Tips For A Long Healthy Life: '5 Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes'

Tips For A Long Healthy Life: '5 Simple Tips for Healthy Eyes' 

Dr. Weil's Daily Tips, January 22, 2011

Keeping healthy eyes through aging is a luxury we can all afford with a little extra care.  Through a combination of healthful nutrition, protection, exercise and rest, we can all maintain good eyesight or at least prevent further deterioration from occurring.  For more, read below.

The eye is a highly complex and sensitive organ that requires a careful combination of nutrients, protection, exercise and rest for optimal function. In addition to an antioxidant-rich diet and prudent supplementation, consider the following healthy habits to help maintain visual health:

1. Don't smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Smoking can decrease blood supply to the eyes by causing blood vessels to narrow and blood to thicken.

2. Protect the eyes from the elements. Sunlight can damage the cells of the macula, which provides visual acuity. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that protect against at least 99 percent of ultraviolet (UV) rays.

3. Use safety eyewear when working around potential hazards to help protect against eye injuries.

4. Stay active. Regular exercise promotes eye health by improving circulation and lowering the risk of diabetes.

5. Keep blood pressure in check. High blood pressure increases the risk of glaucoma. Consider medication if lifestyle changes can't bring pressures into the normal range.

Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle: 'Vitamin D + Exercise = Fewer Falls"

Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle: 'Vitamin D + Exercise = Fewer Falls"

Dr. Weil's Daily Tip, January 6, 2011

Vitamin D intake and regular exercise have  been identified as main factors in the prevention of falls in seniors.  Falls for seniors are often the beginning of a series of health complication, loss of independence, and have been related to premature deaths.  For more, read the article by Dr. Weil below.

That's the conclusion from a review of 54 studies that included data from more than 26,000 seniors. Investigators from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force analyzed the studies in an effort to determine the best recommendations primary care physicians could make to patients age 65 and older in order to prevent falls. The injuries from these accidents are the greatest cause of death, disability and loss of independence among seniors. The incidence of falls has been rising in recent years, due in part to the increasing number of older adults in the population. The review found that taking vitamin D, with or without calcium, cut the risk of falling by an average of 17 percent. In half of the studies reviewed, the daily doses of vitamin D were greater than 800 international units. The researchers also found that exercise reduced the risk of falls by 13 percent. This benefit was seen whether the activity involved was designed to improve balance, strength and flexibility or was weight training or aerobic exercise such as walking. The review was published in the Dec. 21, 2010 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

My take? As you may know, I recommend that everyone take 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily, not only because it helps strengthen bones, which may prevent or slow the progression of osteoporosis, but also because it helps boost the immune system and protects against a number of serious diseases. Exercise is also key to maintaining optimum health in general, and to preventing falls in particular. In addition to aerobic activity, resistance training and exercises to increase flexibility and balance, I also highly recommend tai chi, a gentle form of movement training that has been shown to reduce risk of injury from falls among seniors.