4 serious age-related eye problems

Like the rest of your body, your eyes naturally change throughout your life. Unfortunately, many people are not conscientious about caring for their eyes and often neglect to visit an ophthalmologist for routine eye exams as they get older.

Get your copy of The Aging Eye As the eyes age, problems with vision become more common. The Aging Eye: Preventing and treating eye disease explains how to recognize the risk factors and symptoms of specific eye diseases — cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy — and what steps you can take to prevent or treat them before your vision deteriorates.   SHOW ME MORE →

Growing older contributes to a number of eye changes that need to be monitored. These are four of the most common eye conditions that can develop with age:

Cataract. This clouding of the lens usually devel­ops slowly over many years. You may not notice the cloudiness until it blocks your central line of sight and impairs your vision.

Glaucoma. Over time, the anterior chamber in each eye may become shallower in certain people— those who have small eyes and are farsighted, for example. The narrowing can lead to a blockage in the aqueous humor drainage system near the iris. The resulting fluid backup may lead to a sudden rise in pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve, a condition known as closed-angle glaucoma. Left untreated, it can cause
blindness.

Another form of glaucoma, called open-angle glaucoma, occurs when pressure builds up gradually in the eye because of a different problem: a slower outflow of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork. As in closed-angle glaucoma, the result­ing buildup of pressure inside the eye can damage the optic nerve, if left untreated, and cause blindness.

Age-related macular degeneration. As the ret­ina ages, it may grow less sensitive to light because of cell loss, a reduced blood supply, or degeneration. The macula is especially prone to deterioration. Age-related macular degeneration is a serious disease that can steal a person’s central vision, making it difficult to read, write, or drive a car.

Diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes is a disease in which elevated blood sugar levels occur because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insu­lin or the body’s cells become resistant to insulin. In both cases, sugar builds up in the bloodstream and can dam­age blood vessels and organs throughout the body— including the eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy happens when blood vessels that feed the retina leak, leading to reti­nal swelling, or when new blood vessels form, causing bleeding into the retina or retinal detachment. When left untreated over time, this condition can lead to blindness.

For more information about keeping your eyes healthy, read The Aging Eye, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

Image: miodrag ignjatovic/Getty Images

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In a new online course, Harvard doctors assess today’s treatment options for prostate cancer, BPH, and ED to help you select what’s best for your health, your happiness, and your peace-of-mind.

Learn in comfort and privacy! You can access your password-protected Prostate Diseases and Erectile Dysfunction course from your smartphone, laptop, tablet or desktop computer. Designed with your time in mind, this online course lets you review your progress, revisit specific topics, and return and resume whenever it’s most convenient for you.

Dear Reader,

For a man, health decisions don’t get much more personal than the ones you’re asked to make when you confront ED, suffer worsening BPH, or are suddenly diagnosed with prostate cancer.

From your brother-in-law to your buddies at the gym, others may have opinions on what you should do. Even doctors have a bias toward their own specialty. But, ultimately, the decision is yours.

To decide intelligently, you need to know the pros and cons of today’s growing number of treatment options. What’s best for your age, your condition, your concerns, and your future?

How does nerve-sparing surgery compare with radiation therapy? Would you be comfortable with active surveillance for prostate cancer? Which BPH medications should you consider? Which to avoid? Can you reverse ED without reverting to medication?

Prepared by the doctors of Harvard Medical, this online course gives needed foundation to the choices almost all men will have to make. From testing to treatment, you’ll be apprised of effectiveness, suitability, accessibility, and the potential side effects you may face.

Prostate Diseases and Erectile Dysfunction is loaded with informative videos, interactive pages, and helpful downloadable charts. It will strengthen your resolve and most important, clarify your choices.

It’s the course that addresses the questions you deserve to have answered…

In this course, you’ll learn about…

• the vitamin boost that may lower your risk of erectile dysfunction

• the best BPH procedures for restoring uninterrupted sleep.

• the newly-approved drugs that extend metastasis-free survival

• the new grading system that lessens the risk of over-treatment

• the four prostate cancer risk factors you can control

• the DIY test that can determine if your ED is psychological

• an emerging combination therapy option for men with high-risk cancer

• And more!

You’ll learn how today’s advances are bringing men greater hope and happiness. You’ll discover…

• a new non-pill option for ED that’s convenient to use, effective within minutes, and has fewer side effects

• Are you a candidate for active surveillance? Two genetic tests that may confirm your eligibility.

• Need a lift? The in-office BPH procedure that eases symptoms and preserves normal erectile function.

• the safe, old-line antibiotic proving effective against chronic prostatitis when other drugs stop working

• Is the PSA test passé? New screening options that may save you from an unnecessary biopsy.

• the one most critical factor for achieving your best results from prostate cancer surgery.

There’s no reason a prostate disease should cloud your judgment or your future. There are more tools than ever to control and conquer ED, BPH, and prostate cancer. This empowering new course will show you what they are—and how to use them to your fullest and most rewarding advantage.

Look. Listen. AND LEARN!

Prostate Disease and Erectile Dysfunction is a dynamic, interactive, audio-visual course packed with content and designed for convenience. You choose the time and you set the pace. The course lets you:

• Get information you can use from a source you can trust

• Enjoy guidance from America’s top urologists and oncology experts when and where it’s most convenient for you

• Watch, pause, and watch again as often as you want

• Share the learning experience with your spouse and loved ones

• Includes downloadable charts, quizzes, video presentations, a resource library, bonus coverage, and more!

Find answers to achieve greater concentration, sustained focus, and renewed confidence.

Dear Reader,

Adults living with ADHD face unique challenges. Feeling restless, unfocused, or impulsive is only the beginning. Many adults with ADHD feel shame, because, many people don’t understand that ADHD is a real medical condition.

A new Harvard Medical School report called Confronting Adult ADHD explains the neurological basis for ADHD and shines a light on a subject that doesn’t get enough attention. In this report, you’ll find the latest research and practical strategies to help adults with ADHD, including how to manage core symptoms, extend concentration, ease anxiety, and strengthen relationships.

Some people live entire lives with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD. Many adults first suspect that they have ADHD when it’s diagnosed in one of their children. This is why it’s so important to gain a better understanding of the symptoms, risk factors, treatments, and coping strategies.

Harvard Medical School’s Confronting Adult ADHD brings you cutting-edge and relevant information you can use right away, including:

• The 11 symptoms of adult ADHD that you should know

• How adult ADHD affects sleep and what to do to ease sleep-related problems

• The latest research on the causes and risk factors of adult ADHD

• Understanding evaluation and diagnosis

• The two medications effective in 7 out of 10 adults

• The non-drug therapy that creates positive ways of thinking

• A novel technique to reinforce motivation and organization

• Advances and practical strategies to manage core symptoms, extend concentration, ease anxiety, and strengthen relationships

• And so much more!

This downloadable report is eye-opening and empowering. You will learn to recognize the symptoms of adult ADHD, whether in a family member, a friend, or yourself. You will understand its causes and risk factors. And importantly, you will find a wide range of approaches to address symptoms and put you on a path to the welcome peace of mind you want — and can have.

Don’t wait. Order a copy of Confronting Adult ADHD today!

Improve your balance by walking

Balance is a one of the senses that we often take for granted—until we lose it. In our 50s and 60s, we may notice that our bodies feel less stable. Gradual changes linked to growing older—such as loss of muscle mass, lack of flexibility, slower reflexes, and worsening eyesight, and even certain medical conditions and medications —can affect our sense of balance.

Get your copy of Better Balance Discover how you can prevent falls by improving your balance and mobility. Better Balance: Simple exercises to improve stability and prevent falls gives you step-by-step instructions for easy, effective workouts that will improve posture, increase muscle strength and speed, sharpen reflexes, expand flexibility, and firm your core. You’ll also get tips for fall-proofing your home.   SHOW ME MORE →

Poor balance often leads to falls, which can cause head injuries and other disabling injuries. Hip fractures, in particular, can lead to serious health complications and threaten independence.

How walking can help balance

The good news is that there are ways to improve your sense of balance. In fact, just walking can help build lower-body strength, an important element of good balance.

Walking is safe exercise for most people and, in addition to improving balance, counts toward your aerobic activity goals.

How to get started with walking

A good walking plan should be designed to safely boost physical activity. The minutes count more than the miles.

If you aren’t in the habit of exercising, start at the beginning. If you normally use a cane or walker, be sure to do so. As you feel stronger and more comfortable, gradually add more minutes to your walks.

If you already exercise, start with a walking plan that best matches your current routine and build from there. If the plan seems too easy, add time, distance, or hills. Aim for at least 150 minutes of walking per week, but don’t hesitate to add more.

If health problems make walking especially difficult for you, a physiatrist or physical therapist can suggest other options.

For more information on improving your balance, check out Better Balance,  a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.  

Image: miodrag ignjatovic/Getty Images

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WEEK IN REVIEW

Get moving to manage arthritis

It may be the ultimate Catch-22: many people with arthritis avoid exercise because of their painful joints, but exercise is one of the best ways to manage the pain.

“People with arthritis shouldn’t be afraid of exercise,” says Dr. Daniel Solomon, a rheumatologist with Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Most exercises can be modified to match people’s limitations, and the intensity adjusted as needed. Regular exercise can offer the support people need to manage their symptoms, stay active, and improve their quality of life.”

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Inside Emotional Intelligence, you’ll discover: ✓ Why people need emotional intelligence ✓ How to improve emotional intelligence ✓ Tips to advance self-awareness ✓ How to practice self-regulation ✓ Manage relationships ✓ And so much more!

Dear Reader,

Each day you may experience a host of emotions ranging from joy, excitement, or contentment to frustration, sadness, or anxiety. How do you and those around you handle your thoughts and feelings? Do you express your emotions or keep them to yourself?

The ability to regulate our emotions, feel empathy toward others, and use these abilities to communicate effectively and build healthy, productive relationships with others is called emotional intelligence — and it’s the topic of an exciting new guide from the experts at Harvard Medical School.

What’s your EI — or emotional intelligence? How good are you at recognizing emotions in yourself or others? Can you use that understanding in constructive ways to help yourself and others?

The good news is, emotional intelligence isn’t simply an inborn trait that you either have or don’t have. You can learn the skills to improve your emotional intelligence starting today with this new guide. Download your guide now and discover:

• The four key elements of emotional intelligence

• Why emotional intelligence can matter more than IQ when it comes to succeeding at work or in relationships

• Why emotions can be fleeting, but feelings can last a long time.

• The remarkable way your face and body respond to different emotions

• What typically goes wrong in relationships — and what you can do to fix the problem

• And so much more.

This unique, insightful guide brings you specific habits and skills to practice to improve your relationships by cultivating greater emotional intelligence. You’ll learn different aspects of emotional intelligence, such as self-awareness. Becoming more self-aware is one of the benefits of mindfulness — the practice of focusing on the here and now and acknowledging your thoughts without judgment.

You’ll find 5 steps to a mindfulness practice that focuses specifically on your emotions. Give it a try, and you’ll quickly see how thoughts trigger certain physical sensations. This is a great way to spot “early warning signs” for emotions you may not want to act on immediately.

You’ll learn how to identify which areas of your emotional intelligence are your strong suit — and which need a little work. You’ll see how to…

• Get past negative emotional reactions.

• Develop greater empathy

• Reframe your thoughts about a situation so you can change your emotional response

• Be kind to yourself and let go of feelings of self-doubt

• Make a sincere apology

• And learn to forgive others — a powerful tool that can improve your health and well-being

If you want to feel the peace that comes with understanding your emotions, check out Emotional Intelligence: Building awareness and skills to boost communication and relationships — the online guide from Harvard Medical School experts.

To your good health,

Timothy Cole
Editorial Director, Harvard Health Publishing