How many of us get our eyes tested regularly? I’d bet not enough, but did you know that 75% of vision loss is preventable or treatable if found early? Sudden changes in vision or eye complaints with a headache, dizziness or loss of balance are warning signs to see your doctor. Today we are going to take a look at the two leading causes of vision loss and how they can be managed best.
Gout is a form of arthritis. The big toe is affected most but ankles, hands and knees also are involved. A gout attack usually comes on very quickly, often overnight, with extreme pain and swelling in the joint. The skin over the joint can become red and shiny. Without treatment, the pain usually goes away in about a week. Left untreated, however, over time attacks can become more frequent and more severe.
With the kids back at school, head lice often becomes a hot topic for many parents. Head lice are small, flat insects about three millimetres long that live on the human scalp, feeding on blood. They cannot jump, fly or swim but are spread when people have their heads close together or by sharing combs, brushes and hats. The female lice lay eggs called nits close to the scalp and these are glued firmly to each hair. The eggs hatch in about a week and live for up to 40 days.
Often when we see bones, they are dry and brittle but in our bodies they are living, growing tissues made of a soft collagen framework and minerals for strength and hardness, to be strong and flexible under stress. As we age our bones can become less dense, leading to Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases our risk of fractures and breaks but, in many cases, is preventable.
Problems and diseases of the prostate are common health concerns facing men but the good news is that there is a lot you can do to monitor your own prostate health and keep yourself fit and healthy. The prostate gland is located at the base of the bladder and is part of the male reproductive system. It is about the size of a walnut and the fluid it secretes mixes with semen and nourishes sperm. The gland encircles the urethra and most of the signs of prostate problems relate to urine flow changes. The most common prostate problems are enlargement of the prostate (also called benign prostatic hyperplasia), inflammation of the prostate and cancer.
