Make a D.A.T.E. with your doctor
You get to spend less than 20 minutes with your doctor during a typical visit, according to a recent nationwide poll. And just two or three of those minutes will actually be spent in face-to-face conversation. read more »
Keep your eye on antioxidants
When Mom said to eat your carrots, they’re good for your eyes, she was right. At least, up to a point: The vitamin A they contain is vital to eye health. But to protect against developing cataracts as you get older, a better bet might be leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, and collard greens that are packed with the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. read more »
Calming the Anxious Child
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends the following guidelines on calming an anxious child when a trip to the dentist’s office is scheduled. read more »
Behave yourself!
Young kids’ defiance may surface before the Terrible Twos and linger after the Trying Threes. But even the perfect child will occasionally throw a tantrum, balk at going to bed, and dispute that Mother (or Father) knows best. read more »
Risky Business: Buying Contact Lenses Online
Purchasing contacts over the Internet can save time and money, but it may not be the best solution for healthy vision. Since 2004, eye doctors have been required to provide copies of contact lens prescriptions to patients so that they can shop around for the best buy. read more »
It’s nver too late for new glasses
Imagine getting through the day without your eyeglasses or having to wear an old pair with an outdated prescription. In fact, this is very common at nursing homes, where regular eye care is rare. read more »
Prevention
Certain lifestyle steps can reduce a child’s risk of developing ear infections. These include breast-feeding as a baby, avoiding exposing your child to secondhand smoke, and washing hands frequently. read more »
Getting your man’s love life back on track
Treating the medical condition behind erectile dysfunction plus help from a pill or device, can restore your sex life. read more »
What about extra nutrients for aging eyes?
Many wonder if taking supplements will help prevent or delay age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This condition is the leading cause of central vision loss, affecting 1.7 million Americans over age 40. read more »
Taking steps to keep vision healthy
As time passes, it’s not unusual to experience various degrees of “low vision”—visual impairment that isn’t correctable with traditional glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. It may take the form of loss of peripheral or central vision, or dark patches appearing within your field of vision. read more »
Simple carbs are hard on the eyes
A new study suggests that eating foods like white bread, rice, and pasta increases your chances of experiencing vision loss as you get older. Tufts University scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging assessed the degree of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 4,099 people ages 55 to 80. read more »
A caregiver’s perspective
Suzanne Mintz, president and co-founder of the National Family Caregivers Association, is a family caregiver herself. In this column for Health monitor, she draws on her own experiences and on her belief that chronic illness and disability affect the person giving the care as well as the one receiving it. read more »
Engineering cartilage
Creating new cartilage from a person’s own cells could make possible the ultimate repair for joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA). In OA, joint-cushioning cartilage is progressively worn away. read more »
Artificial disc now approved to treat degenerative neck pain
There’s new hope for treating a classic pain in the neck—and by extension related pain in the shoulders and arms as well. Radiating neck pain often comes from a herniated cervical disc. read more »