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PROPER SETUP OF WORKSTATIONS CAN REDUCE EYE STRAINAs computers have become commonplace at work, so have workers' complaints of eye fatigue, discomfort and difficulty in focusing.
"We've moved into the computer age, but our offices haven't," says Dr. Preston Blomquist, assistant professor of ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
Workers should center the monitor in front of them at about arm's length away and position the top of the screen near eye level. One should also avoid glare, keep the computer screen and glasses clean, and adjust brightness, contrast and font size to comfortable levels.
Fortunately, computer screens don't damage vision, Blomquist says. Relief can be as simple as taking more frequent breaks and getting proper glasses or contact lenses. If discomfort persists, he says, see an ophthalmologist for a thorough eye exam.
THERE'S A WRITE WAY TO EASE ANXIETIES ABOUT HEALTH, ETC. Feeling stressed? Maybe you should be writing more. Dr. Ann Matt Maddrey, assistant professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says keeping a daily journal is a great way to relieve stress for both healthy persons and those with chronic illnesses or medical conditions.
Moreover, says Maddrey, you should not only record your daily activities but also your feelings, problems, how you're coping and what makes you happy. And while you're at it, she says, congratulate yourself - in writing - on successes.
Maddrey, who leads a "journaling" group of patients with a variety of diseases, explains that those with chronic illnesses bear an especially heavy burden.
"Writing about all aspects of an illness can help," she says. "And I believe that it's particularly suited to patients suffering from autoimmune disorders, such as severe arthritis or lupus that can be exacerbated by stress."
PUT TIME ON YOUR SIDE WHEN A HEART ATTACK STRIKESWhen a heart attack strikes, the window for recovery and survival becomes narrower with every minute that passes, says Dr. Ellen Keeley of UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
"A delay in seeking medical treatment after the onset of symptoms greatly increases a patient's risk of developing complications and death and may decrease the effectiveness of emergency angioplasty," says Keeley, assistant professor of internal medicine.
Angioplasty - inserting a balloon into the blocked artery and inflating it to clear blockage - has been shown to be the most effective treatment for acute heart attacks. The sooner this procedure is performed, the greater the chance for a patient's full recovery.
"It is crucial that patients know how to recognize the signs of heart attack and take them seriously," says Keeley. "We, as doctors, have an unparalleled tool for treatment, but we have to count on the patients to put time on our side."
WEST NILE VIRUS SEASON IS COMING - HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DOWith warm weather approaching, mosquitoes won't be far behind. Once again, experts are predicting a resurgence of the West Nile virus.
The virus, first detected in the United States in 1999, can be carried by birds and spread to humans by mosquitoes. In rare cases, the disease is fatal. More than 4,000 cases of West Nile and 263 linked deaths have been reported in the United States since 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most people who become infected will have mild symptoms or none at all. Those with severe cases of this rare virus can experience high fever, headaches, chills, nausea and joint pain.
Dr. James Luby, interim chief of infectious diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says that some simple steps can reduce one's vulnerability. These include: * Apply insect repellant that contains DEET (N, N diethyl-meta-toluamide) when going outdoors. * Empty containers of standing water around your home to limit places where mosquitoes can breed. * Air-condition your home in summer. * When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants treated with repellents containing permethrin or DEET, since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. * Stay indoors at peak mosquito-biting times - dawn, dusk and early evening.
KIDNEY STONES - PAINFUL, BUT PERHAPS PREVENTABLEKidney stones are one of life's more painful disorders and have been around for at least 7,000 years, as discovered in an Egyptian mummy.
Modern lifestyles, however, can exacerbate kidney stones, which can contain a variety of substances, most commonly, calcium and uric acid. Dr. Orson Moe of UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas says there are ways to prevent kidney stones from forming.
In general, drinking up to 12 full glasses of water daily will help to dilute or flush away substances that form stones, says Moe, associate professor of internal medicine. Avoiding excessive protein intake can also reduce the risk.
It is estimated that 10 percent to 20 percent of Americans at some point will have a kidney stone, which can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a golf ball. Stones occur more frequently in men, but the number of women afflicted has been increasing. Kidney stones strike most people between the ages of 20 and 40.
Moe says signs of a possible kidney stone include extreme pain in the back or side that will not go away, blood in the urine, fever and chills, vomiting, urine that smells bad or looks cloudy, and a burning feeling during urination. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, Moe says, see your physician as soon as possible.
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