Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Eye Floaters


Eye floaters are spots in  the vision that may look like black or gray specks, strings or cobwebs that drift about when move the eyes. It is mostly caused by the clumping together of cells in the eye fluids. They tend to be more common in short-sighted people and the elderly.If there is a sudden increase in the number of eye floaters, visit an eye specialist immediately especially if seen flashes of light.These can be symptoms of an emergency that requires prompt attention.

Symptoms
  • Spots in vision that may look like dark specks or knobby, transparent strings of floating material
  • Spots that move when moving the eye
  • Spots that are most noticeable when look at a plain bright background
  • Spots that eventually settle down and drift out of the line of vision

Causes
  • Age related eye changes
  • Inflammation in the back of the eye
  • Bleeding in the eye
  • Torn retina
  • Age over 50
  • Nearsightedness
  • Eye trauma
  • Complications from cataract surgery
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Inflammation in the eye

Action Plans
  • Try antioxidant vitamins, such as turmeric These antioxidants, in concert with other vitamins, are proven to be effective in treating macular degeneration, but not in reducing floaters.
  • Protecting eye with food that rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E may help ward off age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration.
  • Find ways to reduce stress which is another potential irritant for eye floaters.So practicing stress management techniques may reduce the visibility of them. Meditation, prayer or spending time in nature are some options people find helpful to lower stress levels.
  • Take supplements that increase blood flow such as ginkgo biloba, lysine and  bilberry that will help eyes to better flush out the gelatinous protein from the vitreous.
  • Avoid  fatty meats,yeast, margarines, processed foods, sugar and refined carbohydrates.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Diarrhea


Diarrhea is loose, watery stools that  passing for three or more times a day. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own.Diarrhea lasting more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem. Chronic diarrhea will lasts at least 4 weeks which may be a symptom of a chronic disease. The symptoms may be continual or they may come and go.


Symptoms
  • Increased frequency of bowel movements
  • Loose, watery stools
  • Urgency (having to go right away)
  • Incontinence (leakage of stools)
  • Bloating, wind
  • Rectal pain
  • Lower abdominal pain or cramping
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Fever
  • Blood or flecks of mucus in the stool
  • Loss of appetite, weight loss

Causes
  • Food poisoning
  • Certain antibiotics
  • Chemotherapy drugs for cancer
  • Laxatives containing magnesium
  • Celiac disease
  • Inflammatory bowel diseases
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Lactose intolerance 
  • Malabsorption syndromes
  • Carcinoid syndrome
  • Nerves disorder of the intestines
  • Gastrectomy
  • Radiation therapy

Action Plans
  • Drink plenty of water every day. Avoid caffeine and alcohol
  • Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as bowel movements return to normal
  • Avoid certain foods such as dairy products, fatty foods, high-fiber foods or highly seasoned foods for a few days
  • Take probiotics supplement as it contain strains of living bacteria that are similar to the healthy bacteria normally found in digestive system. Probiotics may boost the number of healthy bacteria present to fight germs in digestive tract. 
  • Wash hands before and after preparing food
  • Wash work surfaces frequently to avoid spreading germs from one food item to another.