Monday, August 27, 2007

 

Contact Lenses

Want to know more about contact lenses ? You may find the answer below.

Can I wear contacts?


Whether you're nearsighted (you can't read the road signs) or farsighted (you can't read the paper), contact lenses can make your life easier. Even people who have astigmatism (an imperfection in the eye's surface that distorts your vision) or who need bifocals or reading glasses often can trade in their specs for contacts. The little plastic disks move with your eyes, so there's none of the distortion you get when looking through glasses, and your entire field of vision is sharp and unobstructed. Here are your options:

Non-Disposable Soft Lenses


Almost everyone chooses some kind of soft contacts nowadays because they usually feel comfortable right away. Soft lenses are made of flexible water-absorbing plastic that molds to fit your eyeball. "Non-disposable" soft lenses ($60 to $175 per set) must be rubbed with cleaning fluid every time you take them out, disinfected in a multipurpose solution overnight, and treated with an enzyme solution once a week to remove protein deposits. "Daily-wear" versions have to be taken out every night; "extended-wear" can be worn for days at a time. Both kinds are supposed to last about a year, but they can wear down after a few hundred cleanings and you may rip or lose one before their time is up.

Disposable Soft Lenses


Most people opt for disposables ($6 to $12 per set, or $150 to $300 per year). The most common kind last two weeks if you take them out and store them in a cleaning solution every night, or one week if you keep them in all the time. Disposables are a little flimsier than non-disposable lenses and may be harder to get in and out of your eyes, but they don't ever need to be treated with enzymes, since you don't use them long enough for proteins to build up on them.

Daily Disposables


If you're happy with your glasses but want to be able to wear contacts once in a while, consider "dailies" ($35 to $50 for 45 pairs). They're the ultimate in convenience: You wear them for one day only and then throw them away, so there's no need to clean or store them. As with all disposables, they require no break-in period; they should be comfortable immediately.

In April 2006 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert to health-care professionals and patients who wear soft contact lenses concerning Bausch & Lomb contact lens solutions and generic solutions manufactured by the company. These solutions may be linked to a rare but serious fungal infection.

Bifocal and Reading Lenses


Bifocal contact lenses are made so that the part that corrects for reading is located on the outer edge or weighted to sink to the bottom (so you see through it when you look down -- just as you do with bifocal glasses). These lenses are more expensive ($200 to $350 per year) and pretty hard to get used to. Another option for those who wear bifocals or reading glasses is "monovision." You wear a lens for reading in one eye and a distance-corrected lens or no lens (depending on your needs) in the other eye. After a period of adjustment, your brain learns to give preference to the eye receiving the clearest image at the time.

Rigid Gas-Permeable Lenses


If you have severe astigmatism or can't see well with soft contacts, try gas-permeable lenses, which are made of a stiffer plastic that lets oxygen through but doesn't absorb as much water. They're not the torture devices they used to be, and 5 to 10 percent of contact wearers actually prefer them. Getting used to them may take a little longer, but they're cheaper ($70 to $90 per set) and more durable (they should last about two years). Extended-wear, bifocal, and reading versions are also available.

Non-corrective Decorative Lenses


Decorative contact lenses that can change your eye color or display your favorite sports team logo are a big hit these days. However, the FDA warns that they can pose a serious health risk if they aren't fitted by an eye care professional. Poorly fitting lenses can cause corneal ulcers that can lead to infection, scarring, and even blindness. In October, 2002, the FDA began seizing imported decorative lenses and advised consumers to stop wearing lenses that hadn't been prescribed and fitted by a professional.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

 

Diabetes Risk


Anger and hostility raises risk of diabetes

... ...
heart disease and high blood pressure, a decade-long study of US war veterans shows Researchers studying 313 healthy Vietnam war veterans in the United States have found that anger and hostility may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Over a period of 10 years, the men had regular physical examinations involving a wide variety of medical tests. They also underwent psychological examinations using well-established questionnaires to determine their levels of hostility, anger and depression.

The researchers measured blood levels of a protein called C3, a marker for the inflammation that is a risk factor for cardiovascular illnesses. After controlling for other variables, the scientists found that those in the highest one-quarter in hostility, anger and depression showed a steady and significant increase in C3 levels, while those in the lowest one-quarter had no increase.
'This may put those men at increased risk for hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease,' said Dr Stephen H. Boyle, the lead author of the study and a researcher at Duke University Medical Center.

Why these increases in C3 levels happen is unknown, but the authors speculate that anger in hostile and depressed men initiates a series of chemical responses in the immune system that lead to inflammation.

Taking steps to control hostility may be helpful.
'There are interventions that appear to be useful in lowering levels of anger,' Dr Boyle said. 'I don't know if their long-term effects on physiology have been tested, but if you're less angry and hostile, that in itself is a worthy goal.'

- NEW YORK TIMES

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Saturday, August 04, 2007

 

Diabetes Blood Sugar Level Monitoring


diatetes bloog sugar level

How do I monitor my blood sugar levels?

Q I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 10 years ago and have been on medication. My blood sugar levels have been erratic of late, and my doctor has advised me to monitor them more regularly. Is it really necessary? How do I go about the self-monitoring?

Answer: It is highly recommended for diabetic patients to monitor their own blood sugar levels, which helps them manage their condition.

Frequent self-monitoring will show if the desired levels of blood glucose have been reached. If not, follow-up action can be taken quickly to prevent the worsening of the condition and other complications.

In addition, patients who monitor themselves can detect low blood sugar, a dangerous condition which could cause loss of consciousness or even death. Low blood sugar could be caused by taking too much diabetic medication or not enough food. So, such monitoring not only helps patients manage their diabetes, it might even save their lives.

How often a patient should monitor himself depends on his condition, though it is usually carried out at least two times daily.

To monitor your own blood glucose, you will need a glucose meter, lancets, test strips and alcohol swabs. There are many brands of glucose meters in the market which are available in pharmacies. The choice will depend on cost, ease of use, memory function, size and after-sale service.

Some tips on blood glucose monitoring:
>>Perform self-monitoring regularly, as advised.
>>Know your target blood sugar level.
>>Keep a log of all measured results and show it to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse on each visit.
>>Before you start the test, ensure the glucose meter is coded correctly.
>>Always use a new lancet for each test.
>>Disinfect your hands before each test and allow the alcohol to dry before pricking yourself with the lancet.
>>Obtain the blood sample from the sides of the finger: It is less painful.
>>Do not squeeze to get the blood sample. To get a sufficient sample, rub your palms each time before taking it. This will improve blood circulation.
>>Dispose of any unused vials of test strips if they have been opened for more than three months or after the expiration date.

Feel free to seek further clarification from your pharmacist.


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