Taking aspirin significantly increases risk of blindness

Regular use of aspirin can dramatically increase the risk of an eye disease - that causes blindness - in older people, researchers warn.

A new study found a link between regular use of aspirin and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - the most common cause of sight loss in people over 50s.

Aspirin is one of the most widely used medications in the world and is commonly used in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) and ischemic stroke, according to a report published by JAMA Internal Medicine.

While a recent study suggested that regular aspirin use was associated with AMD, particularly the more visually devastating neovascular (wet) form, other studies have reported inconsistent findings. Smoking is also a preventable risk factor for AMD, researchers said.

Gerald Liew, of the University of Sydney, and colleagues examined whether regular aspirin use, defined as once or more per week in the past year, was associated with a higher risk of developing AMD by conducting a prospective analysis of data from an Australian study that included four examinationsduring a 15-year period. Of 2,389 participants, 257 individuals (10.8 per cent) were regular aspirin users.

After the 15-year follow-up, 63 individuals (24.5 per cent) developed incident neovascular AMD.
"The cumulative incidence of neovascular AMD among nonregular aspirin users was 0.8 per cent at five years, 1.6 per cent at 10 years, and 3.7 per cent at 15 years. Among regular aspirin users, the cumulative incidence was 1.9 per cent at five years, 7 per cent at 10 years and 9.3 per cent at 15 years, respectively," researchers said.

"Regular aspirin use was significantly associated with an increased incidence of neovascular AMD," they said.

Researchers note that any decision concerning whether to stop aspirin therapy is "complex and needs to be individualised".

"Currently, there is insufficient evidence to recommend changing clinical practise, except perhaps in patients with strong risk factors for neovascular AMD (e.g. existing late AMD in the fellow eye) in whom it may be appropriate to raise the potentially small risk of incident neovascular AMD with long-term aspirin therapy," researchers conclude.

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Neuropathy Causes and Natural Solutions

The term Neuropathy is short for 'peripheral neuropathy'. It relates to nerve damage suffered by the peripheral nervous system, which is in charge of our nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. 

 

Neuropathy is a complication that can be caused by a number of various conditions. Physical trauma, repetitive injury, infections, metabolic problems and exposure to toxins and some drugs can all lead to peripheral neuropathy. 

 

Signs and symptoms of neuropathy

Neuropathy usually starts as a tingling or burning sensation at our extremeties, such as finger and toes. There is also a loss of sensation at the edge of the nerves that patients have reported feels like they are weaking a thin stocking or glove on their hands. 

The precise symptoms differ from patient to patient based on the types of nerves affected. There are three types of nerves that may be affected by neuropathy: Sensory, motor and autonomic.

Sensory nerves

Sensory nerves are responsible for collecting sensory information for the body, such as touch. Neuropathy of the sensory nerves can be expressed as:

- Spreading numbness and tingling in hands and/or feet (which can spread to the arms and legs).

- Burning, sharp or electric-like pain

- Extreme sensitivity to touch

- Problems with coordination

Motor nerves:

Motor nerves are the nerves responsible for activating our muscles and control movements.

 

- Muscle weakness

- Paralysis

Autonomic nerves:

Autonomic nerves are responsible for internal actions of the body, such as regulating digestion, heat and blood pressure.

- Intolerance to heat

- Problems with digestion, bladder and bowel control

- Dizziness (or light headedness) brought about by problems with blood pressure.

 

A common cause of neuropathy: Diabetes

For diabetics, neuropathy can be quite common. That said, about 50% of diabetics who have neuropathy won't notice the symptoms, and it will stay on a very low level. For the other 50%, however, the symptoms will be unavoidable. Pain is the most common complaint, usually a 'prickling', 'stabbing' or 'burning' pain, that happens mostly at night. This, along with a numbness that feels as if the limb is 'asleep' - occurs predominantly in the toes, feet and legs.

 

What do doctors prescribe for this condition?

Most doctors will stick to the old medical regime of anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, steroid and cortisone injections, lidocaine patches and pain killers. These are powerful drugs that address the painful sensations for short and long term relief. However, as powerful drugs, they have a host of side-effects and must be administered very carefully. Some medical practiontioners recommend electrical stimulation of the pain area and of the spine. The medical community is united in agreement that more solutions to this problem are required, but progress has been very slow from the medical and drug industry so far.

Natural solutions to neuropathy 

First off, if you are suffering from diabetes related neuropathy, you must do the following:

- Give up smoking

- Cut down on alcohol consumption or give it up altogether

- Maintain a healthy weight

- Exercise

Other recommended habits for those suffering from neuropathy include: Wearing clothing that causes less irritation, such as cotton, covering the sensitive areas with wound dressing or cling film and using cold packs. 

Stress relief is also a big help when it comes to neuropathy, and so relaxation techniques are a big help, such as yoga, meditation and acupuncture.

Vitamin therapy

Clinical studies have shown that certain supplements can have a cumulative effect on the symptoms and causes of neuropathy. These herbal extracts can be taken without worry that they may clash with a parallel medical treatment. Certain herbal extracts and formulas offer a level of relief that has rarely been reached by just using medical procedures. This must be taken daily to achieve the desired relief.

Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12.

Vitamin B deficiency is one of the major causes of neuropathy, and also one of the best natural solutions. All herbal extracts contain large amounts of vitamin B1, usually in its common form of thiamine. 

Recent natural medications have reverted to using benfotiamine, which has been found to be significantly more effective in delivering vitamin B than thiamine is (x3).

Stabilized R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA)

This powerful antioxidant that is one of the rare few materials that can pass through the brain's blood/brain barrier to enter the brain and go directly where it is needed the most. 

Most importantly, it has a specific effect on the nerves that eases the pain and numbness associated with neuropathy, and promotes better blood flow and oxygen to the nerves.

Recent studies have reported that just by using the R-ALA alone, orally, has reduced symptoms of neuropathy.

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