Vitamin Supplements for Macular Degeneration Prevent Visual Impairment

Vitamin Supplements for Macular Degeneration Prevent Visual Impairment
By: Paul Schechter

Macular degeneration affects central vision, and some sufferers can no longer read books, write out checks, find phone numbers in a directory, watch television, or see the facial expressions of their loved ones. Simple tasks become impossible and frustration is common. Patients may feel alone because no one they know can relate to macular degeneration's devastating effects. Not even a new prescription for glasses can restore the individual's poor eyesight. Many age-related macular degeneration patients fear that they will go to sleep and wake up to nothing but complete darkness.

What Is Macular Degeneration?
Macular degeneration is a debilitating eye disease affecting the elderly. Within the eye is the macula, an area that allows people to see fine details and colors. Macular degeneration prevents the macula from properly functioning and the vision becomes blurred. The most distinguishing aspect of this eye disease is that round spots cover the sufferer's field of vision so that it is difficult to see things that are straight ahead. Fine details are impossible to see, but the person's peripheral vision is unchanged.

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration: dry and wet. Dry age-related macular degeneration is the result of fatty tissues called drusen building up beneath the retina. Wet macular degeneration is caused by abnormal blood vessels forming in the eye. Up to 90 percent of people diagnosed with macular degeneration have the dry form.

Ways to Prevent Macular Degeneration
Doctors say that there is no way to undo the harm that this eye disease has caused to the macula, but there are a few things that may lower your risks. These include quitting smoking, losing weight, eating a healthy diet, and taking a vitamin supplement for macular degeneration. Also, if you have a history of macular degeneration in your family, you are at a higher risk for developing the disease. You will need to see an eye specialist frequently for preventative care.

Take Your Vitamins
Doctors agree that nothing will reverse the damage caused by age-related macular degeneration, but studies have revealed interesting data in regards to this eye disease. Yellow and green vegetables help prevent age-related macular degeneration. Vegetables like squash, corn, broccoli, and spinach contain a variety of nutrients and antioxidants including lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids. These vitamins and minerals may actually prevent macular degeneration in some people.

Doctors suggest that people choose a vitamin supplement for macular degeneration like VisiVite i-Defense Gold Formula that contains lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. In fact, some retina specialists believe that this combination of vitamins and minerals are of benefit to people who are already suffering from macular degeneration in one eye. VisiVite i-Defense Gold Formula may actually slow the drusen forming in the macula and prevent the eye disease from forming in the other eye.

Keep Those Eye Doctor Appointments
One important aspect of senior eye health is to see your eye doctor often. You may already have age-related macular degeneration, but not be exhibiting symptoms. A retina specialist can determine if you have any eye diseases during an exam when your eyes are fully dilated.

Expect to have a dilated eye exam every few years or more often if you already have an eye disease. You may also need more frequent eye exams if you are overweight, are a smoker, or have a history of age-related macular degeneration in your family. All of these factors contribute to a higher incidence of this eye disease.

Learn to Adapt with Low Vision Aids
Being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration can be quite frightening. The important thing is to ask your retina specialist the right questions so that you know what to expect and how to properly cope with this eye disease. Your eye doctor can direct you on some important things that may help you manage your condition.

For instance, you might invest in some special lighting that can prevent glare. Optical devices and magnifiers are available for you to see things better close up, but you might have to shop around to find the best one to suit your individual needs. Large print books may enable you to continue with a cherished pastime - reading! Reading machines have given many people with macular degeneration the ability to cope with this eye disease by reading aloud information to users.

Final Thoughts
If you are diagnosed with a retinal disease like macular degeneration, it is very important that you realize you are not alone. You don't need to suffer in silence. Your eye doctor may have suggestions to help you adapt to the issues that age-related macular degeneration causes. Scientific evidence has shown that everyone with this disease should take a vitamin supplement for macular degeneration like VisiVite i-Defense Gold Formula to try and prevent your blurred vision from worsening and possibly improve vision. Also, there are many different low vision aids, magnifiers and optical devices, and other resources available for the visually impaired. Please remember that it is important that you see your retina specialist often, especially if your eyesight is worsening or if you suspect a problem.

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Grief is a Journey, Not a Destination

Grief is a Journey, Not a Destination
By: elaine williams

There are days you sit in a chair and stare out the window because living seems to take too much energy. Even to think about what to make for dinner is an all-consuming task. It can be daunting, feeling as if there is nothing in this world that will ever hold your interest again. The mail order catalog with the Valentine's Day gifts is a reminder there won't be any lover's keepsakes. No hiding in the cabinet those chocolate and peanut butter eggs my husband, gone two years, used to enjoy. How small and silly a thought, but how big a rip in my heart.

I had always been versatile and open to new ideas, but following my husband's death, life became a narrow focus of work and children. The joy had flown from most of my days and I worried if this consuming disinterest in the world would be permanent.

Time could move excruciatingly slow, and yet other days I couldn't account for the hours I'd lived through. On the dark days, I lamented that no one cared anymore about my worries, dreams or desires.

I hated being an empty vessel, and as I began dating, I expected that special someone to come along, fill me up, and make me happy. At that point, I mistakenly thought, things would return to normal. I'd be my old self. Little did I know at the beginning of my grief journey, my old self was forever gone. However, I wanted verification that I mattered to someone in some way. I wanted affection and caring, craving what I no longer had. My heart remained ever hopeful that I would find a happy ending, but due to some poor choices, I kept throwing myself on the rocks of dating disappointment.

With the loss of someone integral to mine and my children's lives, my sense of normalcy had changed. Sometimes I wallowed in uncertainty about my life, and the tears would leak out of my eyes to run down my cheeks. I kept those emotions hidden most of the time. I couldn't bear to have others see me so weak; it seemed too private to share. On rare occasions, I allowed myself to express my pain and anxiety. I wish now that I shared my grief more often.

One day I awoke and realized my life had never been a shipwreck and now was not the time to start. I was ever mindful that I was an example to my children, so I gathered my strength and took control of my destiny. Knowing the future was all in my hands was frightening and yet liberating. Becoming myself once more wasn't an easy process, but a slow, methodical movement forward.

I am no longer the woman I was, but then having gone through this journey, how could I expect, or want, to return to who I had been? Indeed, as the years folded one into another, I had no need to rehash the past. It was behind me as it should be, neither forgotten nor dwelled upon.


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Natural Alternative To Hormone Replacement Thereapy (HRT)

Natural Alternative To Hormone Replacement Thereapy (HRT)
By: Tony Luck

Most women experience the onset of the menopause at an average age of about 50, but it can start anytime from the early forties to the late fifties. Symptoms can vary: some women sail through but others suffer the miseries of hot flushes, night sweats, irritability, depression, lack of energy and loss of libido.

Orthodox medical practitioners invariably prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and often anti-depressants and tranquillisers, which can become addictive. However, there is a natural alternative.

HRT is prescribed to counter balance the reduced production by your body of oestrogen which can lead to increased risk of osteoporosis and weakened bones leading to fractures. However, two large clinical trials have shown that HRT does not, in fact, significantly reduce the incidence of bone fractures, and there is an increased risk of heart disease, gallstones, and breast and endometrial cancer.

Rather than a shortage of hormones, it is said that most menopausal symptoms are more to do with an imbalance. By eating a healthy diet, taking regular exercise and natural supplements, you can boost the health of your bones, and balance sugar levels and your hormones.

It is well known that people in some parts of the world (for example Japan and the Mediterranean countries) rarely suffer from heart disease due to their different national diets. It is less well known that women in the Andes region of Peru do not suffer menopausal symptoms. Peruvian women take Maca, a tuberous plant related to the potato. As well as the beneficial effect on menopausal symptoms, Maca boosts energy and libido. Maca is also known as "Peruvian Ginseng" and "Peruvian Viagra".

Centuries ago, the Incas inhabited this area and, in order to boost their energy, their warriors used to take Maca before going into battle. When the Spanish conquered the area they found that their horses suffered from the high altitude. The locals advised them to feed Maca to the horses and the animals immediately experienced an increase in energy levels. The Spanish found that what was good for their horses would also benefit humans, so payment for the taxes levied on the locals was taken in Maca.

There are three phases of menopause: the peri-menopause or the year or so prior to the onset of the menopause when the your body misses the occasional menstrual period. During this time a low dose of 1500mg is recommended to counteract the slow down in the production by your body of hormones. During the actual menopause, increase the dose to around 4000mg each day for a period of 2-3 months, and then reduce the dose to 2000mg. In the post menopause phase, reduce your daily intake of Maca to 1500mg. The risk of osteoporosis is apparent from the onset of the menopause and thereafter. In addition to your daily intake of maca, you are advised to also take a daily dose of Forever Freedom, a natural health drink that contains aloe vera with added Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, and vitamin C. This will ease stiffness and pain in the joints and promote mobility and good bone health.


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