October 15, 2018
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 types of ARMD, the dry and the wet. The dry form of the disease affects about ninety percent of sufferers. This is the disease in its early stage. Wet ARMD is much more serious and can lead to virtual blindness. With dry ARMD the loss of eyesight is normally gradual. In some cases it will degenerate over time into geographic atrophy. When that happens the loss of eyesight is severe. Signs that there is a problem include shadowy areas, distortions, and fuzziness in the individual's line of sight.
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.
Smoking is one of its highest risk factors. Studies have shown that people who smoke make up about twenty-five percent of victims with the severest form of the disease. Even living with a smoker is a risk factor. It makes you twice as likely to get the disease as those living with non-smokers.
Other factors people don't have control over include eye color and heredity. It's not unusual for twins to be affected. Individuals with light colored eyes are more susceptible to the disease. It is believed by some that the extra pigment associated with dark eyes is a protection against exposure to the sun. The evidence is not conclusive however.
ARMD can develop as the result of taking certain drugs. One on the list is an anti-malarial drug. Another is the anti-psychotic drug, thorazine. Physicians sometimes prescribe thorazine for excessive hiccuping, vomiting, and nausea as well. There is not unanimous agreement about the risk factors, with the exception of aging and smoking.
ARMD has no cure. The most medical professionals can do is attempt to slow the progress of ARMD and try to prevent the dry form from turning into the wet form. It is believed that diet plays a factor in preventing the disease.
Nutritional scientists are studying the efficacy of diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These include salmon and various other cold water fish. Until there is a cure, the best thing for seniors to do is exercise on a regular basis, eat a diet high in omega-3s, and avoid all forms of tobacco. This includes second hand smoke.
There are two types of ARMD, the dry and the wet. The dry form of the disease affects about ninety percent of sufferers. This is the disease in its early stage. Wet ARMD is much more serious and can lead to virtual blindness. With dry ARMD the loss of eyesight is normally gradual. In some cases it will degenerate over time into geographic atrophy. When that happens the loss of eyesight is severe. Signs that there is a problem include shadowy areas, distortions, and fuzziness in the individual's line of sight.
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.
Smoking is one of its highest risk factors. Studies have shown that people who smoke make up about twenty-five percent of victims with the severest form of the disease. Even living with a smoker is a risk factor. It makes you twice as likely to get the disease as those living with non-smokers.
Other factors people don't have control over include eye color and heredity. It's not unusual for twins to be affected. Individuals with light colored eyes are more susceptible to the disease. It is believed by some that the extra pigment associated with dark eyes is a protection against exposure to the sun. The evidence is not conclusive however.
ARMD can develop as the result of taking certain drugs. One on the list is an anti-malarial drug. Another is the anti-psychotic drug, thorazine. Physicians sometimes prescribe thorazine for excessive hiccuping, vomiting, and nausea as well. There is not unanimous agreement about the risk factors, with the exception of aging and smoking.
ARMD has no cure. The most medical professionals can do is attempt to slow the progress of ARMD and try to prevent the dry form from turning into the wet form. It is believed that diet plays a factor in preventing the disease.
Nutritional scientists are studying the efficacy of diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These include salmon and various other cold water fish. Until there is a cure, the best thing for seniors to do is exercise on a regular basis, eat a diet high in omega-3s, and avoid all forms of tobacco. This includes second hand smoke.
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