Tag Archives: cataract

December 10, 2018 · 12:09 am

Light and social smoking carry cardiovascular risks – Harvard

The thoroughly preventable death of lung cancer kills thousands of people every year. I feel strongly that smoking is a horrible health habit. You can check out my Page – How many ways does smoking harm you for more details. Yet some folks feel that a ‘social cigarette’ is okay. Well, not quite. Following is an analysis by Harvard Heart Letter.

Light smoking isn’t as bad as heavy smoking, but it still harms the heart and body. If you quit smoking completely, your health will benefit.

Photo by Maurício Mascaro on Pexels.com

“I’m not really a smoker. I only smoke a few cigarettes a day, or when I go out on the weekend.” This thought process is common among light smokers. However, if you think you are doing your heart and lungs a favor by smoking only “a little,” think again.

Light or intermittent smoking may be safer for you than heavy smoking, but they still cause plenty of harm. Quitting smoking completely is the best action for your help.Public health campaigns have reduced the number of American adults who smoke. Along with that decline has come an increase in the number of light and now-and-then smokers.

Experts long believed that smokers used light or intermittent smoking as a bridge to quitting smoking completely. But it’s becoming clear that more and more smokers continue this pattern indefinitely — almost one-quarter of all smokers today fall into these categories. Continue reading →

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Tagged as cancer, cataract, heart disease, smoking, smoking dangers

March 28, 2016 · 3:09 am

Eating Foods High in Vitamin C Cuts Cataract Risk

Research on UK twins is first to show that diet, lifestyle may outweigh genetics when it comes to common eye condition

A diet rich in vitamin C could cut risk of cataract progression by a third, suggests a study being published online in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The research is also the first to show that diet and lifestyle may play a greater role than genetics in cataract development and severity.

Cataracts occur naturally with age and cloud the eye’s lens, turning it opaque. Despite the advent of modern cataract removal surgery, cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Researchers at King’s College London looked at whether certain nutrients from food or supplements could help prevent cataract progression. They also tried to find out how much environmental factors such as diet mattered versus genetics.

The team examined data from more than 1,000 pairs of female twins from the United Kingdom. Participants answered a food questionnaire to track the intake of vitamin C and other nutrients, including vitamins A, B, D, E, copper, manganese and zinc. To measure the progression of cataracts, digital imaging was used to check the opacity of their lenses at around age 60. They performed a follow-up measurement on 324 pairs of the twins about 10 years later.

During the baseline measurement, diets rich in vitamin C were associated with a 20 percent risk reduction for cataract. After 10 years, researchers found that women who reported consuming more vitamin C-rich foods had a 33 percent risk reduction of cataract progression. Continue reading →

When Should You Have Cataracts Removed?

I would think the answer to the question posed in our headline here is when you can’t see well anymore because of the cataracts.

I’ve been told by my optometrist that I have two different types of cataracts on each eye. In the last few years, that’s meant my vision cannot be completely corrected with glasses. I go for eye examines every six months to monitor them.

Now keep in mind that I make my living as a journalist, which means constant typing and looking at computer screens, proof-reading pages of the magazines I edit, and reading in general to keep up with current trends.
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