When should you start seeing Dr. Sloan – Sarasota Optometrist? Studies show that healthy adults who do not exhibit vision problems should undergo a complete eye exam by the time they turn forty years old. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, people start exhibiting symptoms of vision problems at forty. Optometrists are your eye health care providers that prescribe medications to help improve your vision, offer low vision rehabilitation, dispense contact and spectacle lenses, and are also trained to perform surgical procedures of the eye.

Are you taking good care of your eyesight? Believe it or not but most people don’t. Many of them take their eyes for granted without realizing that they will not be able to function optimally without their eyesight. Imagine if you have blurred vision while driving on the freeway? Or when getting to the office requires you to take a flight of stairs every day? If your vision is impaired, your risk of getting into an accident while on the road or obtaining an injury due to falls is high. Luckily, there are ways to protect your eyes. Here are some helpful tips that are guaranteed to help maintain your eye health.

#1 Balanced Diet

Are you aware that the food you eat can affect your eyesight? Eye doctors recommend you incorporate foods rich in vitamins A and C and antioxidants such as fish and green, leafy vegetables. Salmon is a good choice because it’s a fatty fish, and it contains loads of omega-3 fatty acids that will help nourish your macula. It’s the part of the eye that controls central vision.

If your diet doesn’t contain enough antioxidants and if you regularly consume foods that have high amounts of saturated fats, your macula can deteriorate. Diets high in fats can also produce fatty deposits that impede blood flow towards your arteries. Keep in mind that the arteries in your eyes are small, so they too can get affected easily.

#2 Workout

What does exercise have to do with your eyes? Well, exercise keeps your heart pumping, thereby improving blood flow and sending oxygenated blood to your eyes. It also helps remove toxins.

#3 Get Enough Sleep

How many hours of sleep a day are you getting? When you sleep, the cells in your eyes are restored, making them healthier. This allows you to function better visually. Unfortunately, people with poor sleeping patterns often exhibit dry eye syndrome and eye spasms.

#4 Keep Your Hands Clean

What do clean hands have to do with your eyesight? Well, this is especially useful for people who are wearing contact lenses. Before putting your contacts in or removing them, make sure your hands are clean. Eye doctors strongly encourage you to wash your hands with mild soap and water and dry them with a lint-free towel. Your hands are dirty, and it’s teeming with bacteria. If you touch your eyes without washing them, you introduce all kinds of bacteria into your eyes, leading to infections. The most common eye infection is conjunctivitis or commonly known as pink eye.

#5 Quit Smoking

Everyone knows smoking is bad for your lungs but did you know that it also affects your eye health? When you smoke, your eyes are exposed to oxidative stress. Although the relationship between the two hasn’t been clearly established, many eye doctors say that smoking will increase your risk of health problems that will affect your eye health. We understand that quitting this nasty habit can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. If you need help, you may want to check out the smoking cessation program by the American Lung Association to help you overcome this addiction.

#6 Protective Eyewear

You’ve got sunglasses in your dresser, but you’re not wearing them. Well, eye doctors say you should, especially if you’re out on a sunny day. Eyeglasses help protect your eyes against the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. So when choosing a pair of eyeglasses, don’t just look at the design or the color; the essential feature you need to look for is if it can protect you against UVA and UVB rays.

#7 Limit Device Use

The gadgets you use every day emit harmful blue light that can hurt your eyes. You should distance your eyes from the screen around 20 to 24 inches away to protect your eyesight. Keep your computer screen a bit lower than your eye level. Don’t forget to blink and then take a break after every 20 minutes of using the computer.

Takeaway

Besides following all these, you should also be mindful of changes to your eyesight. If there are any abnormal changes, make sure you let your eye doctor know about them.

Adopting a new dog is always a good idea. Who doesn’t like dogs? They’re fluffy, adorable, and they’d make excellent companions. But, before you finalize that adoption, we want to know, did you do your research? Are you ready to take the responsibility to train your new dog? Are you aware of aggressive dog training naples centers near you? These are important questions you need to consider because if you don’t train your dog, you might end up regretting your decision.

Keeping a dog is easy but training a dog to obey your commands is the challenging part and not a lot of dog owners are ready to accept the challenge. You see, dog training takes time, patience, consistency, and perseverance and it’s not a walk in the park. You’ll encounter challenges along the way. It will not only affect you physically but will also challenge you emotionally and mentally. Are you ready to go through a roller coaster of emotions while training your dog? If not, you should consider hiring professional dog trainers.

Dogs are cute but when they start biting, nipping, barking, counter-surfing, and urinating in places that they’re not supposed to, it will make you mad! This is the reality of adopting dogs. It’s not all roses, you have to be ready to deal with the thorns. But again, the good news is you can always ask for the professional help from certified dog trainers.

Here are the benefits of hiring dog trainers and why you should invest in them when your new dog arrives.

Experience and Knowledge

Professional dog trainers have the experience and the knowledge to help your dog get rid of unwanted behaviors and condition its mind to obey commands. These two are the most important elements in dog training because that’s how you’ll gauge the success of the transformation. Without knowledge, you will not be able to effectively communicate with your dog and let it know what you want to happen.

Attempting to train your dog yourself without experience and knowledge can lead to disastrous results. It may aggravate existing behaviors and may even emotionally traumatize your dog especially if you use inappropriate techniques.

Convenience

As mentioned earlier, dog training can be inconvenient for people who are busy with work as it will take a huge chunk of their time – a time that could have been spent working and being productive. Dog training will not only require your time but will also demand your attention, focus, and energy. If you can’t commit then it would be best to hire a dog trainer. Dog trainers can devote their time and energy to teaching your dog how to behave well.

Safe Methods

Another good reason to hire professional dog trainers is you can be confident that the techniques, strategies, and methods they use are safe for your dogs. You don’t have to worry about your dog being stressed or anxious or develop long-term problems because the methods trainers use are based on science and are backed up by research.

We do not recommend you train your dog yourself especially if you have zero knowledge of the concepts of dog training.

Fast Results

Yes, just like humans, every dog is different. One dog’s learning ability may not be the same as another dog’s intellectual capacity. But, one thing you can be assured of is the fact that trainers can train your dog faster than you can because they have well-studied programs and clever techniques that will enable your dog to grasp what’s being taught.

Takeaway

If you love dogs and if you want to live with a well-behaved and well-mannered dog then hiring a dog trainer is a good decision and will be worth the investment.

Do you know that if you don’t take good care of your teeth and gums at home sooner or later you’ll find yourself paying for restorative dental services? The thing is, caring for your oral health is not that hard. In fact, dental care is so easy that you can incorporate it into your lifestyle without problems. However, it takes a great amount of discipline to fully integrate an oral care routine into your daily life.

Caring for your oral health is a life-long commitment. It doesn’t end. But, don’t worry because once you turn these natural tips into habits, you’ll enjoy the journey. We’ve come up with several natural ways to improve your oral health. Let’s check them out.

Oil Pulling – oil pulling is the practice of swishing edible oil in your mouth for a good twenty minutes. According to experts, practicing oil pulling helps keep your teeth clean and healthy by removing accumulated plaque. Aside from removing plaque, it also prevents bacteria from clinging to your teeth. Doing so will stop bacteria from eroding your enamel.

Avoid Snacking – do you know that if you snack on carbs in between meals throughout the day you are supplying your mouth with more bacteria? Remember, your mouth is teeming with bacteria, and every time you eat you are giving bacteria something to feed on.

When bacteria feed on the food they release acids that in turn will compromise the integrity and strength of your enamel leading to cavities and tooth decay. If you ever happen to snack mid-morning or in the afternoon, make sure to rinse your mouth with water to dilute the sugars.

Eat a Healthy Diet Rich In Minerals – your teeth are highly porous and because of this, they can lose or gain important minerals. To ensure that your teeth constantly receive minerals (a process called re-mineralization), you are encouraged to consume mineral-rich foods such as bone broth, dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli, Himalayan salt, cheese, mushrooms, meat, poultry, and eggs.

Cut Back on Sugars – there’s no question anything that contains sugar tastes good. In fact, the taste can even be highly addictive. Sad to say, sugars in your food are the reason why bacteria continue to produce acids in your mouth – acids that are known to damage your enamel. When you remove refined sugars from your diet the number of bacteria in your mouth will significantly drop.

Brush Your Tongue – when brushing your teeth, don’t forget to include your tongue. Your tongue contains thousands of bacteria and the only way to remove them is to brush your tongue as well.

Consume Foods That Are High in Fat-Soluble Vitamins – eating foods that are rich in vitamins E, A, K2 and D will help keep your teeth strong and healthy. Vitamin D helps your body absorb phosphorous and calcium better while K2 allows calcium to go to your bones and teeth.

Hydrate–drinking water helps remove food debris, germs, and bacteria that have lodged in your teeth and gums. It also helps dilute damaging acids produced by bacteria. People who don’t drink water tend to have a dry mouth and sad to say, dry mouth increases your risk of developing tooth decay.

Dental Visits – aside from protecting your teeth and gums at home you should also strive to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a dental checkup and professional teeth cleaning. Although brushing and flossing will help keep bacteria and plaque to a minimum, sadly, there are certain areas in your mouth that only your dentist can check and clean. It is for this reason why dental visits are a must.

Takeaway

These natural dental tips will surely help maintain your oral health for as long as possible. If you ever encounter dental problems, please do not attempt to try natural methods but instead go straight to your dentist.

How much money have you spent on lipsticks, lip liners and lip creams? We’re guessing thousands of dollars, right? That’s because anything that makes you look beautiful comes with a price. Almost every woman in America owns a lipstick and anyone who owns a lipstick knows that applying them on your lip can be pretty painstaking especially if you get the smudge-proof kind that will last on your lips for 16 hours.

If you accidentally apply some outside of your lips it’s going to require a lot of work to remove it and almost always it ends up staining your skin. Can you imagine the hassle of all this just to look pretty? Why go through all of these when you can have your lips permanently colored? Yes, you read that right. There is a way to give life and color to your lips without the need for makeup all you need to do is to get permanent lip color.

Here are several reasons why you should start ditching your lipsticks and get permanent makeup instead.

Say Goodbye To Chapped Lips

With permanent makeup you don’t have to deal with dry and cracked lips as a result of applying lipsticks that contain strong and harsh chemicals. With permanent lip color, all you need to do is to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to give your lips a glossy shine and voila you’re good to go.

You Want To Make Your Lips Look Fuller

Sure, you can get dermal fillers but fillers will only plump your lips and it won’t give them color whereas if you get permanent lip color it will enhance the color of your lips and it will give the illusion of full lips.

Save on Makeup

Try to watch YouTube videos on makeup tutorials and you’ll be surprised at the amount of work needed to achieve plump lips! Trust us, professional makeup artists don’t just use one type of lipstick for the lips, they’ll use lip liners, lip creams, lip-gloss and sometimes a combination of colors to achieve the look they want.

If you add it all up it will cost you a lot of money especially if you are rooting for big brands. You’re not just paying for the name but you’re paying for the quality and safety of the products. You can save money if you opt to get permanent makeup on your lips because it eliminates the need to hoard lip cosmetics. In fact, if you don’t have dry lips you don’t really need to put anything on your lips. You can just get up and go and you’ll look fabulous!

Enhanced Self-Esteem

Some people are insecure because they have very thin lips or because their lips are dark. Permanent lip makeup can put an end to your self-esteem issues. Right after the procedure your entire look will dramatically change. Permanent lip color will redefine the look and shade of your lips. Enhancing your lips will also enhance your self-esteem.

Getting Beautiful Lips Is Pain Free

What’s holding you back from getting your lips tattooed? Is it because of the pain? Don’t worry because your aesthetician will apply something on your lips so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.

What are you waiting for? Don’t spend another day applying tons of makeup on your lips. With permanent lip color, you finally have a reason to ditch your lipsticks! Imagine going to bed and waking up with beautiful lips without the need to apply anything on them? Trust us, permanent lip color is going to change your life!

Are you aware that there are different types of dentists? Just like medical doctors who can choose their own area of specialization dentists can also opt to undergo additional years of training and further their education to become dental specialists. Before anything else we want to make one thing clear, all dental specialists are dentists but not all dentists are specialists. Knowing the different types of dental specialization is important so you will know who to see if you want to have your teeth and/or gums treated. See more information at www.philly-dentist.com

What are the different types of dentists? Let’s find out.

General Dentist

A general dentist is the first person you should see when it comes to concerns about your dental health. They provide preventive services by teaching you how to properly care for your teeth and gums to prevent diseases, offer professional teeth cleanings and provide regular dental exams. Aside from preventive dental services, a general dentist also offers restorative services such as the placement of filling in a decayed tooth and tooth replacement procedures for missing teeth. They also offer root canal therapy, bridgework and dentures.

Endodontist

If the inside of your tooth has become infected your general dentist will refer you to an endodontist. Endodontists are dental health specialists who are trained to diagnose and treat tooth pain that concerns the interior chamber of your tooth. Inside your tooth are canals that houses nerves, pulp and blood vessels. When this gets infected, your endodontist will perform a root canal therapy to stop the spread of infection.

Orthodontist

When your problems involve an uneven bite (overbite, crossbite, underbite) as a result of a misaligned jaw, crooked and overcrowded teeth the best person to treat you is an orthodontist. Orthodontists are specially trained to install orthodontic devices such as clear aligners, braces, headgears and palatal expanders to correct your dental problem. Orthodontists cater to both young and old.

Pediatric Dentist

As parents, you take your child to a pediatrician if he or she gets sick but how about if your child experiences teeth and gum problems? As you may have guessed, the best person to treat children’s dental health problems and address their needs is a pediatric dentist. A pediatric dentist is trained to meet and address the needs of children starting from infancy until their adolescent and teenager years. They are familiar with the development of children’s teeth and bones and they know what treatments are needed to achieve optimum dental health. Pediatric dentists have special tools and instruments that come in tiny sizes to fit your child’s mouth. This is important to ensure that all areas of their mouth are inspected carefully.

Periodontist

Another dental health specialist we all should know about is a periodontist. A periodontist is a dental specialist whose areas of expertise are focused on preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases of the gums and other structures surrounding your teeth. These dental health specialists are experts in detecting gum diseases especially during the early stage, which is very important because when gum disease is caught early it can still be reversed. They also provide minor surgeries such as pocket reduction and gum grafts to treat advanced gum disease and to improve your smile. Periodontists are also trained to provide dental implant services.

So you see, when it comes to dental health problems, you don’t just go see a dentist. There are other dental health professionals who are more skilled and more knowledgeable to give you the best dental care specific to your need. However, you should not discount the advice of the American Dental Association to see a general dentist once every six months.

The vagus nerve is a part of the body that most of us have never read about. However, this is certainly something that people with epilepsy should be aware of about. When you or someone you care about has epilepsy, you should know about the vagus nerve and exactly how it pertains to this condition.

Exactly What Is The Vagus Nerve?

To higher recognize how this nerve relates to epilepsy, you need to know what it is. The vagus nerve is accountable for sending information in the neck, chest, and stomach on the brain and back again. This nerve are usually in charge of important bodily processes for example speech, breathing, regulation of the heartbeat and regulating the stomach movements.

Exactly How The Vagus Nerve Pertains To Epilepsy

From the nineteenth century, research discovered that an epileptic seizure can be stopped if the vagus nerve is activated. This activation can be accomplished by applying pressure to the carotid artery inside the neck. Further research was done about this topic and it was discovered that electrical stimulus to the vagus nerve deceased the frequency of seizures in animals. According to this research, clinical studies were approved to evaluate this on humans. It had been in 1997 the FDA approved the use of vagus nerve stimulation as an intervention for partial and intractable focal epilepsy in people more than 12.

Exactly What Is VNS Therapy?

While VNS therapy continues to be approved for use, it is essential to determine what this is certainly and the way it works. This therapy requires a device to become placed within the skin close to the left side collarbone. An electrode which happens to be attached to a generator will also need to be linked to the vagus nerve around the left side in the neck.

These devices from the chest is going to be preprogrammed to stimulate the vagus nerve. The settings of your generator is going to be adjusted by a nurse or doctor which is taught to offer this particular therapy. If a seizure does happen, a magnet could be used to trigger electrical stimulation to prevent the seizure.

How Well Can This Therapy Work?

It is essential to keep in mind that vagus stimulation will not likely have immediate results, but after a couple of months of therapy, results will be seen. Around 25 to 30% of individuals who use VNS therapy have been a decline in their seizures after several months of treatment. After a while, seizure control will improve and right after a year or 2 of therapy, approximately 45% of individuals notice a lowering of their seizures by a minimum of half.

It is essential to note that only only a few people can easily live completely seizure free when working with VNS therapy. There are also some individuals that do not see any difference using this type of therapy. VNS is just not considered a replacement for traditional seizure medication and you will need to continue taking the medication while using the this therapy. However, lots of people who use this therapy find that they can lose the dose of the medication and suffer fewer negative effects from your medication.