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Health corner: Arthritis awareness and cataracts

Smoky Mountain Times - 7/13/2017

Arthritis Awareness

By April Martinez Swain County Health Department

There are many different types of arthritis, over 100 in fact. The most common type is osteoarthritis, which causes painful joints (usually weight bearing joints like the knees, hips, feet and spine) due to a breakdown of cartilage (the cushion between bones) from wear and tear. Eventually, the joint essentially becomes "bone on bone." There can sometimes even be an audible "grating" sound when the worn cartilage rubs together. It can be due to age, obesity or joint injuries.

Unlike other types of arthritis, osteoarthritis does not cause fatigue or malaise. Osteoarthritis sufferers do, however, find it gets more difficult over time to do activities of daily living like dressing, brushing their hair, picking things up, bending over or climbing stairs. There are ways to manage the pain and increase quality of life such as medications, exercise, regular doctor visits and maintaining a healthy weight.

Tip of the day: A 20-minute soak in warm water (not hot) followed by stretching can help with swelling and inflammation associated for arthritis. Make sure to stay well hydrated also!

Swain County Health Department offers adult health, family planning, BCCCP and STD services on Wednesdays by appointment. For an appointment, call 488-3198 extension 0.

Cataracts Carolyn Williamson Swain County Health Department

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window.

Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend's face.

Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision.

At first, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help you deal with cataracts. But if impaired vision interferes with your usual activities, you might need cataract surgery. Fortunately, cataract surgery is generally a safe, effective procedure.

Signs and symptoms of cataracts include:

? Clouded, blurred or dim vision

? Increasing difficulty with vision at night

? Sensitivity to light and glare

? Seeing "halos" around lights

? Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

? Fading or yellowing of colors

? Double vision in a single eye

At first, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye's lens and you may be unaware of any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens. This may lead to signs and symptoms you're more likely to notice.

No studies have proved how to prevent cataracts or slow the progression of cataracts. However, doctors think several strategies may be helpful, including:

? Have regular eye examinations. Eye examinations can help detect cataracts and other eye problems at their earliest stages. Ask your doctor how often you should have an eye examination.

? Quit smoking. Ask your doctor for suggestions about how to stop smoking. Medications, counseling and other strategies are available to help you.

? Reduce alcohol use. Excessive alcohol use can increase the risk of cataracts.

? Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to the development of cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors.

? Manage other health problems. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes or other medical conditions that can increase your risk of cataracts.

? Maintain a healthy weight. If you currently have a healthy weight, work to maintain it by exercising most days of the week. If you're overweight or obese, work to lose weight slowly by reducing your calorie intake and increasing the amount of exercise you get each day.

? Choose a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Adding a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet ensures that you're getting many vitamins and nutrients. Fruits and vegetables have many antioxidants, which help maintain the health of your eyes.

For more information on cataracts go to http://www.mayoclinic.org or contact Swain County Health Department at (828) 488-3198.

The Swain County Health Department also offers Adult Health clinic services on Wednesday of each week. For more information regarding clinic services, please call 488-3198, ext. 0.

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