees of astigmatism.
Early correction of significant astigmatism is crucial. During the first seven years of life, most neural connections take place in the visual center of the brain; if significant blur occurs due to astigmatism, many patients will be left with subpar vision even if corrected with glasses later in life. Patients end up with “Meridional Blur”; for example the vertical bar of the “E” may be clearer than the horizontal bars. A reduction in stereo or “3 D” vision can be the result of this deficit also. It is also important to note that astigmatism has a genetic component, so if you have a significant degree of astigmatism, realize that your children will most likely manifest some degree of the same.
Though it sounds like a weird problem, astigmatism is just a variation on being nearsighted or farsighted. Ask your eye care practitioner about the potential treatment options for your condition.
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Massage ― The Drug Free Treatment for Insomnia
If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you share this problem with more than 30% of American adults. If you’ve had the problem for more than six months, then you suffer from chronic insomnia, along with 10% of Americans. As you’ve discovered, insomnia causes extreme fatigue, problems with concentration, and can adversely affect mood and well-being.
Studies show that a neurotransmitter called serotonin plays an important role in sleep, and that massage can directly influence the body’s production of serotonin. One study on back pain at Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, demonstrated that massage recipients experienced increased serotonin levels, improved sleep, and a long-term decrease in pain.
The experience of Dino Salomone, Massage Envy member, illustrates the role of regular massage in treating chronic insomnia. For over 15 years Dino was unable to sleep for more than two hours at a time. Every night he would awake, toss and turn, and never really get back to sleep. Dino sought treatment at a sleep disorder clinic and took sleeping pills most nights.
Lack of sleep was taking a toll on Dino’s mind and body, but the medication made him feel even worse. Six months ago he stopped taking sleeping pills, but after two weeks Dino had missed several nights’s sleep and was at his wit’s end. Desperate for sleep, he was ready to resort to sleeping pills again when his daughter encouraged him to try massage first.
Dino was skeptical but he went to Massage Envy that evening, told the therapist about his insomnia, and had a one-hour massage session. “As soon as the massage ended, I knew I felt different,” Dino said. “I went to bed a couple of hours later and slept for five straight hours. It felt so good to sleep like that, I made an appointment the next day. I went back for another hour massage and slept that night for five or six hours straight.”
Massage did for Dino what no sleeping pill had ever done ― it gave him a good night’s sleep, which, in turn, increased his energy and concentration. Dino now gets a massage at Massage Envy at least once every month and sometimes twice. And Dino has not taken a sleeping pill in over six months! “Massage Envy’s therapists have truly helped me,” said Dino. “I feel 100% better than I have in a very long time.”
Dino is living proof that massage is a healthy, substance-free way to get a good night’s sleep. Find the Massage Envy clinic nearest you by visiting MassageEnvy.com.
Movement Heals
By Sandee Lea
It’s that time of year again when millions of Americans flock to the gym with their New Year’s resolutions to get in shape. There are many reasons for us to exercise on a regular basis. Not only do regular workouts help fight off colds and flu, they also reduce the risk of certain cancers and chronic diseases and slow down the process of aging. Studies have shown that exercise can lower the risk of a stroke by 27%; reduce the incidence of high-blood pressure by approximately 40%; can help reduce the risk of recurrent breast cancer by approximately 50%; lower the risk of colon cancer by over 60%; reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by approximately 40%; and can decrease depression as effectively as Prozac or behavioral therapy. With these kinds of results, isn’t it far better to start moving and take fewer pills?
Research is showing that regular exercise ― as simple as a brisk 30- to 45-minute walk five times a week ― can boost the body’s immune system, increasing the circulation of natural killer cells that fight off viruses and bacteria. So, not only is physical activity great for maintaining a healthy weight and reducing stress, it is a great way to stay healthy and keep many illnesses at bay.
David Nieman, director of Appalachian State University’s Human Performance lab in Kannapolis, N.C., states, “No pill or nutritional supplement has the power of near-daily moderate activity in lowering the number of sick days people take.” Dr. Nieman has conducted several randomly-controlled studies showing that people who walked briskly for 45 minutes, five days a week over 12 to 15 weeks had fewer and less severe upper respiratory tract infections, such as colds and flu. These subjects reduced their number of sick days 25% to 50% compared with sedentary control subjects.
So, why not dust off those walking shoes and make a goal of taking a brisk walk five times a week for 45 minutes? Perhaps you can start a walking group in your community! Remember, movement heals, so let’s put on some new shoes and make this a very healthy New Year!
Sandee Lea, is the owner and Certified Pilates/Yoga Trainer at A Pilates Studio located in Temecula Valley. Sandee has been in business for the past four years here in the Temecula Valley and has been a fitness instructor for the past 21 years. She conducts private and group reformer Pilates classes, as well as being an RYI (Registered Yoga Instructor), and spin instructor.