Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Macular Degeneration: 11 Ways To Protect Your Eyes
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease that affects millions of older Americans, leading to blurred central vision and, in severe cases, blindness. While AMD is more prevalent in individuals over 60, there are proactive steps you can take to reduce your risk and protect your vision, according to Dr. Julie Rosenthal, a retina specialist at the University of Michigan's Kellogg Eye Center.
Understanding AMDAMD primarily affects the macula, a small area at the back of the eye responsible for central vision. Damage to the macula can result in blurred or distorted vision, making activities like reading and driving challenging. It is crucial to be aware of the risk factors and symptoms associated with AMD to detect and manage the condition early.
Risk Factors and PreventionSeveral factors can increase your risk of developing AMD. Women and individuals with a family history of the disease are more susceptible. Lifestyle choices, such as smoking, can also double the risk of AMD.
To reduce your risk, consider the following tips:
Quit Smoking: If you smoke, quitting can significantly lower your risk of AMD and other eye diseases.
Maintain a Healthy Diet: Incorporate leafy greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard into your meals. These foods are rich in antioxidants that protect against cellular damage in the eyes.
Consider Supplements: If your diet is lacking in essential nutrients, consider taking multivitamins or a specialized blend of supplements called AREDS, which can reduce the risk of advanced AMD.
Protect Your Eyes from UV and Blue Light: Wear sunglasses labeled "UV 400" to shield your eyes from harmful UV and blue light when outdoors.
Manage Blood Pressure and Weight: Healthy blood pressure and weight levels promote good blood circulation, which is crucial for eye health.
Use an Amsler Grid: Regularly check your vision using an Amsler grid, a tool that helps detect early signs of
Hyper-sexual 'zombie Cicadas' Infected With Bizarre STD Fungus Will Emerge In US
These loudmouth bugs will soon be brainwashed horndogs.
A creepy sexually transmitted fungus is expected to morph millions of cicadas into hyper-horny "zombies" by hijacking their bodies so they'll spread the infection in parts of the US this spring, according to scientists.
The horror-movie style fungal pathogen, known as Massospora cicadina, will cause the insects mate like crazy in parts of the Southeast and Midwest — as record numbers of the noisy bugs emerge from the ground, an expert told CBS News.
A cicada infected with the Massospora cicadina fungus. Gerry – stock.Adobe.ComThe fungus causes a chalky white plug to burst through the insects' backsides, taking over their brains and causing their genitals to fall off.
It then acts as a "puppet master" by sending a flood of adrenaline to help males pose as females in order to pass the infection through sex.
"In that way, the fungus is sexually transmissible. So, it spreads like an STD," Matthew Kasson, an associate professor of Mycology and Forest Pathology at West Virginia University, told CBS.
"There's this hyper-sexualized behavior. So, males for example, they'll continue to try and mate with females — unsuccessfully, because again, their back end is a fungus," he said.
"But they'll also pretend to be females to get males to come to them. And that doubles the number of cicadas that an infected individual comes in contact with."
Periodical cicadas spend most of their lives underground, popping up every 13 or 17 years depending on the breed.
Cicadas are expected to emerge in record numbers this spring. REUTERSThis year, two species of cicadas will emerge likely between late April and June — causing trillions of the bugs to swarm the states simultaneously for the first time in more than 200 years.
Brood XIX, will pop up in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia.
Brood XIII, by contrast, will appear in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
Both species are vulnerable to the strange infection, Kasson said.
"The cicada continues to participate in normal activities, like it would if it was healthy," Kasson said. "Like it tries to mate, it flies around, it walks on plants. Yet, a third of its body has been replaced by fungus. That's really kind of bizarre."
Male cicadas generally make a loud humming sound to attract female mates while lady insects flick their wings to show they want to get busy.
But the zombie fungus makes males flick their wings for a same-sex hookup.
It's not clear if the infection will affect other wildlife or humans — but thousands of compounds can become infected cicadas, Kasson said.
"We know that a lot of animals are gobbling these cicadas up as they're emerging — snakes and birds. Is it possible they're having an effect on the animals that eat them? Yes, it is possible."
Scientists suspect spores from the fungus lay dormant in the soil before infecting cicadas underground.
Millions of the bugs will develop hyper-sexual zombie-like qualities from the fungus. REUTERSOverall, less than 5% of the trillion of cicadas expected to emerge will likely be infected by the fungus, he said.
Researchers haven't seen any impact on other forms of wildlife.
What You Need To Know About Uveitis
Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, or the uvea, and the surrounding tissue. It can cause pain, eye redness, and cloudy vision.
The term "uveitis" refers to a range of conditions rather than a single symptom. An injury to the eye, infection, inflammation, and some underlying diseases may cause it.
Uveitis can lead to swelling and damage in the tissue of the eye. Untreated, it may lead to vision loss and other issues. It can affect one or both eyes.
Keep reading to learn the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of uveitis.
Uveitis is inflammation of uvea. The uvea, also known as the uveal layer, uveal coat, uveal tract, or vascular tunic, is the middle layer of tissue found in the wall of the eye. This layer within the eye helps with several functions, including absorption of light and focusing.
The uvea consists of several parts. These include the:
The different types of uveitis affect different parts of the uvea, as described below.
Types of uveitisThere are four different types of uveitis based on where they occur on the uvea. They include:
Uveitis types can be either acute or chronic. "Acute" means short-term, while "chronic" means long-term.
The signs and symptoms of uveitis can vary. Often, they occur suddenly, but they can come on gradually. Possible symptoms include:
Without treatment, uveitis can lead to vision loss.
Uveitis can occur in anyone. The inflammation may occur only in the eye, or have links to conditions that affect other parts of the body, too.
Infections that may cause or increase the risk of uveitis include:
Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders may also cause uveitis. These include:
Injury to the eye is another possible cause of uveitis. Injury may be due to trauma, recent surgery, or exposure to chemicals.
Risk factorsSeveral factors can increase a person's risk of developing uveitis. Some common risk factors are:
In addition, females have a higher chance of developing uveitis than males.
An eye doctor will be able to see uveitis when performing an eye exam.
During an exam, the doctor will likely look at the eye with a special slit lamp. The key feature of uveitis is seeing white blood cells either in the anterior chamber or vitreous.
Other findings include bumps on the cornea, called keratic precipitates. If there is inflammation in the iris, patients may feel some pain when the pupil contracts, which is when light hits it.
Due to the number of potential underlying conditions that may cause uveitis, the doctor may refer a person to a uveitis specialist or rheumatologist for a complete check-up and diagnosis of an underlying condition.
A person with uveitis who receives prompt and appropriate treatment will usually recover. Without treatment, the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, band keratopathy, retinal edema, and permanent vision loss increases.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the most common treatment for uveitis involves the use of corticosteroid drops to help reduce inflammation. In addition, a person may use eye drops to help open the pupils, which reduces swelling and pain.
An ophthalmologist may also prescribe one of the following:
A doctor may also recommend immunomodulator therapy or biologics to help reduce the immune system response. If an ophthalmologist or optometrist suspects an underlying autoimmune disorder, they will likely recommend that a person contact a rheumatologist for specialized care.
Which treatment a doctor recommends can vary based on the type of uveitis.
Treating anterior uveitisSome common treatments for anterior uveitis include:
A doctor may use additional methods to treat intermediate, posterior, and anterior uveitis, including:
The treatment they suggest will depend on the underlying cause.
Prompt treatment and close monitoring can help reduce the risk of complications.
If they do occur, they may include:
With early diagnosis and treatment, the outlook for uveitis is often positive. While people can develop complications, there are treatments that can significantly reduce the risk of permanent vision loss.
The time it takes to recover from uveitis depends on the underlying cause, and whether it is acute or chronic.
People living with chronic forms of uveitis may need ongoing monitoring and care to ensure that other conditions, such as cataracts or glaucoma, do not develop.
A person can reduce their risk of vision loss from uveitis by following all treatment recommendations to reduce inflammation and pressure in the eye.
The following helps answer some common questions about uveitis.
Is there a natural cure for uveitis?No, there is no proven natural cure for uveitis. It is essential that people with this condition get treatment from an eye doctor, as alternative therapies may not work, which may mean a person eventually loses vision.
Complementary therapies may help to reduce symptoms of chronic conditions that can lead to uveitis, but they are not a cure and may not directly benefit the eyes. They are not a substitute for medical care.
A person should talk with their doctor about complementary therapies before starting one, as they can have risks.
What is the difference between uveitis and conjunctivitis?Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, affects the outer layer of the eye, while uveitis affects the middle layer.
While both can cause red, irritated eyes, conjunctivitis often does not cause vision issues. However, a person may experience watery eyes, a feeling that something is stuck in the eye, discharge, or irritation.
The causes of these conditions also differ. While uveitis may be the result of inflammation from a range of causes, conjunctivitis is typically the result of an infection, irritant, or allergen.
Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. There are several types of uveitis based on the parts of the eye it affects. A person may develop acute or chronic forms, which affects the outlook.
Treatment can vary, but the main focus is to reduce inflammation and swelling to prevent complications. People living with an underlying condition, such as an autoimmune disease, should work with their doctor to manage both conditions and reduce the risk of vision loss.
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