These Tests are a Must for All Men Post 40

In a life full of stresses, pressure, unhealthy habits and at times health crisis too, the body is bound to face long periods of depreciation. Its no secret that even if you're 25 at heart, the body fails to keep up. These tests will tell you exactly where you stand as compared to the fittest version of yourself. They will tell you what you need to work on, and what old age problems you must definitely beware of. Ensure that you don't risk anything, prevention is certainly better than cure. This International  Men's Health Week, we want to tell all the men out there the tests you must get done as you turn older. 

So, here are 9 tests that all men over 40 must take:

1. Digital rectal exam: The digital rectal exam detects early signs of prostate cancer and other problems with the prostate gland. Lumps or enlargement could be early signs of this disease, and all men after 40, must take special care to ensure they don't suffer from this it. The prostate-specific antigen test can also be conducted to back the findings of the digital rectal exam.

2. Testosterone test: Testosterone levels in a man can be monitored through a simple blood or saliva test. A low testosterone level can cause serious cases of erectile dysfunction, fatigue, weight gain, muscle loss, hair fall, insomnia, focus loss, thinning of bones and mood swings.

3. Bone density: Osteoporosis is extremely common with people above the age of 50. and causes the body to extract calcium from the bones to put to use in other places, leading to a thinning of the bones. A bone density exam can measure the strength of your bones and help you answer other such important questions.

4. Blood sugar: Diabetes is an extremely common disease, and is extremely dangerous. Being overweight, having high blood pressure, are all important factors to be considered when checking for diabetes. A simple blood sugar test would suffice.

5. Blood pressure: Get the sphygmomanometer out. Its time to check whether your blood is flowing at a healthy pace. Its a hidden problem, and can cause problems with your vital organs if unchecked. To ensure you are clocking 110/70, make sure to get yourself checked.

6. Cholesterol screening: Having high levels of cholesterol is more common than you'd think. With the influx of fast food, and other high cholesterol varieties, the risk of heart disease will only increase. This is part of the routine blood test, so look out for it.

7. Colorectal screening: Colon cancer can be prevented by tests such as a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy or a faecal occult blood test. You must consider a screening if you have a history of inflammatory bowel etc. The need for a colorectal exam also increases if there exists a family history of colon cancer.

8. Dental exam: Get your teeth cleaned more often, calcium is now a prized commodity in your body, and make sure you don't lose your teeth in the process.

9. Eye exam: Hypermetropia or long sightedness is quite common with old age, myopia is just as likely. Simultaneously, glaucoma can be prevented with regular eye exams, specially if you are already diagnosed with diabetes.

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How to Protect Your Eye-sight

Only those who are blind will know the true value of eye-sight. Luckily, most of us can see and at times we're careless in not taking proper care of our eyes, which are true windows to our world.

1. Protect your eyes from the sun

The skin that surrounds your eyes is very thin and susceptible to ultraviolet radiation. Different types of skin cancer, such as carcinoma and melanoma, are able to form in your eyelids and around your eyes, which can cause a lot of damage to the eye structure.
Your sunglasses are also important, and you should buy a pair that gives you 100% protection from both UVA and UVB rays since they are both able to stimulate issues that cause macular degeneration and cataracts, both common causes of blindness.

2. What you eat matters

Eating well is the best way to ensure proper eye care, says an ophthalmologist. She also says that you should try to get most of your nutrients from food.
Green leafy vegetables provide your body with the nutrients zeaxanthin and lutein, both of which have been shown to decrease the risk of eye diseases. The vitamin A that orange and yellow vegetables contain also boost eye health, while certain fruits, such as mangoes, oranges, and strawberries provide your eyes with a healthy dose of vitamin C and other antioxidants.

3. Comprehensive eye exams detect vision problems early

Getting your eyes tested regularly is the best way to catch a range of eye issues, like glaucoma or diabetic eye disease. Most people with ocular issues, or those over 65, should see their eye doctor at least once a year to ensure that their sight hasn’t changed at all. People between 40 and 55 should take an eye exam every 2 to 4 years, while those between 55 and 65 should take one every 1 to 3 years.

4. Smoking now can cause eye issues later

“Get off tobacco in any form,” the Dr. says. Smoking causes cyanide to enter into your bloodstream, which is known to kill the eye’s cells. Smoking puts you at an increased risk of cataract development and will make your eyes dry out. What's more, it also increases your risk of developing macular degeneration, which is an incurable condition that harms center eye vision, according to the experts.

5. Working on a computer all day could give you dry eyes

According to another expert, one of the most common symptoms of dry eyes is an eye that waters. This is due to the deterioration of the oily and mucous layers, which prevents the evaporation of tears, thereby causing the eye to compensate by producing more water. Dry eyes might also be caused by certain medications, such as antidepressants, inflammation, or even hormonal changes.
To treat dry eyes, try the 20-20-20 rule, which is recommended by the doctors - Every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds looking at something that's at least 20 feet away. A warm compress could also help, as can artificial tears that help deal with tired eyes.

6. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness inmost countries

Preventing diabetes is the most effective way to avoid diabetic retinopathy, which has been found to be the most common cause of blindness. In fact, 60% of patients with Type 2 diabetes will end up developing it, while almost all people with Type I diabetes end up developing it.
Even though no symptoms appear during its early stages, it is very important to catch retinopathy as early as can be. With time, your vision may blur and you could even end up completely blind. Controlling blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure can prevent it from getting worse. This condition can be treated through laser surgery, which can lessen the chances of further blindness.

7. After 60, macular degeneration is a major cause of blindness

Macular degeneration takes place when eye tissue begins to degenerate, leading to blurriness or loss of vision in the center of the eye. There are two distinct types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. If vision loss is caused by retinal fluid, then eye injections can treat it.
Unfortunately, most cases are dry, for which no treatment is available. Risk factors for macular degeneration include smoking, a family history of the condition, lutein and zeaxanthin deficiencies, and not wearing sunglasses.

8. Cataracts are common but highly treatable

Cataracts are a typical part of aging and usually appear around the age of sixty. Typical signs of a cataract include seeing faded colors, blurred vision, glare, double vision, and reduced night vision. Cataracts are linked to exposure to UV radiation or certain types of radiation therapy, such as the ones used in cancer treatment. Certain drugs such as prednisone may also increase the risk of cataract development. Luckily, cataracts are often very easy to cure.

9. Damage to the optic nerve causes glaucoma

Glaucoma is renowned for being secretive and insidious, and the only way to detect it is through an eye test. It occurs when pressure builds up and starts to harm the optic nerve. The condition progresses very slowly, the Dr. says, and it can take years for the nerve damage to become severe enough to cause vision problems.
The risk is higher for diabetics or those with a family history. In most cases, treatment includes a daily eye drop to reduce eye pressure. If the drops fail to provide any tangible improvement, then surgery may be the only choice left.

10. Your eyes tell a lot about your health

Your eyes actually act as an indicator of your overall health condition. Dry eyes can be symptomatic of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or even thyroid disease. Blurred vision could be indicative of diabetes or a tumor, and itchy eyes may be caused by an allergic reaction to contact lenses.

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/   

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New eye test may detect early signs of glaucoma

Researchers have developed a simple eye test that could help solve the biggest global cause of irreversible blindness, glaucoma, by detecting the onset of the disease at a very early stage.

Loss of sight in patients with glaucoma is caused by the death of cells in the retina at the back of the eye. This cell death is called apoptosis.

The new technique called DARC stands for detection of apoptosing retinal cells.

It uses a specially developed fluorescent marker which attaches to cell proteins when injected into patients. Sick cells appear as white fluorescent spots during eye examination.

In clinical trials, the pioneering diagnostic — developed by researchers at the University College London (UCL) and the Western Eye Hospital in England — allowed doctors to see individual nerve cell death in the back of the eye.

“Detecting glaucoma early is vital as symptoms are not always obvious. Although detection has been improving, most patients have lost a third of vision by the time they are diagnosed,” said led researcher Professor Francesca Cordeiro of the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

“Now, for the first time, we have been able to show individual cell death and detect the earliest signs of glaucoma. While we cannot cure the disease, our test means treatment can start before symptoms begin.”

Glaucoma affects an estimated 60 million people in the world, with one in 10 suffering total sight loss in both the eyes.

Initial clinical trials were carried out on a small number of glaucoma patients and compared with tests on healthy people. The initial clinical trials established the safety of the test for patients, according to a study published in the journal BRAIN.

The researchers believe the test has potential for early diagnosis of other degenerative neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.

“In the future, the test could also be used to diagnose other neuro-degenerative diseases,” Cordeiro said.
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Smell, eye tests may detect Alzheimer's early

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While scientists are closer to developing a blood test to predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease, Indian-origin professor Davangere Devanand and other researchers have found our eyes and sense of smell could well hold the key to detecting the disorder early in a cheaper and easier way.

A decreased ability to identify odour might indicate the development of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, while examinations of the eye could indicate the build-up of beta-amyloid, a protein associated with Alzheimer's in the brain, the findings of four research trials showed.

"In the face of the growing worldwide Alzheimer's disease epidemic, there is a pressing need for simple, less invasive diagnostic tests that will identify the risk of Alzheimer's much earlier in the disease process," said Heather Snyder, director of medical and scientific operations, Alzheimer's Association.

Early detection is essential for early intervention and prevention, when new treatments become available, Snyder noted.

Clinically, at this time it is only possible to detect Alzheimer's late in its development, when significant brain damage has already occurred.

Beta-amyloid protein is the primary material found in the sticky brain "plaques" characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

In a study led by Devanand, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Centre in the US, researchers investigated a multi-ethnic sample of 1,037 non-demented elderly people in New York City and found that in 757 subjects who were followed, lower odour identification scores on a smell identification test were significantly associated with the transition to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

"Odour identification deficits were associated with the transition to dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and with cognitive decline in cognitively intact participants, in our community sample," Devanand noted.

In a separate study researchers found that amyloid levels detected in the retina were significantly correlated with brain amyloid levels as shown by PET (Positron emission tomography) imaging.

The results of the studies were reported Sunday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.