The cornea is the tissue at the front of eye that helps focus light. A corneal abrasion occurs when that tissue is cut or scratched. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent a corneal abrasion:
- Always use safety eye wear any time you’re working with machines that expel wood, sawdust, metal, etc.
- Cut your fingernails to avoid scratching your eye. Keep babies’ and children’s nails trimmed, as well.
- Keep all tree and shrub branches, especially those at eye level, trimmed.
- Be careful when putting contact lenses in your eyes. Make sure the lenses are cleaned properly each day, and never sleep with them.
Why do I get muscle cramps?
A muscle cramp is a painful contraction that may make the muscle feel hard or bulging. The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of common triggers:
- Drinking too much alcohol.
- Not drinking enough water.
- Exercising heavily or having muscles that are fatigued from overuse.
- Having hypothyroidism, a thyroid gland that doesn’t produce enough of a certain hormone. 4Having kidney failure.
- Taking certain medications. 4Being pregnant.
- Consuming insufficient amounts of calcium or magnesium.
Dietary needs of aging women
As women age, their dietary needs change. A healthy diet is always important, but even more so as women get older. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests women should consume:
- At least 1,500 milligrams daily of calcium, which may be found in dairy products and leafy green vegetables, or dietary supplements.
- Eight milligrams of daily iron -- needed to help produce red blood cells. Healthy sources of iron include fortified breakfast cereals, spinach and beans.
- Limited intake of saturated and trans fats.
- Limited intake of salt (sodium) and added sugars. 4Plenty of fibre.
Those puffs affect more than your lungs
Damage to the lungs is one of the first things people think about when it comes to the health detriments of smoking. But smoking can affect much of your body, right down to your bones and muscles.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says smoking can have the following effects on the musculoskeletal system:
- Increases risk of osteoporosis. 4Reduces bone density.
- Reduces blood supply to bones, causes bone cells to form more slowly, and impairs calcium absorption.
- Reduces the effectiveness of estrogen therapy.
- Raises your risk of hip fracture.
- Raises your risk of rotator cuff injuries.
- May contribute to low back pain and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Extends healing time after bone fractures.
(HealthDay News)
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