6 Common Causes of Dry Eye Syndrome

We’ve all experienced dry eyes in some form. Dry eyes cause a telltale burning discomfort, redness, itchiness, and tear-inducing feeling associated with staring at a computer for too long, or maybe from seasonal allergies. Either way, chronic dry eyes, or what’s known as dry eye syndrome affects a shocking 5 million Americans when eyes lack adequate lubrication (tears) and moisture on the eye’s surface.
Tear production is the natural eye lubrication that aids clear vision, banishes debris from the surface of the eye, and safeguards the eyes from infection and other health issues (i.e., conjunctivitis). Lack of natural eye lubrication and insufficient tear production is caused by several underlying health issues, including:

1. Environment
   Several external or environmental factors can contribute to dry eyes, particularly if you’re prone to seasonal allergies due to tree and plant pollens. Other factors that can trigger the dry, itchy, red, and watery symptoms of dry eyes include overexposure to dry weather, high wind, dry air, and smoke.
2. Eyelid deformities
   The structure of the eyelids play a large role in tear production. If eyelids are deformed so that they improperly close, the eyes can be prone to dehydration due to lack of tears, as well as prone to debris and infection.
3. Medications
   Dry eyes can often be an uncomfortable side effect of taking medications. For instance, decongestants, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and even some antidepressants can impair healthy tear production and dehydrate the eyes.
4. Lifestyle elements
   Those of us who sit staring at a computer screen for multiple hours of the day, know what it’s like to experience dry eyes from lack of blinking (and eye lubrication). Same goes for those who travel in airplanes regularly, as the interior of most planes is often dry and lacking oxygen.
5. Aging
   Eye lubrication naturally declines with age, which means many individuals develop dry eyes after the age of 50. Women also tend to develop dry eyes after menopause.
6. Health conditions
   Several health conditions (or medications used to treat them) contribute to dry eyes. For instance, patients with lupus, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and like diabetes also suffer with eye dryness.                               
   

   this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
   https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
   https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
   https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement     

Body Signs You Shouldn't Ignore

Some symptoms seem harmless. But what if you're also ignoring a more serious one that indicates having a certain illness? Without a doubt, it's worth knowing these changes to be able to see if something is wrong so you can visit your doctor in time. Here are 10 body signals that you should pay closer attention to:

 

1. Dry or cracked lips

When you have flaky dry skin, this is a clear sign of an allergy. So pay close attention to the cosmetics that you use. Be aware too, of oral hygiene products, food that you eat and medicines. Cracks that appear in the corners of the mouth may indicate a lack of certain vitamins including B, A and E. If you have dry eyes, a dry mouth and problems with your digestive system, you had better visit a doctor because it can be a combination of symptoms which are specific for an autoimmune disease called Sjögren syndrome.
2. Eyebrow loss
Thick brows are a current trend. But, they can also be a big health indicator. A periodical loss of eyebrow hair is quite normal, but if you notice an excessive loss of hair as well as the appearance of bald spots or possibly, a complete disappearance of the eyebrows, be sure to contact a doctor immediately. It can be connected to an excessive or an insufficient level of thyroid activity. 

3. Nail dystrophy

A change in color or structure should be checked immediately. Thin and pale nails can be a sign of anemia and a lack of iron in the body while yellowing can be a signal of liver and gastric tract disorders or a fungal infection. White spots and stripes may be due to a lack of zinc, copper, and iodine. And the nails can become very brittle when faced with a lack of vitamins, calcium, iron, and beta-carotene in the body. 

4. Pale lips with a bright contour
If you notice a red border of the lower lip becomes swollen, and you see there are small bubbles, it is likely that you are very sensitive to ultraviolet rays. What you can do in this situation is decrease your exposure to the sun, and use sunscreen cosmetics. If you notice the same symptoms on the middle part of the lip, it could indicate vegetative neurosis. So taking sedatives will become an important part of treatment along with anti-inflammatory ointments. A severe swelling and redness of the entire lip may indicate an allergic reaction. In which case, be sure to pay attention to what cosmetics and toothpaste you are using. 

5. Red face

If we exclude natural physiological changes such as a change in temperature, a massage, or alcohol consumption, there are three main reasons for getting red in the face. In women over 40, this is due to a decrease in hormone levels which indicate the beginning of menopause. A red face may also indicate the presence of infections that cause demodicosis. Partial redness that is accompanied by sudden attacks of dizziness can signify pressure fluctuations that can be normalized with the help of special medicines.  
6. Dry heels
Dry heels could occur due to a lack of the vitamins A and E. It can also be caused by a presence of fungal infections that affects the overall condition of the epidermis. The last case usually goes together with numerous cracks and the yellowing of nail plates. If dryness and roughness persist even after proper care and an adequate intake of vitamins, it may be a sign of endocrine disruption. 

7. Dry hands and dry skin on the body

During colder seasons, dry skin is normal. But using a moisturizing cream, consuming plenty of water and taking vitamins are quite helpful. If these solutions don't work, visit a dermatologist as dry skin is one of the common signs of diabetes and hypothyroidism. If your skin is both rough and peeling, and also tight and full of cracks, it may turn out to be dermatitis caused by a natural reaction to chemical exposure.  
8. Foot deformity
The displacement of a foot bent inward and a change in the shape of the foot characterized by the omission of the longitudinal or transverse arches may indicate a flatfoot. Studies show that transverse flatfoot combined with other deformations tends to occur more often than longitudinal flatfoot. In addition, women are generally more vulnerable to it, due to wearing high heels which cause an uneven load distribution. Heels tend to put the biggest load on the area of the transverse arch. When this arch isn't able to stand such a load, the foot can get unpleasant, painful, pulling sensations which indicate the beginning of a deformation.

9. White stains on teeth

This is also known as dental fluorosis, a chronic disease that develops either before teething or after, when consuming large amounts of water or products with a high content of fluorine compounds. There are also 5 types of fluorosis classification, which are, questionable, very mild, mild, moderate and severe. The first three variations tend to manifest visually through the appearance of stains, while the last two, lead to decaying teeth tissues and teeth crumbling. 
10. Hair loss
A person tends to shed on average, about 100 hairs per day. This is caused because hair follicles go through certain growth stages that can last from two to eight years. Once the growth stage is over, the hair strands fall out and new ones begin to grow after a two-month rest. This means at one point in time, about 80 to 90% of a person's hair is growing, while the rest is shedding or is in a resting phase. If, however, you've noticed more significant hair loss, be sure to consult your doctor as a number of diseases could be the cause, including skin infections, thyroid disorders and immune disorders.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                             PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                    https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              

FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Dry Mouth: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM         

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR CROCHET DESIGNS- http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com/

 Effects of Dry Mouth

When your mouth makes little or no saliva, it affects more than just your thirst. Saliva helps you taste and digest what you eat and drink. It flushes food particles from your teeth and reduces the acids that cause tooth decay.

Lack of saliva makes the skin in and around your mouth dry and tight. Your lips may become cracked. Sores might form at the corners of your mouth. Your tongue may feel rough and dry. It may also be tough to swallow and talk.

Because saliva isn't flushing your mouth of food particles and debris regularly, people with dry mouth often get bad breath. If you wear lipstick, it might end up on your teeth because there’s nothing there to rinse it off. Feeling hoarse or have a tickle in your throat? Dry mouth may be the cause.

Causes of Dry Mouth
 More than 400 types of medicine can cause dry mouth, including over-the-counter drugs for allergies and cold symptoms. Prescription drugs for high blood pressure, overactive bladder, and mental health problems can also cause it. Radiation can damage salivary glands, and chemotherapy can cause saliva to thicken and make your mouth feel dry.

 Nerve damage from a head or neck injury can lead to dry mouth. Some nerves carry messages between the brain and the salivary glands. If these nerves are damaged, they may not be able to tell the salivary glands to make saliva.

 Dry mouth can be caused by a medical condition called Sjögren's syndrome. It's an autoimmune disorder in which white blood cells attack the body's tear and salivary glands. People with diabetes or HIV can also get dry mouth.

 Smoking doesn’t cause dry mouth. But smoking cigarettes or cigars, or using pipes or other tobacco products, even smokeless ones, can aggravate it.
 

 Talk to your doctor or dentist if you're suffering from dry mouth. If you're not taking medications that cause it, your symptoms might point to an undiagnosed medical condition like Sjögren's syndrome or diabetes.

  A lack of saliva can be harmful to your teeth. Regular dental checkups are essential if you have dry mouth. Brush and floss every day. If you can't brush after eating, rinse. Sip water frequently throughout the day, and use alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash daily.

How to improve saliva production
 Check with your doctor to see if medicine would help.

Sucking on sugar-free candy or chewing sugar-free gum can do the trick.

Over-the-counter products help relieve dry mouth symptoms.

Sipping water frequently will help keep your mouth moist.

Drinking water or milk with meals increases moisture and helps with chewing and swallowing.

Sleep in a room with a humidifier. You may feel better in the morning.

Steer clear of sugary, acidic, or caffeinated drinks.
 
See your dentist for regular cleanings and exams.

Eating seafood increases risk of autoimmune disorder

Exposure to mercury through seafood could increase the risk of autoimmune disorders, especially among women of childbearing age, a study says.

Autoimmune disorders, which cause the body's immune system to attack healthy cells by mistake, predominately affect women.

"We do not have a very good sense of why people develop autoimmune disorders," said lead author Emily Somers, associate professor at the University of Michigan Medical and Public Health Schools.
"In our study, exposure to mercury stood out as the main risk factor for autoimmunity," Somers added.

Autoimmune disease - which can include such conditions as inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis - is among the 10 leading causes of death among women, the study noted.

For the study, the researchers analysed data among women aged 16-49 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999-2004.

Greater exposure to mercury was associated with a higher rate of autoantibodies, a precursor to autoimmune disease.

Fish such as swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish contain the highest levels of mercury while shrimp, canned light tuna and salmon have lower levels.

The authors noted that there were many health benefits to seafood, a lean protein packed with vital nutrients. However, they added that women of reproductive age should be mindful of the type of fish they are eating.

The study appeared in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.








PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-
HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/ 

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/

FOR CROCHET DESIGNS

HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Sjogren’s syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome ( SS)     pronounced as Show-grins

While SS is one of the most common auto-immune disorders, few people have heard of it & normally doctors rarely ask patients to test for it.

When SS strikes, the body’s immune system attacks its own secretory glands & tissues, causing the classical symptoms of dryness of eyes & mouth. Severe fatigue is another hallmark symptom.

While 9 out of 10 patients are women in the age group of 20-40, the delay in diagnosis averages 6-8 years due to its disparate symptoms.

The symptoms are subtle & non-specific in the beginning & a patient therefore visits a number of specialists like eye doctors, dentists, rheumatologists etc. A patient struggles through a myriad physical distresses like debilitating fatigue, respiratory problems, joint pains, dryness of mouth, skin rashes, dryness of mouth & eyes for many years before getting diagnosed.

Women may suffer from dyspareunia- painful intercourse, because of dry vagina. A small percentage of patients can even develop cancer of the lymph glands.

Patients should learn how to manage their problems once diagnosed, like when the mouth gets dry, then to take the medicines prescribed, which is in proportion to the dryness, also what foods should be avoided, like for some almonds, or cashew nuts. Some may need eye drops, when the eyes get too dry, so one should carry water & eye drops whenever they move out of their homes.

Only positive thing is over the years, some doctors are also getting aware of this disease & stopped telling patients that it is all in their heads.