6 unhealthy habits that can affect eyes and vision

6 unhealthy habits that can affect eyes and vision

Eye care is an integral aspect of one’s general health. However, unbeknownst to many, certain unhealthy nutritional and lifestyle habits can trigger damage to this vital organ. It can include staring at the screen for longer periods, constantly rubbing one’s eyes, and more. Such habits can lead to complications such as eye fatigue and damage to the cornea. Awareness of such unhealthy habits might help one manage them and keep such complications at bay.

Excessive screen time
Most health experts advise patients with vision problems to follow the 20-20-20 rule while using screens. This rule emphasizes that every 20 minutes of looking at a screen should be followed up by focusing on a spot 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds. Excessive screen time can trigger retinal damage and eye fatigue, and this activity helps reduce the strain on your eyes. Blinking is another way of ensuring your eyes are clean and lubricated. Make it a habit to blink when using screens.

Rubbing your eyes
Rubbing your eyes can lead to severe complications in the long run. For one, it is impossible to stop rubbing once you have started. Excessively rubbing your eyes can cause microvascular damage to the smaller blood vessels. It can lead to signs of premature aging and dark circles. One might end up with puffy eyes, drooping eyelids, and wrinkles. To control the urge to rub eyes, one can place a cool and damp washcloth over the eyes till the feeling goes.

Using expired makeup products
It does not need to be said, but the usage of expired makeup products must be stopped. It won’t do any favors to your eyes or other body parts. Instead, you provide bacteria and other infection-causing microorganisms an easy passage to your eyes. Health experts suggest replacing makeup products every few months and ensuring you remove the makeup before bed. Sleeping with makeup on is another unhealthy habit that will harm one’s eyes and vision.

Not using protective eyewear
Though sun exposure is essential for healthy eyes and vision, overexposure to the sun is one of the harmful habits you might be unintentionally developing. While you protect your skin with sunscreens, you should check what you are doing to safeguard your eyes. Not wearing UV-blocking sunglasses or contact lenses is one of the bad habits that can harm your eyes in the long run. Check for the label of the sunglasses and pick ones that block UVA and UVB rays.

Not drinking enough water
Dehydration affects not only your digestive or nervous system but also your eye health. When light hits your dehydrated eyes, it can cause your vision to blur temporarily. Dehydration, if not attended to, can lead to scar tissue forming in the eyes.

Not eating healthy meals
Healthy anti-inflammatory foods play a vital role in safeguarding your body. Your nutritional habits can either protect your eye health and vision or harm them. People who rely heavily on processed foods are subjecting their bodies to increased inflammatory activity. Chronic unchecked inflammation can end up impacting your vision. Instead, opt for lean protein foods, healthy fats, and a range of leafy green vegetables and fruits to provide the body with anti-inflammatory compounds.

Read Also

Know more about exciting & latest articles right here

Top 4 reasons for unnatural hair loss patterns

Top 4 reasons for unnatural hair loss patterns

Hair loss is a natural process that automatically gets rid of old tissue and hair to promote new growth. So don’t be alarmed when you do find a few strands of hair tangled in your comb. However, a clearly visible scalp and a receding hairline are indicative of developing the problem of permanent hair loss. There are several internal and external factors that can accelerate hair fall, leading to pattern baldness in both men and women. Here are the top four reasons that trigger unnatural hair fall. Stress Stress ranks among the top risk factors associated with many medical conditions. In fact, one way or the other, taking physical or psychological stress harms the body more than you can imagine. For hair loss, especially, excessive shedding starts right after the body undergoes physical or psychological distress. A few examples include experiencing high fever, blood loss due to accident or injury, or even post-surgery recovery can result in stress that causes hair loss. Stress, coupled with anxiety, results in accelerated hair loss. To cope with this problem and reduce its effects, stress management is of crucial importance. Hormonal changes Men and women both experience hormonal changes throughout their lifetime. However, an imbalance associated with various conditions can trigger hair loss.
Read More
Learn about these 3 types of hearing loss

Learn about these 3 types of hearing loss

Hearing loss, deafness, or impairment is the partial or total inability to hear sounds. People with low to moderate hearing impairment face challenges in understanding what the other person is saying in a noisy environment. Whereas, people with severe deafness cannot hear anything, and rely completely on lip-reading and sign language skills. There are three main types of hearing loss: sensorineural, conductive, and a combination of both. Let’s understand these types in detail and learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of each type. Sensorineural hearing loss It’s the most common type of hearing loss. Sensorineural is permanent hearing loss often caused by damage to the tiny hair cells that line the inner ear or the auditory nerve. The damage stops or weakens the transfers of nerve signals to the brain. These signals are essentially the intensity and clarity of sounds. Causes: Aging and exposure to loud noises for a long period of time are the most common cause of the damage. Certain medications and illnesses can also increase risks. It can even be genetic, and pass on to the child in the mother’s womb. Treatment: There is no medical or surgical treatment available to repair the tiny hair cells once they’re damaged.
Read More
Simple lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of heart diseases

Simple lifestyle changes that reduce the risk of heart diseases

The heart is the most crucial organ in the body and as the system will cease to function if the heart stops or loses momentum pumping fresh oxygenated blood. This is why it is vital to not neglect your heart health at all and responsibly maintain a healthy, stress-free, and more importantly, a happy lifestyle. Here are a few simple lifestyle changes that will help support a healthy heart function. Switch to a healthy diet Avoid eating foods that are rich in trans and saturated fats. Most foods you find on the shelves of the supermarket contain large quantities of one or the other. Instead, switch to low-fat high fiber alternatives to help manage cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level in the body automatically reduces the risk of heart diseases. The simple reason for this is that fats that normally block major arteries and blood vessels are eliminated from these foods choices. It is also advisable to limit the salt (sodium) intake to control blood pressure and sugar to reduce the risk of diabetes simultaneously. Change certain lifestyle habits Reduce the number of alcoholic or carbonated drinks you have regularly. For men, it is advisable to have not more than two drinks and day and women must have only one.
Read More
How to distinguish between heartburn and GERD

How to distinguish between heartburn and GERD

Heartburn is an unpleasant, burning sensation in the chest that is more common than a lot of individuals realize. Pregnant women, older men, and even young adults experience it frequently. Despite it being such a prevalent experience, not many know that heartburn has actually nothing to do with the heart and everything to do with the stomach and the esophagus. Unsurprisingly enough, heartburn is also used interchangeably with GERD. But, before we get to deciphering heartburn and GERD, let’s understand what acid reflux is. What is acid reflux or GER? Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES becomes weak, allowing the contents of the stomach to travel in the wrong direction, back up the esophagus. Acid reflux is also called GER or gastroesophageal reflux as it involves the stomach and esophagus. This condition can usually be resolved with over-the-counter medication. What is heartburn? Heartburn is a burning or painful sensation that is experienced in the chest. Since the lining of the esophagus is not as strong as the lining of the stomach, the acid from the stomach can cause a burning sensation in the chest. This pain or burning sensation that is heartburn can often be misconstrued for a heart attack.
Read More