Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 1-22-16 Edition

Health
Pelvic Health Awareness
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month
African American are at higher risk for certain eye dis- eases, which usually have no warning signs. Left untreated, they can cause vision loss, even blindness. But, vision loss can often be prevented.
Pelvic health awareness is important to all women, from young ladies to the young at heart ladies. It’s important to have an understanding all things pelvic, which include: prolapsed, bladder control, bowel health, muscles and bones, hygiene, sexuality and reproduction.
The pelvis is held together by bones and muscles. Most women are unaware of the pelvic structure which can create problems when some-
thing is wrong.
Muscles & Bones
The pelvic is a pyramid- shaped bone surrounded by muscles in the stomach and back, as well as, the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles should be exercised – by doing Kegels - specifically during adulthood.
Bladder & Bowel Health
Constipation is more preva- lent in girls and women, which can lead to bladder and/or bowel incontinence. Drinking plenty of water and eating fi- brous foods, and exercise can alleviate symptoms.
Hygiene, Sexuality & Reproduction
Women – your vagina is self cleaning, so there’s no need for sprays or douching. Those products can throw off the nat- ural balance of yeasts and bac- terial organisms, and cause urinary tract infections.
It’s time to talk about eye health, especially in our com- munity. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can dam- age the optic nerve. More than 520,000 African American have glaucoma, according to the National Eye Institute. If it’s been awhile since your last eye exam, here are three reasons to make an appointment:
African Americans Are At Higher Risk
The National Eye Institute encourages you to save your sight from vision loss and blindness by knowing your risk for glaucoma—and doing something about it! Glaucoma can lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated. More than half of all people with glaucoma don’t know they have it. And, quite often, by the time people are diag- nosed with glaucoma, they have already begun to notice changes in their side, or pe- ripheral, vision.
This is especially true for African Americans—those over age 40 and those with a family history of glaucoma are at higher risk for the disease. More than 520,000 African Americans have glaucoma, and this number is expected to increase by more than 300,000 over the next 15 years. The disease is a leading cause of blindness among African Americans.
You’ll Miss Life’s Precious Moments
Weddings. Graduations. Grandchildren. Don’t miss out on seeing life’s precious mo- ments. You know that every family wedding includes your Uncle Louis teaching the latest line dance. And every spring, Aunt Shirley pulls you into the kitchen to help bake a few cherry pies. Make sure you can stay in the mix by protecting your vision.
Glaucoma Doesn’t Have To Be Your Reality
Do something about glau- coma. Talking about it is the first step. The second step is to see your eye care professional and get a comprehensive di- lated eye exam every 1 to 2
years if you are at higher risk. Don’t wait until you notice vi- sion problems to see your eye care professional.
To learn more about how you can protect your sight, visit www.nei.nih.gov/glau- coma.
A Green A Day
May Help Keep Glaucoma Away
Eating green leafy vegeta- bles daily may decrease the risk of glaucoma — a serious eye disease — by 20- 30% or more over many years, a new study suggests.
Glaucoma is an eye condi- tion that usually develops when fluid increases in the front part of the eye and causes pressure, damaging the optic nerve. It can lead to loss of vision, according to the U.S. National Eye Institute.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016