Glaucoma is a disease that can lead to amaurosis (partial or total loss of vision) and significantly compromise the quality of life of the affected individual. detection of the disease still at an early stage in order to obtain a better therapeutic result and prognosis of the cases. This pathology has no cure and its treatment in the early stages is essential to prevent vision loss.
Glaucoma is considered the second leading cause of blindness in the world’s population. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), glaucoma is responsible for 13% of global blindness and each year there are over 2.4 million new cases. The number of people with visual impairments tends to grow globallyin 2020 it was estimated 38.5 million people and in 2050 this group will total 115 million people.
But after all, what changes in the life of a person with glaucoma?
This will depend a lot on the stage of the disease and its causes. However, in all cases, it is essential that the patient understands the importance of adhering to treatment properly. Regarding drug treatment, for example, the patient must understand that the daily application of eye drops will be something permanent in their daily lives, and that this routine cannot be broken in any way. Another fundamental factor for those who have been diagnosed with glaucoma is the frequent consultation with the ophthalmologist, to assess the degree of evolution of the disease and the response to treatment.
Individuals diagnosed with glaucoma may have their quality of life impaired for several reasons: loss of visual function; difficulty in the daily treatment routine; side effects and cost of treatment; worry, anxiety and fear linked to the diagnosis of a chronic illness, which threatens your vision.
Loss of visual function is the main determinant for a worse quality of life in glaucoma and can compromise patients’ daily activities such as reading, driving, walking, judging distances and seeing approaching objects from the side. The psychological effects (fear of blindness and social withdrawal) of glaucoma on the individual are also not negligible and tend to increase with the progression of the disease..
Learn about habits that will improve the quality of life of patients with glaucoma:
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Practice physical activities:
The practice of physical exercises is important for the body as a whole, preventing diseases and promoting quality of life and well-being.. Moderate low-impact aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, water aerobics, for example, are beneficial and recommended for people with Glaucoma, as they reduce intraocular pressure. High intensity sports such as bodybuilding or relaxation techniques such as yoga with inverted maneuvers with a lower position should be avoided and only performed with medical advice.
- Have a balanced diet:For patients with glaucoma, a balanced and healthy diet can play an important role in maintaining eye health and reducing the risk of glaucoma progression. Although diet cannot cure glaucoma, certain nutrients may have specific benefits for eye health. Foods rich in antioxidants (leaf greens, salads), omega-3s (fish, nuts, flaxseeds), vitamins C and E (citrus fruits) and low glycemic index (whole foods) are beneficial for eye and body health in general.
Keep your routine appointments:
All systemic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension must be controlled with the assistance of the attending physician. To diagnose and control glaucoma, it is important to keep eye exams up to date, especially in people over 35 years old, hypertensive, nephropathies, diabetics and in people with a family history of glaucoma.
Take care of your eyes:
Long exposure of the eyes to strong light, whether solar or electronic, should be avoided, and one should not “scratch” the eyes, strain the view on occasions when there is little light and read something that is very close, and -keep at least a distance of 30 centimeters between your eyes and what is being read.
Also find out which habits to avoid in order to maintain control of the disease:
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Avoid self-medication:
There is always someone with an eye drop on hand in an attempt to help. What not everyone knows is that eye drops are also medications and using them on their own can pose serious risks to vision. Self-medication is a risk and it is always important to emphasize that people’s bodies are different and the response to the same medication is not always the same. Therefore, what was effective for one patient may have an adverse effect on another.
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Reduce Caffeine Consumption:
Studies show that eye pressure is, on average, 15 to 20% higher in people who drink coffee than in those who don’t. And when only patients who drink coffee daily were analyzed, eye pressure was higher in those who consumed more coffee (>200mg of caffeine/day) when compared to those who consumed less (<200mg of caffeine/day).
Give up the habit of smoking:
Similar to the effect seen with caffeine, studies show that eye pressure is higher in people who smoke than in non-smokers.. Cigarettes may be involved in the development of macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. Vascular occlusions (circulatory problems) are also at increased risk with cigarette addiction. Increased IOP (glaucoma) seems to be related to venous vascular issues that directly affect optic nerve nutrition.
The post Care for Life.
Source: cuidadospelavida.com.br
