Vitamins and Herbs May Help With Glaucoma
12/08/2009
Vitamins and Herbs May Help With Glaucoma
By Darrell Miller
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that affect the optic nerve and
can lead to irreversible vision loss. It is usually associated
with elevated fluid pressure within the eye. All forms of
glaucoma can cause damage to the optic nerve and lead to vision
loss, even blindness, if left untreated. About 2.2 million
Americans have been diagnosed with glaucoma and as many as 2
million more could have it and not yet know. It is one of the
lading causes of blindness and is expected to become more
prevalent in years to come due to the growing population of
older adults.
Those people who are at greatest risk for developing glaucoma
are people over the age of sixty, people of African ancestry,
and people with diabetes, high blood pressure, severe myopia, or
a family history of glaucoma. Smokers also have an elevated
risk, as do those who have sustained eye injuries or who have
used steroids for an extended period of time.
About 3 percent of Americans are believed to have open-angle
glaucoma, which is the most common form of this disease. Because
this disorder causes no symptoms until it is quite advanced,
only about half of those who have it are actually aware of it.
In open-angle glaucoma, there is no physical blockage and the
structure of the eye appear to be normal. However, the drainage
of fluid is inadequate to keep the intraocular pressure at a
normal level.
The most pronounced symptoms of open-angle glaucoma are the
gradual loss or darkening of peripheral vision and a marked
decrease in night vision or the ability of the eye to adjust to
darkness. Other possible symptoms include chronic low-grade
headaches, the need for frequent changes in eyeglass
prescription, and/or seeing halos around electric lights.
A far less common, yet more serious, form of glaucoma is
closed-angle glaucoma. Closed-angle glaucoma is much more
dangerous than open-angle forms because it almost never
manifests any symptoms until very late in the condition. By that
time, vision may be irreversibly damaged.
Glaucoma probably has many causes, with many scientists
believing it may be closely linked to stress and nutritional
problems or disorders like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Some think that excessive amounts of glutamic acid, which is a
nonessential amino acid, may be involved. Glaucoma has also been
linked to deficiency in nitric oxide, which is a molecule that
is critical for healthy blood vessels. Problems with collagen,
the most abundant protein in the human body, have been linked to
glaucoma as well. Collagen increases the strength and elasticity
of tissues in the body, especially those of the eye. Collagen
and tissue abnormalities at the back of the eye contribute to
the clogging of the tissues through which the intraocular fluid
normally drains. This results in elevated inner eye pressure,
leading to glaucoma and related vision loss.
The following nutrients are considered to be very important
when dealing with and preventing glaucoma: choline, essential
fatty acids, glutathione, rutin, vitamin A, vitamin B complex,
vitamin C with bioflavonoids, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid,
magnesium, a multivitamin and mineral complex, and zinc.
Additionally, the following herbs are helpful: bilberry,
chickweed, eyebright, coleus forskohli, fennel tea, chamomile,
ginkgo biloba, zinc sulfate, jaborandi, and rose hips.
To resolve issues with the eyes, one must change their diet,
exercise, and take supplements and herbs like what are listed
above. Medical doctors are at a loss as to how glaucoma happens
but they can help stop the progression of this disease if
detected early on. Always consult your doctor before adding
vitamins and herbs to your diet, vitamins and herbs are
available at your local or internet health food store.
*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. Vitamins and herbs are not
intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always
consult with your professional health care provider before
changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.
About the Author: More information on vitamins and herbs is
available at VitaNet ®, LLC health food store.
http://vitanetonline.com/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=352656&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies
By Darrell Miller
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that affect the optic nerve and
can lead to irreversible vision loss. It is usually associated
with elevated fluid pressure within the eye. All forms of
glaucoma can cause damage to the optic nerve and lead to vision
loss, even blindness, if left untreated. About 2.2 million
Americans have been diagnosed with glaucoma and as many as 2
million more could have it and not yet know. It is one of the
lading causes of blindness and is expected to become more
prevalent in years to come due to the growing population of
older adults.
Those people who are at greatest risk for developing glaucoma
are people over the age of sixty, people of African ancestry,
and people with diabetes, high blood pressure, severe myopia, or
a family history of glaucoma. Smokers also have an elevated
risk, as do those who have sustained eye injuries or who have
used steroids for an extended period of time.
About 3 percent of Americans are believed to have open-angle
glaucoma, which is the most common form of this disease. Because
this disorder causes no symptoms until it is quite advanced,
only about half of those who have it are actually aware of it.
In open-angle glaucoma, there is no physical blockage and the
structure of the eye appear to be normal. However, the drainage
of fluid is inadequate to keep the intraocular pressure at a
normal level.
The most pronounced symptoms of open-angle glaucoma are the
gradual loss or darkening of peripheral vision and a marked
decrease in night vision or the ability of the eye to adjust to
darkness. Other possible symptoms include chronic low-grade
headaches, the need for frequent changes in eyeglass
prescription, and/or seeing halos around electric lights.
A far less common, yet more serious, form of glaucoma is
closed-angle glaucoma. Closed-angle glaucoma is much more
dangerous than open-angle forms because it almost never
manifests any symptoms until very late in the condition. By that
time, vision may be irreversibly damaged.
Glaucoma probably has many causes, with many scientists
believing it may be closely linked to stress and nutritional
problems or disorders like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Some think that excessive amounts of glutamic acid, which is a
nonessential amino acid, may be involved. Glaucoma has also been
linked to deficiency in nitric oxide, which is a molecule that
is critical for healthy blood vessels. Problems with collagen,
the most abundant protein in the human body, have been linked to
glaucoma as well. Collagen increases the strength and elasticity
of tissues in the body, especially those of the eye. Collagen
and tissue abnormalities at the back of the eye contribute to
the clogging of the tissues through which the intraocular fluid
normally drains. This results in elevated inner eye pressure,
leading to glaucoma and related vision loss.
The following nutrients are considered to be very important
when dealing with and preventing glaucoma: choline, essential
fatty acids, glutathione, rutin, vitamin A, vitamin B complex,
vitamin C with bioflavonoids, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid,
magnesium, a multivitamin and mineral complex, and zinc.
Additionally, the following herbs are helpful: bilberry,
chickweed, eyebright, coleus forskohli, fennel tea, chamomile,
ginkgo biloba, zinc sulfate, jaborandi, and rose hips.
To resolve issues with the eyes, one must change their diet,
exercise, and take supplements and herbs like what are listed
above. Medical doctors are at a loss as to how glaucoma happens
but they can help stop the progression of this disease if
detected early on. Always consult your doctor before adding
vitamins and herbs to your diet, vitamins and herbs are
available at your local or internet health food store.
*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration. Vitamins and herbs are not
intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always
consult with your professional health care provider before
changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.
About the Author: More information on vitamins and herbs is
available at VitaNet ®, LLC health food store.
http://vitanetonline.com/
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=352656&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies
Glaucoma is usually deemed condition of the eye wherein sensitiveness to ocular pressure leads to retinal and optic nerve harm. It is one of the reason for eye failure. Chronic glaucoma is known as the sly robber of eyesight as one has no signs or symptoms, it is difficult to detect. There are many risk factors associated with Chronic glaucoma like age, eye irregularities, family history, hypertension, headaches etc. For more details refer http://www.eye9.net/
Posted by: Account Deleted | 04/16/2010 at 05:22 AM