There are four distinct types of cataracts, Age-related, Congenital, Secondary, and Traumatic.
Cataracts cause blurry, cloudy vision and may occur in adults over the age of 60, called age-related cataracts.
Infection, injury, or poor development may cause an unborn child to develop cataracts in the mother’s uterus, and these are congenital cataracts. These may also form in childhood from the same reasoning.
A person with another medical condition, like diabetes, can cause secondary cataracts. Persons taking corticosteroids, or diuretic medications can also develop secondary cataracts. Other ways are being around toxins, ultraviolet light, and radiation.
There is no way to actually prevent cataracts. , The treatments would be prescription glasses or contacts, followed by prescription medication or both, and finally, if these treatments don’t work, surgery.
Watch this short video where a doctor explains cataracts and their treatment.
Both my daughter and her oldest daughter have APS, Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Both have experienced miscarriages. Don’t know anything at all about APS? Check out this simple video to get your questions answered.
Oh boy! May is chock full of awareness issues we can explore! Due to the vast amount of days, this post will cover only a few, with a brief description and where you can find further information. These are the links culled from around the web.
May Is Better Hearing & Speech Month a time to raise awareness about communication disorders and available treatment options that can improve the quality of life for those who experience problems speaking, understanding, or hearing.
It’s American Stroke Awareness Month. This one is close to my heart. My dad and other relatives have had strokes before they passed. Not so pretty. A stroke happens when a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people may have only a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), that doesn’t cause lasting symptoms.
Arthritis Awareness Month was highlighted in a former post. You can read about it here. Also, check out my resources and learning area to see how you can volunteer or donate.
Food Allergy Month.Food Allergy Awareness Week provides a unique opportunity to help raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis. Each of us works in our own way to raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis. When we all work together and focus our efforts over the course of one week, it amplifies our message and reaches many more people than anyone of us could do alone.
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month. May is Global Employee Health and Fitness Month (GEHFM), an international initiative that prioritizes health and fitness in the workplace. It’s the time of the year when organizations should reflect on what they are doing (or not doing) to help their employees live healthy lifestyles.
Hepatitis Awareness MonthHepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Viruses cause most cases of hepatitis. The type of hepatitis is named for the virus that causes it; for example, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. Drug or alcohol use can also cause hepatitis.
Lupus Awareness Month. Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that causes inflammation anywhere in your body and can affect any of organ, the skin, and joints. There are an estimated 1.5 million Americans living with this awful disease. Share this post to help us and the @LupusFoundationofAmerica raise awareness of lupus this month during Lupus Awareness Month. Visit lupus.org/lupusawarenessmonth
Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is America’s most common cancer. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. By sharing facts about the dangers of unprotected exposure and encouraging people to check their skin for warning signs, we can and will save lives.
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.Since 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared May to be “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.” It’s a peak season for people with asthma and allergies, and a perfect time to educate patients, family, friends, co-workers, and others about these diseases. More than 60 million Americans overall have asthma and allergies.
About 25 million Americans have asthma (19 million adults and 6.2 million children)
About 32 million Americans have food allergies (26 million adults and 6 million children)
About 21 million Americans have hay fever, rhinitis or nasal allergies (20 million adults and 5.6 million children)
These numbers paint a picture of how many people in the U.S. are managing asthma and allergies. But they don’t paint a picture of the overall impact these diseases have on people and communities.
National Celiac Disease Awareness Month. When a person with celiac disease eats gluten, the protein interferes with the absorption of nutrients from the food by damaging a part of the small intestine called villi. Damaged villi make it nearly impossible for the body to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, leading to malnourishment and a host of other problems including some cancers, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, infertility, and the onset of other autoimmune diseases.
National High Blood Pressure Education Month. In the United States, nearly 68 million people have high blood pressure, which is also called hypertension. Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death in the United States.
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Every year, more Americans are diagnosed with osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to weaken and become more likely to break. You may not know that you have this “silent” disease until your bones are so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes your wrist to break or your hip to fracture. Learn the facts so you can protect your bones!
While 1 in 2 women over 50 will develop osteoporosis, 1 in 4 men will, too.
It’s possible to make bones stronger.
Around 25 % of people die within the first 6 to 12 months after a hip fracture.
Oh, and there are more, we’ll explore them in a later post. What else can I tell you about these? Let me know in the comments.
May is a huge awareness month. I’ve written about arthritis, an important topic for me, but there are also many other important illnesses we should also be talking about.
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ALS
is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that is 100% fatal. You can help change the facts.
(From alsa.org) ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. “A” means no. “Myo” refers to muscle, and “Trophic” means nourishment – “No muscle nourishment.” When a muscle has no nourishment, it “atrophies” or wastes away. “Lateral” identifies the areas in a person’s spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates, it leads to scarring or hardening (“sclerosis”) in the region.
You may donate to the ALS Association,1275 K Street, NW Suite 250; Washington, DC 20005 – see ALSA.org
Borderline Personality Disorder
In May of 2007, the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEABPD) organized hearings before congress to educate legislators about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A year later, in April 2008 the U.S. House of Representatives declared May as Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month. *1 –https://evolvetreatment.com/blog/may-is-borderline-personality-disorder-awareness-month/
Five Quick BPD Facts
Over 14 million Americans suffer from BPD.
More people have BPD than schizophrenia and bipolar disorder combined.
People with BPD commit suicide at 400 times the rate of the general population
BPD is more common in women than in men.
BPD is the 3rd leading cause of death for young adult women between 15-24.
5.9% of the adult population has BPD, they commit suicide at an alarming rate, and women are especially vulnerable to the disorder. That’s why we have Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month. To raise awareness and awareness, end the stigma around the condition, and encourage people to get the help they need.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) BPD is:
“A mental illness marked by a pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships. People with BPD may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days.”
Mental Health –
a great website for this is https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month. This website is chock full of great information! As a member of a family who knows the importance of observing mental health month, I urge you to learn as much as you can. Another partner, NIMH, has offered up some additional informative websites
I’ve had fibromyalgia since my late 20’s. As I’m 59 now, that’s 30 plus years of dealing with the pain and nerve ending never-ending soreness and pain. Add a bit of arthritis, and disc degenerative disease and it makes for the perfect “How will I ever get through this day” type of day.
So how did Fibromyalgia day come about?
Reading from the National Fibromyalgia Associaton website:
It all started here at the NFA back in 1998, when our founders, Lynne Matallana and Karen Lee Richards, set out to get as many cities, counties, and states as possible to proclaim May 12th as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day.
They mailed out over 100 proclamation packets to individuals and support groups across the U.S. with suggestions on how to approach political leaders about the importance of creating awareness for this virtually unknown illness. That first year, Lynne was able to get the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to officially proclaim May 12th as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (L.A. County includes 88 cities). Approximately 25 other jurisdictions across the country did the same.
The next year, about 150 proclamations were done. In the first 5 years of Awareness Days, there were over 2,000 proclamations in cities, counties, states, the U.S. Senate, Congress, and even at the White House, thus officially making May 12th National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. The trend continues to this day and many thousands of Awareness Day proclamations have been made all over the world. That means that each of the entities that have proclaimed an official Fibromyalgia Awareness Day recognizes that FM is a legitimate life-altering illness, and they support the under-served population of people living with it by calling for more research and new treatments to help improve their quality of life.
May 12th is a day to remember how far we have come, from the days when almost no one had even heard the word “fibromyalgia,” to today when almost everyone has heard of it and knows someone who lives it. It is also a day to celebrate yourself for the fibro warrior you are, or the fibro warriors you support. You are part of this thriving community that was one of the first truly disruptive organizations to make a difference in how the world treats people in pain.
To celebrate the 20th National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, create your own event or fundraiser in support of the NFA. Click here for the NFA’s guidelines and tips to help you get started. May 12th is just around the corner—let’s spend it together!
What is Fibromyalgia / Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.
I hope this explanation helps you with a bit of knowledge about Fibromyalgia.
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Food Allergy Awareness Week provides a unique opportunity to help raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis. Each of us works in our own way to raise awareness of food allergies and anaphylaxis. When we all work together and focus our efforts over the course of one week, it amplifies our message and reaches many more people than anyone of us could do alone.
Since 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared May to be “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.” It’s a peak season for people with asthma and allergies, and a perfect time to educate patients, family, friends, co-workers, and others about these diseases. More than 60 million Americans overall have asthma and allergies.
They mailed out over 100 proclamation packets to individuals and support groups across the U.S. with suggestions on how to approach political leaders about the importance of creating awareness for this virtually unknown illness. That first year, Lynne was able to get the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to officially proclaim May 12th as Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (L.A. County includes 88 cities). Approximately 25 other jurisdictions across the country did the same.
The next year, about 150 proclamations were done. In the first 5 years of Awareness Days, there were over 2,000 proclamations in cities, counties, states, the U.S. Senate, Congress, and even at the White House, thus officially making May 12th National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. The trend continues to this day and many thousands of Awareness Day proclamations have been made all over the world. That means that each of the entities that have proclaimed an official Fibromyalgia Awareness Day recognizes that FM is a legitimate life-altering illness, and they support the under-served population of people living with it by calling for more research and new treatments to help improve their quality of life.
May 12th is a day to remember how far we have come, from the days when almost no one had even heard the word “fibromyalgia,” to today when almost everyone has heard of it and knows someone who lives it. It is also a day to celebrate yourself for the fibro warrior you are, or the fibro warriors you support. You are part of this thriving community that was one of the first truly disruptive organizations to make a difference in how the world treats people in pain.
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