by: (HealthDay News)
The rate of age-related macular degeneration, a major cause of vision loss in the United States, has decreased in the last 15 years, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed data from 7,081 people, aged 40 and older, who took part in the 2005 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The participants were assessed for signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and about 6.5 percent were found to have the disease.
The 1988 to 1994 NHANES found that the rate of AMD among Americans aged 40 and older was 9.4 percent, according to the study published in the January issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
This finding has important implications for public health, said Dr. Ronald Klein, of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and colleagues.
The most recent data also showed that blacks aged 60 and older had a lower rate of AMD than whites in the same age group, and that the rate of late (more advanced) AMD among all the participants was 0.8 percent.
"These [new] estimates are consistent with a decreasing incidence of AMD reported in another population-based study and have important public health implications," the researchers wrote in a journal news release.
"The decreasing prevalence of AMD may reflect recent change in the frequency of smoking and other exposures such as diet, physical activity and blood pressure associated with AMD," they suggested. "It remains to be seen whether public health programs designed to increase awareness of the relationships of these exposures to AMD in patients at risk and their physicians and eye care providers will continue to result in further decline of the prevalence of AMD in the United States.
Showing posts with label smoking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smoking. Show all posts
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
Small Steps to Healthy Eyes
by:Reuters
People who lead an overall healthy life by exercising, eating right and not smoking, run a significantly lower risk of eye degeneration, a major cause of visual impairment in older adults, says a study.
Exercise and diet each reduced the risk, but both combined, along with a lack of smoking,caused the risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to fall by more than 70%, says study author Julie Mares, at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “Relatively small things could make a difference,” said Mares.
Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces. For the study, published in Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers reviewed information about diet, exercise and smoking from 1,313 women between the ages of 55 and 74.
The results showed that even 10 hours per week of light exercise, including housework, gardening and walking — or 8 hours of moderate exercise a week, lowered the risk of AMD since diet and exercise lower blood pressure, which can protect the eyes from degeneration
People who lead an overall healthy life by exercising, eating right and not smoking, run a significantly lower risk of eye degeneration, a major cause of visual impairment in older adults, says a study.
Exercise and diet each reduced the risk, but both combined, along with a lack of smoking,caused the risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to fall by more than 70%, says study author Julie Mares, at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. “Relatively small things could make a difference,” said Mares.
Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces. For the study, published in Archives of Ophthalmology, researchers reviewed information about diet, exercise and smoking from 1,313 women between the ages of 55 and 74.
The results showed that even 10 hours per week of light exercise, including housework, gardening and walking — or 8 hours of moderate exercise a week, lowered the risk of AMD since diet and exercise lower blood pressure, which can protect the eyes from degeneration
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Don't Surrender To Macular Degeneration
By ARA
Aging gracefully can require you to accept certain changes in your body, from gray or thinning hair to skin that's less firm than it was in your youth. But loss of vision shouldn't be on your short list of changes that are an inevitable part of growing older.
If you're older than 50, you should know about your eye health and what you can do to prevent or slow vision loss. Age-related macular degeneration, commonly known as AMD, is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. AMD affects about 10 million people in the U.S., and that number is projected to double by 2020, according to the National Institutes of Health.
"AMD is a disease that we can prevent and manage," says Dr. Alan Cruess, Chairman of AMD Alliance International's Scientific Advisory Panel. "We have the ability to save the sight of many Americans each year."
AMD is a degenerative disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina (think of it as your eye's internal projection screen) responsible for clear central vision. There are two types of AMD - "dry" and "wet." The dry form affects 85 to 90 percent of people with AMD and causes varying degrees of vision loss, characterized by a collection of deposits in the macula called drusen. Far less common, but much more serious, wet AMD causes severe vision loss, as abnormal blood vessels grow and leak blood and fluid into the eye.
If you take certain measures to keep your eyes healthy, you can prevent AMD or slow its progress. AMD Alliance International suggests taking the following three steps to help prevent and manage AMD.
1. Get regular eye exams
Everyone older than 50 should get regular eye exams. Most people believe they receive eye exams as often as they should. However, according to a recent AMD Alliance International study, only 63 percent of those at risk and 56 percent of those at high risk for AMD have their eyes checked annually. Routine exams can help identify AMD and other eye problems in their early stages, when many diseases are more easily treatable.
2. Understand the risk factors for AMD
By knowing the risk factors, you can take steps to reduce the chance of getting AMD. Age is the greatest risk factor for AMD - if you are 50 or older, you're at risk of developing the disease. Having a family member with AMD can also increase your risk.
While you cannot control your age or genes, there are other risk factors, including smoking, poor diet, obesity, and having high blood pressure, that are controllable.
Quitting smoking reduces your risk for AMD. Numerous studies have demonstrated that people who smoke are between two and five and a half times more likely to develop AMD than people who do not smoke.
Studies also suggest that AMD is linked to diets high in saturated fat. Reducing saturated fat consumption and eating more fresh fruits and dark green, leafy vegetables - all foods that are rich in vitamins C and E, selenium and carotenoids - may delay the onset or reduce the severity of AMD. Fish rich in omega-3 fats, like salmon, tuna or mackerel, may also slow the progress of AMD when eaten two to three times a week, according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
3. Ask questions and know your treatment options
If you have been diagnosed with AMD, your ability to ask the right questions and receive accurate information is crucial. Review "Questions to Ask Your Eye Care Professional" at www.amdalliance.org to help guide the conversation at your next eye exam. Be sure you know your exact diagnosis and all available treatment options.
Specially formulated vitamins can reduce the risk of advanced AMD for some patients. Effective, clinically approved treatments are also available for the most severe form of AMD, which may reverse some vision loss. Make sure you ask your doctor about your options and understand what treatment you are receiving.
People living with macular disease should be able to fully participate in choosing their treatment and healthcare options. Know your rights and download the Patient Charter.
Also, if you're diagnosed with AMD, a low vision rehabilitation specialist can help you use your remaining sight to its full potential through special techniques and low vision aids.
Age-related macular degeneration and the loss of vision can be prevented and slowed down. By learning about the disease and making healthy lifestyle choices, many Americans will be able to enjoy healthy vision well into their golden years.
Aging gracefully can require you to accept certain changes in your body, from gray or thinning hair to skin that's less firm than it was in your youth. But loss of vision shouldn't be on your short list of changes that are an inevitable part of growing older.
If you're older than 50, you should know about your eye health and what you can do to prevent or slow vision loss. Age-related macular degeneration, commonly known as AMD, is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. AMD affects about 10 million people in the U.S., and that number is projected to double by 2020, according to the National Institutes of Health.
"AMD is a disease that we can prevent and manage," says Dr. Alan Cruess, Chairman of AMD Alliance International's Scientific Advisory Panel. "We have the ability to save the sight of many Americans each year."
AMD is a degenerative disease that affects the macula, the central part of the retina (think of it as your eye's internal projection screen) responsible for clear central vision. There are two types of AMD - "dry" and "wet." The dry form affects 85 to 90 percent of people with AMD and causes varying degrees of vision loss, characterized by a collection of deposits in the macula called drusen. Far less common, but much more serious, wet AMD causes severe vision loss, as abnormal blood vessels grow and leak blood and fluid into the eye.
If you take certain measures to keep your eyes healthy, you can prevent AMD or slow its progress. AMD Alliance International suggests taking the following three steps to help prevent and manage AMD.
1. Get regular eye exams
Everyone older than 50 should get regular eye exams. Most people believe they receive eye exams as often as they should. However, according to a recent AMD Alliance International study, only 63 percent of those at risk and 56 percent of those at high risk for AMD have their eyes checked annually. Routine exams can help identify AMD and other eye problems in their early stages, when many diseases are more easily treatable.
2. Understand the risk factors for AMD
By knowing the risk factors, you can take steps to reduce the chance of getting AMD. Age is the greatest risk factor for AMD - if you are 50 or older, you're at risk of developing the disease. Having a family member with AMD can also increase your risk.
While you cannot control your age or genes, there are other risk factors, including smoking, poor diet, obesity, and having high blood pressure, that are controllable.
Quitting smoking reduces your risk for AMD. Numerous studies have demonstrated that people who smoke are between two and five and a half times more likely to develop AMD than people who do not smoke.
Studies also suggest that AMD is linked to diets high in saturated fat. Reducing saturated fat consumption and eating more fresh fruits and dark green, leafy vegetables - all foods that are rich in vitamins C and E, selenium and carotenoids - may delay the onset or reduce the severity of AMD. Fish rich in omega-3 fats, like salmon, tuna or mackerel, may also slow the progress of AMD when eaten two to three times a week, according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
3. Ask questions and know your treatment options
If you have been diagnosed with AMD, your ability to ask the right questions and receive accurate information is crucial. Review "Questions to Ask Your Eye Care Professional" at www.amdalliance.org to help guide the conversation at your next eye exam. Be sure you know your exact diagnosis and all available treatment options.
Specially formulated vitamins can reduce the risk of advanced AMD for some patients. Effective, clinically approved treatments are also available for the most severe form of AMD, which may reverse some vision loss. Make sure you ask your doctor about your options and understand what treatment you are receiving.
People living with macular disease should be able to fully participate in choosing their treatment and healthcare options. Know your rights and download the Patient Charter.
Also, if you're diagnosed with AMD, a low vision rehabilitation specialist can help you use your remaining sight to its full potential through special techniques and low vision aids.
Age-related macular degeneration and the loss of vision can be prevented and slowed down. By learning about the disease and making healthy lifestyle choices, many Americans will be able to enjoy healthy vision well into their golden years.
Monday, July 12, 2010
SMOKING and HIGH HDL CHOLESTROL
Smoking and high cholesterol are two modifiable risk factors that can affect the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
A new study shows that AMD occurs infrequently before age 55 but increases beyond that. There exists the ability to diminish the risk factors by eliminating smoking and lowering HDL cholesterol levels.
The study reveals that early AMD may actually occur in mid-life. Researchers studied participants’ eyes for AMD features that in included drusen size, type, and area; increased retinal pigment; retinal pigment epithelial de-pigmentation; pure geographic atrophy and signs of exudative macular degeneration.
What the study noted is that there is a low prevalence of early AMD, particularly among those younger than 55 years and a higher prevalence of early AMD in men. Early AMD was associated with those participants who smoked and had high HDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers cautioned that the results were not definitive and that many factors can come into play in assessing the risk of AMD.*
A new study shows that AMD occurs infrequently before age 55 but increases beyond that. There exists the ability to diminish the risk factors by eliminating smoking and lowering HDL cholesterol levels.
The study reveals that early AMD may actually occur in mid-life. Researchers studied participants’ eyes for AMD features that in included drusen size, type, and area; increased retinal pigment; retinal pigment epithelial de-pigmentation; pure geographic atrophy and signs of exudative macular degeneration.
What the study noted is that there is a low prevalence of early AMD, particularly among those younger than 55 years and a higher prevalence of early AMD in men. Early AMD was associated with those participants who smoked and had high HDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers cautioned that the results were not definitive and that many factors can come into play in assessing the risk of AMD.*
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Smoking Increases The Risk Of Age Related Macular Degeneration
American Chronicle - Hayden Eck
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by problems in the sharp and central vision of a person. It usually affects people who are 60 years and older and is one of the leading causes of vision loss.
Smoking and AMD
Various studies have provided conclusive results that link smoking with an increased risk of suffering from AMD. The chance of suffering from AMD both, atrophic age related macular degeneration and neo-vascular degeneration double in smokers. The studies have also shown that former smokers don´t show the same risk of suffering from this condition; and if compared to people who never smoked, the dice is just about loaded in favour of non smokers. Another finding of the study was that as a smoker you can develop AMD around ten years before non smokers. These studies also draw a link between specific genetic background, heavy smoking, and the risk of AMD. It´s been seen that there is a dramatic increase in the risk factor.
Quit smoking to reduce risk
AMD causes blindness. No two ways about the fact. If you don´t want to lose your vision, it´s important that you do something about your smoking habit. So, what is it that you want to do? Cutting down on your smoking habit is not going to help matters much. You need to cut down completely on cigarettes. It´s not going to be an easy task but you need to quit smoking. If you are having trouble quitting, you can take the help of prescription quit smoking pills like Chantix to help in your efforts to quit smoking.
Accurate and timely diagnosis of AMD
If you think you are facing chronic problems with your vision, its time that you consult your doctor. More so, if you are a smoker! A regular checkup session with your doctor is necessary to know if you are suffering from this condition. AMD is a progressive condition, so you don´t really want to leave it till very late to start off on a treatment plan. Any doctor will tell you that the first thing you must do to help manage your condition is to quit smoking. The doctor can also recommend the intake of various medications along with your quit smoking endeavor. If you have already begun your intake of prescription medications like Chantix, it´s important to make sure that you aren´t going to suffer from any adverse interaction of taking these medications.
Not just another risk factor of smoking
Many smokers might regard AMD as just another health risk of smoking. Also, the fact that it usually manifests itself when you are older, might also contribute to you not giving the due importance to this condition. But, the fact of the matter is that it needs to be treated with due seriousness, because if you don´t, you might start losing your vision. This is going to have a huge impact on the general quality of life. So, why wait for that to happen before you realize the seriousness of the situation.
Hayden Eck - Webmaster of leading online health clinic Chantix-Buy.com, has been providing health newsletters and articles since last three years. He discusses smoking effects with brief description about quit smoking pills
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by problems in the sharp and central vision of a person. It usually affects people who are 60 years and older and is one of the leading causes of vision loss.
Smoking and AMD
Various studies have provided conclusive results that link smoking with an increased risk of suffering from AMD. The chance of suffering from AMD both, atrophic age related macular degeneration and neo-vascular degeneration double in smokers. The studies have also shown that former smokers don´t show the same risk of suffering from this condition; and if compared to people who never smoked, the dice is just about loaded in favour of non smokers. Another finding of the study was that as a smoker you can develop AMD around ten years before non smokers. These studies also draw a link between specific genetic background, heavy smoking, and the risk of AMD. It´s been seen that there is a dramatic increase in the risk factor.
Quit smoking to reduce risk
AMD causes blindness. No two ways about the fact. If you don´t want to lose your vision, it´s important that you do something about your smoking habit. So, what is it that you want to do? Cutting down on your smoking habit is not going to help matters much. You need to cut down completely on cigarettes. It´s not going to be an easy task but you need to quit smoking. If you are having trouble quitting, you can take the help of prescription quit smoking pills like Chantix to help in your efforts to quit smoking.
Accurate and timely diagnosis of AMD
If you think you are facing chronic problems with your vision, its time that you consult your doctor. More so, if you are a smoker! A regular checkup session with your doctor is necessary to know if you are suffering from this condition. AMD is a progressive condition, so you don´t really want to leave it till very late to start off on a treatment plan. Any doctor will tell you that the first thing you must do to help manage your condition is to quit smoking. The doctor can also recommend the intake of various medications along with your quit smoking endeavor. If you have already begun your intake of prescription medications like Chantix, it´s important to make sure that you aren´t going to suffer from any adverse interaction of taking these medications.
Not just another risk factor of smoking
Many smokers might regard AMD as just another health risk of smoking. Also, the fact that it usually manifests itself when you are older, might also contribute to you not giving the due importance to this condition. But, the fact of the matter is that it needs to be treated with due seriousness, because if you don´t, you might start losing your vision. This is going to have a huge impact on the general quality of life. So, why wait for that to happen before you realize the seriousness of the situation.
Hayden Eck - Webmaster of leading online health clinic Chantix-Buy.com, has been providing health newsletters and articles since last three years. He discusses smoking effects with brief description about quit smoking pills
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