Tag Archives: Wellness

Why Do People Go Outdoors Without Sunglasses?

Woman wearing sunglasses outdoorsSunglasses are necessary for eye health. Unfortunately, millions of people never, rarely, or just occasionally wear shades when outdoors. According to various surveys by the Vision Council, here are some of the reasons most people fail to wear sunglasses:

1. They don’t believe UV exposure can hurt eyes.

Some people go outdoors without sunglasses because they don’t think their eyes are at any substantial risk from UV exposure. In reality, though, too much UV radiation from the sun can cause problems, such as cataracts, cornea burns, and eyelid cancer.

It’s due to such issues that St. Paul opticians recommend wearing sunglasses every time you’re outdoors, whether it’s sunny or cloudy.

2. They simply forget to wear sunglasses.

Some people who go outdoors without protective lenses say they forgot to put their sunglasses on. But, if people understand that shades are as crucial as sunscreen, they wouldn’t forget to pick their sunglasses every time they step outside.

3. They don’t expect to be in the sun for long.

People may not wear sunglasses if they do not expect to be out long enough to warrant putting on eye protection. Unfortunately, eyes start accumulating sun damage as soon as there is any UV exposure. The damage is more significant between 2 PM and 4 PM when UV exposure to the eyes is the highest.

4. They don’t own prescription sunglasses.

People might give this excuse if they don’t appreciate the importance of sunglasses or they think all protective lenses are expensive. Sunglasses do not have to be costly. According to experts, all you need is to pick comfortable shades that block 99–100% of UV rays.

Wearing shades is fashionable and fun. Besides this, however, sunglasses are a health necessity for everyone. Unfortunately, there are still millions of Americans who don’t slip on their shades every time they go outside. Hopefully, the facts here will convince you otherwise.

Four Ways to Deal with Hearing Loss

woman with hearing impairmentIf you suffer from hearing loss, you may have problems interacting with people around you. You may not be able to hear the lecture clearly, communicate effectively with clients, or have fun with family members. Here are tips for coping with hearing loss.

Seek medical attention

Medical attention can reverse some cases of hearing loss. If not, medication can greatly improve your hearing and general comfort. Seek the assistance of an oncologist as soon as you realize you have hearing or ear problems. Time is of the essence when it comes to the effectiveness of the treatment.

Explore hearing technologies

If the hearing loss cannot be reversed, consider hearing aids which filters out the noise and amplify sounds. Some common aids for the hearing impaired are closed captioning, amplifiers for hearing loss and directional microphones. An audiologist can assist in selecting the best assistive listening devices.

Join a support community

Difficulty to communicate causes people with hearing problems to feel isolated. You can join local and national hearing organizations such as the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), where you meet others with similar problems and explore ways to improve your life as others have done it.

Do not hide your hearing problems

Most people suffer in silence when they cannot get what others are saying. Be bold enough to tell a friend you cannot hear what he or she is saying. Communicate with others while facing them so that you can read their lips and facial expressions. You can also ask friends to talk slowly or repeat parts that you did not get clearly. Most people would gladly do it.

You can live your life happily with varying degrees of hearing loss. Explore the possibilities above to improve your hearing. Live your life fully while making lifestyle changes to accommodate the hearing condition.

Utah is the 2nd Healthiest State for Seniors

Elderly people discovering new things together over coffeeUtah ranked as the second best state for seniors this year, according to the America’s Health Rankings Senior Report. The study conducted a comprehensive analysis of senior population health in each state.

Utah Moves Up Seven Spots

Utah has vastly improved its senior population health ranking and moved up to the second spot. In the past three years, preventable hospitalizations in the state decreased by 23 percent. In fact, from 37.2, the number dropped to just 28.8 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees. Moreover, the incidences of hip fractures shrunk by 24 percent, from 7.1 to 5.4 hospital visits per 1,000 Medicare enrollees.

ICU use in the last six months for Medicare enrollees aged 65 or over saw a 19 percent decrease, as well; from 7.5, the figure went down to 6.1 percent. Furthermore, since 2013, hospital deaths among seniors also decreased: from 19.2 percent in the previous year, it’s now down to 14.3 percent. Utah also continues to rank first for a low smoking prevalence. Healthcare providers like Revere Health aim to offer the best quality service to Utahns, as well.

The Unhealthiest States are found in the South

While the top five healthiest states — Minnesota, Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, and New Hampshire — are in different regions of the country, the least-healthy states are predominantly found in the southern region. Mississippi, a state that struggles with food security, poverty, and premature death, ranks last out of all the states this year. Kentucky, a state known for the prevalence of physical inactivity among its citizens, as well as its large smoking population, follows Mississippi. Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas round out the list of least healthy states in the US.

California and South Dakota Made Best Improvements

Meanwhile, the study also acknowledged the states that improved the most. California’s efforts allowed them to take the 16th spot despite being in the bottom half of the list last year (28th). South Dakota, on the other hand, rose to the 15th spot. Alaska and Pennsylvania both lost eight spots, finishing at 26th and 29th spots, respectively.

According to the report, each state has its strengths and challenges, regardless of their current rankings. It aims to show which fields the states can work and improve on.