Tag Archives: Facts

University Hospitals Case Medical Center Expert Provides the Facts about Joint Replacement

June 27, 2012     No comments


Cleveland, Ohio (PRWEB) May 18, 2012

Medications. Physical therapy. Steroid injections. Many people try them all, but their joint pain always seems to come back.

Joint replacement surgery could be an option, though, naturally, many patients are apprehensive. (It is surgery, after all.)

But with recent advances in surgical technologies and pain management techniques, there?s no need to fear joint replacement, says Matthew Kraay, MD, director of joint reconstruction and arthritis surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedics, and professor of orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

?These are very commonly performed surgeries ? half a million knee replacements and 200,000 hip replacements are performed in the country every year,? Dr. Kraay says. ?They are much safer, more durable and more effective procedures than in the past.?

Here are some common fears and facts about joint replacement.

FEAR: ?I?m too old/ unhealthy for surgery.?

FACT: Most joint replacement candidates range in age from 50s to 80s, Dr. Kraay says, but being older doesn?t necessarily preclude someone from surgery. ?The bottom line is that most people are healthy enough for surgery,? he says. ?We prefer to not replace joints in really young people, but if they are on the older end of the spectrum, most of the time they are healthy enough for surgery.?

FEAR: ?I?m afraid the joint won?t feel like me.?

FACT: Fearing that an artificial joint won?t feel as if it?s a normal part of their body is common, but people shouldn’t let that fear keep them from a life of painfree movement. ?Many people get back to their normal function, and while the joint itself may not feel identical to their natural joint, the point of the surgery is to relieve their pain, and joint replacement can do that,? Dr. Kraay says.

FEAR: ?Rehabilitation will be too hard.?

FACT: Rehabilitation after joint replacement surgery is really where the rubber meets the road, and the prospect may seem daunting. But just as with surgery, rehabilitation isn?t what it used to be. ?Many people think that rehab is long and involved and takes forever, but that?s not really the case. We do have pretty accelerated rehabs due largely to improved surgical techniques and postoperative care,? Dr. Kraay says. Smaller incisions for hip replacement and more aggressive pain management programs for knees are helping people get back on their feet and rehabilitate faster than ever before.

FEAR: ?It won?t last.?

FACT: Many people delay joint replacement until later in life because they have been led to believe that replacements last only 10 years. But by postponing surgery, they could be missing out on years of pain-free activity: Well-performed hip and knee replacements should last much longer, Dr. Kraay says. ?There?s a 95 percent chance that a hip or knee replacement will last between 15 and 25 years. For most people in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond, their artificial joints will last the rest of their life,? he says.

FEAR: ?I?m concerned about joint recalls.?

FACT: Seeing news stories about recalled joint implants could make anyone fearful about joint replacement, but Dr. Kraay says that only a handful of implants and devices are ever recalled. ?Most perform very well, but the real issue is, there are some highly proven technologies that have been extensively analyzed and have a proven record of success. It is important to remember that just because a technique is ?new? doesn?t mean it?s better,? he says. ?We recommend that patients go with proven and tested technologies and there are certainly plenty of those available.?

FEAR: ?I won?t be able to do the things that I enjoy.?

FACT: ?One common worry many people share is that their activities will be limited by joint replacement. But most people can get back to a high level of activity with minimal limitations following surgery,? says Dr. Kraay. High-impact activities, such as running, jumping and heavy lifting, aren?t recommended after hip and knee replacement, but most people can resume unlimited low-impact activities, such as swimming, golf, doubles tennis and biking. It?s important, however, to have realistic expectations about what your postsurgery life will be like, and the level of activity you?re able to reach has a lot to do with where you were before surgery. ?If an individual is overweight, out of shape or someone who is very elderly and has been extremely sedentary, they?re not going to get back to walking 10 miles a day because that?s probably not something they?ve done since they were in their 20s,? Dr. Kraay says.

?But if a person has reasonable expectations and is sensible about getting back to activities, he or she is most likely going to be satisfied with the results.?







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Obesity Facts and Effects: An Alarming Condition

October 25, 2011     No comments

Obesity is the condition in which the body mass index exceeds the normal amount. Generally people with BMI exceeding 30 are considered obese. There are certain obesity facts that one must be aware of.

There are many people who do not consider excessive weight to be a serious problem. Generally, children are obese from the beginning are unable to loose weight later on. Modern lifestyle has played havoc on general health of people and obesity is also one of the conditions that are the repercussions of it. There are various Obesity Facts that one must be aware of. If compared with the rate 30 years back, the rate of obesity has almost doubled. There are over one billion adults that suffer from this condition.

There are many causes that lead to obesity. Let’s have a look at some of these factors. Food that is rich in fats and carbohydrates results in accumulation of excessive cholesterols in the body. This fat, if not completely absorbed by the body, tends to make one fatty over time. Saturated fatty acids that are found in butter, oil, meat etc. can make one’s body weight abnormal. Heredity factors also play a big role. Obesity usually runs in families. Snacks, soft drinks, fast food like burgers, pizzas, hotdogs, and other calorie-rich foods makes one’s body weight go out of proportion.

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One of the obesity facts is that people who lack in physical action or don’t do exercises daily become obese with time. Slow metabolic rate i.e. the rate at which food is absorbed by the body can result in over-weight conditions. Certain diseases and medications are also responsible for this condition. Anti-depressants, insulin, and oral contraceptives can cause obesity.

Now let’s have a peep into Childhood Obesity Facts. Children generally inherit this disease from their parents. The number of obese children is increasing at an alarming rate. As compared to the last three decades, this number has doubled. Sedentary activities that are preferred by children make them dull and lazy. They tend to take foods that lack in nutritional values. As there is no physical exertion involved, the fats get deposited in body and make them lethargic. The general capability of obese children is quite low as compared to others. One of the other childhood obesity facts is that such children suffer from several other problems like lack of concentration, inability to sleep properly, and humiliation faced from peers and friends.

Obesity is not a single problem. There are several Effects of Obesity. One of the first and foremost effects is inability to carry out day-to-day activities. An obese person is often inactive and feels fatigued most of the time. Obesity gives birth to other health problems. Some obese people develop Pickwick syndrome in which a person feels drowsy and color of his face remains reddish. Pain in joints, bones, and lower back portion of the body is often experienced by over-weight people. Another chronic health problem that one can is susceptible to is diabetes which is incurable.

Cancer, in many cases, is triggered by unabsorbed fatty cells in the body. These fats produce hormones in body. These hormones, if produced in large quantities, can trigger the growth of tumors and ultimately lead to cancer. Heart attack is another very common problem that obese people face.

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment – Facts To Help You Decide Which One Is Best

October 22, 2011     No comments

Everything about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment is controversial it seems. There is debate about the subjective nature of the diagnosis. There is no clinical test. There are the ADHD deniers who say it is all a plot to make money for the pharmaceutical companies.

Then there is the bitterly fought campaign between the supporters of the psychostimulant drugs and those that say they are practically useless. The scornful remarks and smear campaign against homeopathy just adds fuel to the fire! Is it any wonder that parents do not know where to turn? If you read this article, I will give you a few solid facts which may help you to decide what is right for your child and will help you to make an informed decision, I hope.

The first fact concerns the actual diagnostic tool used. It is true that the test is subjective as it relies heavily on questionnaires about child behaviour and that inevitably has to be subjective as parents and teachers will put their own spin on it. That is why there may well be overdiagnosis of the condition. There is no clinical test or blood test which will give us a black and white answer about diagnosis.

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As regards the attention deficit hyperactivity treatment with psychostimulant drugs, there is not one study about the long term effects of Ritalin on the developing brain of the child. As children and adults do not fully develop their brains until the age of twenty five, this is an omission which causes alarm. Parents ask if there have been trials and if not, why not?

While the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) assures us that the drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta ‘are considered safe’, the FDA has issued all of them with the maximum warning about their side effects and health risks! Many of these risks and effects are alarming to say the least.

On the alternative medicine front, there are no safe and clear answers. Homeopathy has never been shown scientifically to work. The evidence that it actually works or is better than a placebo is flawed.

But recent revelations about the use of placebos published in the Annals of Medicine have shown that the actual contents of the placebos used in the standard RCT trials have never ever been revealed. That shocking fact casts long shadows of doubt about the lack of transparency on all the medical trials done on standard allopathic drugs and on homeopathic medicines.

The facts illustrate that there are no clear answers. But one fact stands out above all the rest and that is that there is not one study which shows that that homeopathy has side effects and or that there are long term health risks or even risks of addiction.

So there we have it. Now that you know the facts, you can decide what attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment will suit your child. I have prepared a website with some more facts about the various medical options and the lifestyle changes that can help an ADHD child. I hope it is helpful.

Why not give YOUR child a better chance in life? Discover the facts about a more natural and safer approach to ADHD treatment. Experts now tell us that child behavior modification combined with a natural treatment for ADHD is by far the most effective ADHD treatment.
Visit http://www.child-behavior-home.com to find out more about ADHD child behavior problems. Matthew V.Gant has written extensively on ADHD and Mental Health for many years.

Davina Beacham was already a successful artist, and mother of two boys, when she was diagnosed with Adult ADHD. She discovered this after both her boys were diagnosed with ADHD, and realized that she had similar symptoms. The realization brought on many challenges, but also a deeper appreciation of herself and her sons. Neither Johnson & Johnson nor any of its operating companies (Johnson & Johnson) are responsible for third-party materials appearing on the Johnson & Johnson Health Channel, including but not limited to linked third-party videos, linked third-party sites, and third-party advertisements. J&J does not control or endorse this third-party content and makes no representations regarding its accuracy.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Five Undeniable Facts About Attention Deficit Disorder

October 21, 2011     No comments

Sorting out the myths and legends from the hard facts can be a daunting task when we are talking about attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Because the exact cause of attention deficit disorder is not known and because treatment with psychostimulant drugs is hotly debated, a whole series of urban legends have grown up around this condition.

ADHD is on the increase and how ! Just look at the figures for Holland- they have reported a 25% increase in cases in the last six months ! The number of children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder are now double the figure they were three years ago. Numbers in Australia, UK and USA are also increasing rapidly. Why? Nobody is sure .. it could be that there are more accurate diagnostic methods available or that more and more parents are becoming aware of the problem. Some argue that parents cannot tolerate hyperactive children and prefer to have them sedated by drugs and drive them to school !

ADHD drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera and Concerta do NOT

cure ADHD. They can only alleviate symptoms by activating or calming certain neurotransmitters in the child’s brain so that the child can improve concentration, stop twitching, over-excitability and reduce erratic behaviour. Sadly, the drugs also affect the way your child thinks and your child’s ideas and creativity can be affected. Even more alarming is the fact that the long- term psychological effects on children are not known or if they are, they have not been published !

The above ADHD drugs DO have a wide range of side effects. The pharmaceutical companies play them down as much as they can but the FDA has its work cut out in issuing warnings and guidelines to pediatricians and family doctors. The side effects range from cardiac arrest to increased suicidal thoughts and a whole lot of other things in between !

The bad news is that those children who took psychostimulant drugs as kids for ADHD have a much higher chance of ending up as drug users in adult life. More bad news is that these drugs are now sold by adolescents in the school parking lot.

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These ADHD medications help children to stay calmer but unfortunately they will not help them to learn coping skills in getting their homework done or in not forgetting things. This is where parenting skills are so important and the real solution is not drugging the nation’s children but rather helping the child to manage school and social relationships and above all in self- management.

The only solution to successful ADHD treatment is medication combined with behaviour therapy, some dietary restrictions and plenty of exercise and a supportive school and family life. But which medication ? This is a burning question and many parents are now refusing to have their children’s future compromised in the ways I have outlined above. There is a much safer natural treatment which is certainly not addictive and will never fetch a high price on the school parking lot! The site below will answer questions you cannot ask your doctor on treating attention deficit disorder.

ADHD is on the increase and how ! Just look at the figures for Holland- they have reported a 25% increase in cases in the last six months ! The number of children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder are now double the figure

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Important Must-Know Facts On Kid’s Ocd(Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)

October 20, 2011     No comments

Life for a child with obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is difficult. And since his behaviors are the ones directly affected by this particular kind of anxiety disorder, his family is bound to be affected as well. The uncontrollable anxiousness arising from perceived fears is at the heart of all kinds of OCD compulsions. To help you better understand how OCD figures out in the life of a child, consider the important facts below:

Felicity Maris Modesto is a content writer/editor and visual artist with a passion for topics delving on health and self-improvement. She is interested in the emerging online pharmacy industry. For more information about online healthcare and http://www.easyhealthmd.com“> medical advice, please consult http://www.easyhealthmd.com

More Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Articles

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The 4 Menopause Information Facts You Need to Know!

October 15, 2011     No comments

Menopause is the permanent termination of menstruation and fertility. This stage begins when a woman has her last period. Menopause can be defined by 12 consecutive period-free months. At this stage, ovaries no longer produce eggs as hormone production stops, and common changes become noticeable – including vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive.

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life. The menopausal process occurs in four stages: pre-menopause, perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.

Pre-menopause refers to a woman’s fertile life, which ranges from her first menstrual period to her last menstrual period. However, the term is often misused to describe the years immediately before menopause (perimenopause) and also to describe premature menopause.

Perimenopause encompasses the years preceding menopause. It describes the length of time when your periods are becoming lighter or heavier. When discussing menopause, most women refer to perimenopause because its during this stage that the hormone levels change and levels of estrogen decline. As ovarian production decreases, the follicle stimulating hormone (or FSH) increases, triggering symptoms like hot flashes, headaches, memory problems, acne, and mood swings.

Perimenopause typically takes place between 45- and 60-years-of-age and can span a 2- to 10-year period of time. Early signs of perimenopause usually occur in a woman’s mid-40s. Women who experience early menopause typically follow their mother’s pattern.

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4 Menopause Information Facts

Menopause Information Fact # 1 – Do all women experience menopause in the same way? No. Menopause experiences are different among individual women, and also among women in different cultures, and in different parts of the world. Research has shown that women’s experience of menopause can be related to many things including: genetics, diet, lifestyle, and social and cultural attitudes toward older women.

Menopause Information Fact # 2 – Diet and exercise are pertinent during menopause, as inactivity can heighten the risk of weight gain, heart disease, and osteoporosis. The female hormone, estrogen, protects your heart and bones. When it drops rapidly, you will need to consciously work to compensate for its loss by adopting a healthy diet, an active lifestyle complimented with physical exercise, and by consulting your doctor concerning hormone replacement therapy.

Menopause Information Fact # 3 – To lessen menopausal sickness and lower cholesterol levels, menopausal women should consume foods that are high in plant estrogens. Ideal sources are soy products, lima beans, celery, nuts, seeds, fennel, parsley, and flaxseed oil.

In addition, adding vitamins C, D or E, herbal supplements, low-fat and high-fiber foods such as fruits, green vegetables and whole grains, will help energize your body and ease hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia and uncomfortable bloating. Lastly, lean protein such as chicken and fish can help you to lose weight. Eating five small meals instead of three large ones per day is recommended to keep your blood sugar and metabolism levels even throughout the day.

Menopause Information Fact # 4 – Because of the nature of early or premature menopause, a woman will experience another level of emotional

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Important Facts You Must Know about Breast Cancer

October 12, 2011     No comments

Intake of alcohol, smoking and obesity increase the risk of breast cancer.
A woman is at a higher risk of having breast cancer if there is a history of breast cancer in her family.
Women who start with the menstrual cycle at an early age (before 12 years) or achieve menopause at a very late age (after 55 years) are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer.
A woman who had cancer in one breast is at an increased risk of cancerous growth in the second breast.
Women who have never experienced childbirth, those who had children after the age of 35 and those who have never breast-fed their babies are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
The higher is your exposure to radiations, the greater are your chances of developing breast cancer.

The patient is most likely to first notice a lump in the breast. Lumps in the armpits may also be indicative of breast cancer.

There may be changes in size and shape of the breast. Inversion of the nipple may also be seen. Skin over the breast will look like skin of an orange and also show redness and dimpling. There may be discharge of pus-like fluid from the nipples.

During the advanced stages, the patient may complain of discomfort and pain in the breast, weight loss and swelling of the arm which is next to the breast with cancer.

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Staging for breast cancer is based on the size of the tumour (), whether or not the tumour has spread to the lymph nodes () in the armpits, and whether the tumour has metastasized () (i.e. spread to distant sites) and this is called as TNM classification.

Stage 0 is a pre-cancerous condition, stage 1–3 cancers are within the breast or regional lymph nodes and stage 4 cancer is ‘metastatic’ and has poor prognosis. Thus the survival rate will depend on the type of cancer and its staging.

Breast cancer screening will help in early detection. Clinical examination, self examination, mammography and ultrasound are some of the screening methods/tests.

Breast cancer diagnosis will include clinical examination of the breasts, the armpits and the neck and chest region; mammography to identify a breast lump, a breast MRI to better identify the breast lump and a breast ultrasound to know the consistency of the lump. A CT scan may be done to see if there is spread of cancer to other sites.

Biopsy of the breast tissue can be done using fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Lymph node biopsy will help to detect cancerous spread.

A team of breast cancer doctors will include breast cancer surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and plastic surgeons.

The size, stage and growth of the tumor will determine the kind of breast cancer treatment centers that may be required.

Breast cancer surgery referred to as Mastectomy involves the removal of the tumor along with some of the surrounding, healthy tissue. The whole breast may be removed or only a part of it may be removed depending upon the tumor size and growth.

After breast removal, a cosmetic surgery may be performed for breast reconstruction so as to improve the aesthetic appearance. Some women may opt for breast prosthesis.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be given after the breast cancer surgery. Chemotherapy will kill any cells that are rapidly dividing in the body. Chemotherapy

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ADD ADHD Disorder ? Simple Answers and Interesting Facts

October 11, 2011     No comments

In this article we will refer to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as ADD ADHD disorder. ADD and ADHD are the same disorder with the H being added sometime in the 1980s to reflect the high incidence of the hyperactive/impulsive type which was originally thought to be fairly uncommon. Even today many people believe ADD and ADHD are two different disorders so just to make sure everyone can find this information we will be going with ADD ADHD disorder.

This disorder was once thought to be cause by everything under the sun except for biological imbalances, hereditary, and slow brain development. Today thanks to excellent statistical research and new brain scan technologies we know that an ADD ADHD disorder is likely caused by a combination of these three factors.

This condition has a broad range of symptoms that can present major challenges and be confusing and stressful for any child or teen. For adults with ADD ADHD disorder life can prove to be a bumpy ride with regular job changes, marital difficulties, and social challenges all being hurdles that will likely need to managed effectively to live up to ones potential.

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As most parents and school teachers know young people mature at different rates and have different personalities, energy levels, and temperaments.

Generally speaking almost all of us occasionally daydream or lose focus, exhibit erratic unpredictable behavior, and struggle to pay attention. The occasional occurrence of these behavioral challenges does not in itself indicate that a person has an ADD ADHD disorder.

On the other hand when symptoms like those listed above, along with fidgeting or having trouble sitting still for any length of time, consistently interfere with school performance and/or participating in social activities only then does an ADD ADHD disorder becomes a very real diagnosable possibility.

Additionally, symptoms of the condition must interfere with an individual’s daily activities in 2 or more settings and must have been present for  6 months or more.

Most symptoms appear early in life, generally between the ages of 3 and 6. The average age for diagnosis is age 7 and the highest percentage of children on ADHD medications is between the ages of 9 and 12.

The disorder is likely to continue into adolescence. Their seems to be another peak in identification and diagnosis around the age of 12, probably because many parents expected their children to grow out of their symptoms by then. Teenagers left untreated often experience many problems and are much more likely to get into trouble with the law, become pregnant, run away from home, or drop out of school.

Effective treatment of an ADD ADHD disorder will require reducing both primary and secondary symptoms and improving overall performance. A universally effective treatment does not exist and studies show that a combination of two or more treatments is more effective than any one treatment alone.

For example those choosing to brave the risks the side effects of prescription stimulants such as Ritalin might try stimulants combined with regular  outdoor activity, and talk therapy.

On the other hand those interested in a side effect free approach might be more comfortable with homeopathic ADD ADHD remedies, behavioral therapy, omega 3 supplementation, and a

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Facts about Alcoholism and the Human Body

October 09, 2011     No comments

Alcoholism is a widespread problem.  Perhaps it is because so many do not have a good understanding of what the warning signs are for a person who may need alcohol rehabilitation.  It can be easily defined.  A person has a dangerous relationship with alcohol and may benefit from an alcohol abuse treatment center if he or she demonstrates:

Physical Dependence on Alcohol:  If the person does not consume alcohol on a regular basis, they experience nausea, anxiety, profuse sweating and/or shakiness.  They may also appear angry or depressed without alcohol.
Lack of Control:  An alcoholic cannot stop after one or two alcoholic beverages and continues to drink until they reach a high state of intoxication or passes out.
High Tolerance Level:  A person with an alcohol dependency may be able to drink large amounts of alcohol without feeling drunk and continues to increase the amount of alcohol consumed to stave off withdrawal symptoms.

A very common question from many people is “why does this person have an alcohol addiction and I do not?”  Studies from the NIAAA show that a person’s likeliness to become an addict is inherited.  Studies are currently in progress to see if the “addiction gene” can be singled out.  However, a person’s environment is also a large factor in how and if they form unhealthy addictions.  That being said, two siblings who share an alcoholic parent may be at risk for being alcoholics themselves.  One may end up with an alcohol problem and the other may not.  The one who became an alcoholic perhaps had a demeaning career and little support, while the other furthered their education and tried their best to avoid overindulgence.  By being “at-risk,” does not mean you will definitely end up with an alcohol addiction.  Those who are aware they may be at risk for addiction can work on staying sober before alcohol rehabilitation even becomes an issue.

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Alcohol may be legal and easily obtainable, but it can bring devastating effects to one’s health.  Alcohol used in the short-term can harm someone’s cognitive thinking and impair their judgments and ability to operate machinery.  Long-term abuse can actually cause permanent brain damage.  Digestion, blood pressure, heart function and insomnia are also common problems associated with heavy alcohol consumption.  Though the most well-known organ affected by alcoholism is the liver.  Alcohol abuse rapidly works to defeat the liver’s functioning ability.  Cancer and cirrhosis of the liver are common diseases associated with drinking.  Of course, with any substance abuse, there is the risk of death.  In alcoholism’s case, it’s not just the risk of cancer or other bodily diseases.  You can overdose on alcohol just as you can on heroin or cocaine.

Those who suffer from alcoholism will benefit from an alcohol rehabilitation program that helps to build back the social skills that may have been lost during the addiction.  Often, alcoholics lose friends, jobs and are at risk for committing crimes like driving under the influence, theft, domestic assault and child abuse.  They also have problems with the organization of their finances are often late paying bills.  Not necessarily because they cannot afford to make the payments, but because they are too intoxicated to remember important dates and responsibilities.

An

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Glaucoma Symptoms and Facts

October 05, 2011     No comments

The major problem with glaucoma symptoms is the ‘lack’ of them, you usually feel nothing until the damage is already done to your eyes.

Commonly known as the sneaky thief of the eyes, glaucoma is a disease that damage the main nerve to the eye- optic nerve by excess fluid pressure and in which the internal eye pressure is too high.

Optic nerve is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses to the brain. It is usually associated with a risky buildup of intraocular pressure. This damage results in gradual visual changes and then loss of vision.

Glaucoma often occurs in both eyes, but extra fluid pressure first begins to build up in one eye. If you don’t seek treatment for glaucoma and can’t control it, your peripheral vision will decrease by time and subsequent eye damage may easily lead to blindness.

Glaucoma is the second biggest cause of blindness in the world and it creates some vision loss in 1.3-1.4 million of the 2.5 million Americans affected by the disease. So yes, it can be very serious and you need to take it seriously.

The most common type of glaucoma is the open-angle glaucoma. It normally strikes after the age of 50. Pressure builds up and the optic nerve starts to fail. Blind spots eventually appear in the peripheral vision, and later in the central “seeing” area. This damage can’t be repaired.

The other types are closed-angle, normal-tension, narrow-angle, pigmentary, secondary and congenital.

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• Family history: 20% chance if a parent has the disease and a 50% chance if one of your siblings has it.

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes.

• Crohn’s disease.

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Being over 65 years of age.

• Seeing a rainbow around lights at night.

• Having had previous eye injury

• Being of Asian or especially African background. Africans are three to four times more at risk than White people.

• Long-term use of steroids.

There are no symptoms until you develop glaucoma and your eyes start suffering. However on some occasions, as the disease progresses, you will feel:

• Headaches.

• Sensitivity to light.

• Blurred vision.

• Decreased peripheral vision- gradual loss.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Severe pain in the eyes.

• Reddening of the eyes.

• One eye becoming bigger than the other.

• Seeing rainbows around the lights at night.

• Visual disturbance in low light.

• Adjustment issues entering a dark room.

• Excessive tearing.

• Swollen eyes.

• The white part of your eye may look red.

Most medications are in the form of eye drops and some are oral medications. Medications are usually successful in helping with glaucoma but they need to be used indefinitely, so many people end up having a surgery or a laser treatment- laser trabeculoplasty, a painless 15-minute procedure.

If you think you are at risk of having glaucoma, you should have an eye examination at least every two years. The most common eye tests used by doctors include:

• Tonometry, which measures the pressure inside the eye, and

• Visual field testing measures the entire area seen by the forward-looking eye to document central

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