Care for your Eyes this National Women’s Health Week (May 12 – 18)

care of your eyes this national womens health week may 12

May 10, 2019

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Every year in the month of May, the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH) celebrates women by dedicating an entire week for the health of the female population. Starting May 12, on Mother’s Day, National Women’s Health Week is celebrated with the aim of uplifting women and encouraging them to take care of themselves.

The week begins with the start of Mother’s Day and provides an opportunity to encourage women to take care of their health while at the same time empowering them. The week aims to help women make healthy and good lifestyle choices a priority to build positive health habits for their lives.

The HHS OWH highlights some measures that can be taken to encourage healthier living habits, for every age. The HHS OWH highlights the following necessary steps to take better care of both your physical and mental health:

Get regular checkups and regular screenings

Exercise regularly

Eat healthily

Pay attention to your mental health and get enough sleep

Avoid unhealthy behaviors such as smoking

These highlights are a few general measures that can be taken towards a healthier and well-spent life and can be used for raising awareness on issues surrounding women’s health.

In honor of Women’s Health Week 2019, we have compiled a list of the best eye health advice found, that can help manage your eye health and help you take better care of your body.

A Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet rich in nutrients and proteins can help keep the body young and refreshed. The same is true for the eyes. Eating a diet rich in pigmented vegetables and fruits can prove to be very effective for the eyes.

Adding fish, seeds, legumes, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and nuts into your daily food intake can significantly enhance eye health and help maintain your eyesight for a long time.

Exercise

Exercise is good for all parts of the body. Exercise helps the body produce the necessary hormones required for the growth and production of new cells in the body. Thus, exercising the human body is not only beneficial for physical health but also for mental health.

Exercises such as aerobics and yoga that help get the blood flow running through your body can be very beneficial for your overall health. Plus, they are more fun and easy to do.

Exercise for the eyes is also a good way to strengthen your eye muscles and improve vision.

You can exercise your eyes by alternating between different directions such as moving your eyes from the left to the right or back and forth. Similarly, moving your eyes up and down for a few minutes can help strengthen the muscles and improve the focus of the eyes.

Eye exercises are not meant to fix any ailments or issues with your eyes, but rather are a way to improve eye vision and focus.

Wear Sunglasses and Protective Eyewear

The harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun are dangerous for our eyes and can severely damage them. Diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma are often noted in patients with severe exposure to the sun.

Wearing good quality sunglasses with UVA and UVB filters can significantly help reduce possible damage to the eyes.

Similarly¸ when working with heavy machinery or in areas where your eyes may be subject to harm, it is a good idea to wear protective gear that can help keep your eyes safe. Protective eyewear can help prevent particles and other substances from entering the eye that can potentially cause damage.

Avoid Smoking

Smoking is known to have many adverse effects on the human body. Smoking is known to not only damage the lungs and the airways but also the other organs of the body.

Smoke from cigarettes can cause redness and itching in the eyes, and can even increase the risks of eye diseases such as Age-Related Macular Degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, and Diabetic Retinopathy.

Check your Family Medical History

Being aware of your family medical history can help you identify any possible diseases you may be at risk of developing. Learning more about the medical history of your family can help you take the necessary precautions and possibly prevent the disease.

Identify if your family has any risk factors associated and inform your doctor. Eye diseases such as glaucoma are majorly genetic. Thus, if the necessary precautions are taken you may be able to slow down the progression of the disease on time.

Visit your Doctor

Eye health can help determine other issues in the human body. Conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can be identified via an eye exam. There are some silent diseases such as glaucoma that do not show any significant symptoms, which are mostly identified during an eye exam.

Therefore, it is a good idea to visit your doctor on time and get regular eye checkups to take care of yourself.

Take a Break

The excessive use of technology, mobile phones, and laptops have contributed to the increase in eyestrain, eye fatigue, and other conditions. Thus, taking a break from your device every now and then is a good idea.

For users of mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, the 20-20-20 rule should be used. The 20-20-20 rule states that for every 20 minutes you spend looking on a computer screen, you should spend at least 20 seconds, looking away from it, preferably 20 feet away.

The 20-20-20 rule is meant to help prevent the eyes from drying out and avoid eyestrain.

Tech devices such as mobile phones and laptops make use of screens that give off blue light. This blue light has been noted to affect the natural sleep cycles of the human body, thus putting the body off from its natural sleep cycle setting. For users of mobile devices and laptops, it is advised to use blue light filters that can help flush some of the blue light and ease the eyes.

Getting the right amount of sleep can help you rest your eyes and rejuvenate them. When we sleep, our body is reset and the body repairs itself. This is why our parents emphasized on good sleeping habits when we were young.

The recommended amount of shuteye for adults, especially women is 7 to 9 hours. Getting the right amount of sleep can help prevent risks of certain diseases and help the body stay healthy.

Hydrate

Hydrating your body is very important, as it helps flush out toxic materials and helps in performing various other bodily functions.

For the eyes, hydration is essential as it helps keep them moisturized. Dehydration can cause dry eyes and eyestrain, thus it is a good idea to drink the recommended daily intake of water to keep your eyes healthy and rejuvenated.

Making use of artificial teardrops can also help keep the eyes hydrated and keep them clean at the same time.

Drink in Moderation

Alcohol consumption can dry out your eyes and cause other issues for your body. Limiting the consumption of alcoholic drinks can help control any arising issues with the body.

For women, the consumption of alcohol is limited to one drink per day. Going above this limit may result in binge drinking and cause issues for the body, especially the liver and the eyes.

Avoid Rubbing or Touching your Eyes

When foreign objects are stuck into our eyes such as dust or eyelashes or other small particles, our first instinct is to rub our eyes. However, rubbing or touching the eyes can cause serious issues and result in redness and even more itching.

Thus, avoiding rubbing or touching your eyes can help prevent your eyes from irritating or itching further.

Even if you are tempted to rub or touch your eyes, clean them out using cold water or eye drops. If the itchiness or redness persists for over a few hours, it is advised to consult your doctor at once.

Clean your Eyes Regularly

Cleanliness can help keep the eyes hydrated and clean from any external objects such as pollen, dust or even stray eyelashes. Cleaning your eyes with cold water or eye drops can help keep them healthy, rejuvenated, and fresh.

Connect with Women around the World

Communicating and talking with women from all across the world can help inspire and motivate you to take better care of your health and may do the same for them. Communicating with other people can help create a dialogue to help spread better awareness regarding women health and create better opportunities for their health coverage.

National Women’s Health Week is once a year opportunity to pamper yourself and take care of your health. As mothers, sisters, and mostly as human beings, it is our duty to take care of ourselves as much as we take care of the people around us.

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