Eye Dryness Symptoms

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Tears form a protective layer over the front of your eye (the cornea). This film helps wash away germs and debris that could cause an infection and keeps your vision clear.

When you don’t produce enough quality tears or the tears evaporate too quickly, symptoms of dry eyes can develop. Treatment options include using lubricating drops and ointments. Contact Eye Dry Baltimore, MD, to learn more.

Tears provide lubrication, reduce the risk of eye infection, wash away foreign material from the surface of the eye and help maintain the health of the front of the eyes (the cornea). The tears are formed by three layers: an oil layer, a water layer and a mucin layer. If any of these layers are deficient or if the tears evaporate too quickly, symptoms of dry eye develop.

Many factors can contribute to dry eyes, including age, environmental conditions such as windy or low humidity, and lifestyle choices such as smoking or the use of contact lenses. Certain medications also can contribute to dry eyes, especially antihistamines, diuretics, sedatives and birth control pills. In addition, medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and rosacea may cause dry eyes.

There are a variety of treatments for dry eyes, and the type your eye care provider recommends will depend on what’s causing your symptoms. Most people with mild symptoms can benefit from using over-the-counter lubricating eye drops or ointments. For severe or persistent symptoms, your eye care provider may prescribe preservative-free artificial tear drops or ointments in single use vials.

Your eye care professional can also prescribe a topical medication that stimulates your tear glands to produce more tears. Cyclosporine (Restasis) and lifitegrast (Xiidra) are two FDA-approved medications that decrease inflammation and increase tear production. Both require regular usage to produce results.

In some cases, your eye care specialist may recommend a procedure that closes your tear ducts to keep your tears from draining away too quickly. This can be done with silicone plugs that are temporarily removed or with a more permanent solution called thermal cautery. Your eye care specialist can also refer you to a plastic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of the eyelids (oculoplastic surgery). Eyelid problems such as anatomic abnormalities and incomplete blinking can contribute to dry eyes, so treating them may provide relief. In addition, your eye care provider can recommend dietary supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids to help decrease dry eye symptoms in some people. Drinking adequate amounts of water can also help decrease dry eye symptoms.

Symptoms

Eye dryness symptoms are caused by changes in the quality and quantity of tears. The condition is usually painless and self-limiting. However, severe dry eye syndrome can lead to a variety of problems including inflammation of the corneal surface, scarring and abrasion of the corneal tissue. This may result in permanent vision loss. In the early stages of dry eye, you may notice a gritty or sandy feeling when you blink. Other symptoms include a stinging sensation or the feeling that something is stuck in your eye. These symptoms may be aggravated by certain environmental factors such as air pollution, smoke, dust or cold air (from fans, heating systems or wind).

Dry eye is a complex problem, and the treatment options vary depending on the type of dry eye you have. There are two main types of dry eyes: aqueous tear-deficient dry eye syndrome and evaporative dry eye syndrome. Aqueous tear-deficient dry eye syndrome occurs when the lacrimal glands are unable to produce enough watery tears to adequately lubricate your eyes. This is a very common condition. Evaporative dry eye syndrome occurs when the meibomian glands of your eyelids produce an oily layer over your watery tears to slow down their evaporation. The lipids in these glands help stabilize the tear film. This type of dry eye is more severe and usually requires medical intervention.

Mild cases of dry eye are often treated with lubricating drops. Your eye care professional will advise you which kind of drops might be best for your particular situation. It is important to use the drops frequently, as often as every hour, and to be sure to choose preservative-free drops if you have a sensitivity to preservatives. Ointments may also be used to lubricate the eyes, but they can blur your vision so are often recommended for nighttime use only.

Other short-term treatments can include using a humidifier in the home during winter and wearing protective wraps or masks when outdoors in windy weather. Changing to blue light-filtering lenses on computer monitors can decrease the amount of dryness that results from staring at screens for long periods of time. Limiting contact lens wear and using a gentle cleaner to remove residues can help reduce your symptoms. Taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements may also benefit some people with dry eye.

Treatment

The good news is that there are many treatment options available to relieve the symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Your eye care specialist will start by doing a thorough exam, including looking at the eyelids and cornea with magnification, and watching how you blink. They may also use a special dye to help detect any signs of inflammation.

Tear drops and ointments are the mainstays of most treatment plans for dry eyes. You’ll need to try different brands and formulations until you find one that works best for your condition. Preservative-free drops are usually recommended to avoid any potential allergic reactions or eye infections.

In mild cases, lubricating eye drops can provide significant relief from irritation and grittiness. Your eye care professional can recommend the right drop for you and advise you on how frequently you should use it. Ointments, which are thicker and more viscous than drops, can be used as needed, especially before activities that tend to irritate your eyes.

More serious symptoms of dry eye can be helped with prescription eye drops to increase tear production. These medicines are called cholinergics and can be taken as tablets or gels. Another option is a new class of medications, known as cyclosporine eye drops (Restasis, Cequa) and lifitegrast (Xiidra). These drugs stimulate the eyelid glands to secrete healthy oils that block tears from evaporating too quickly.

Meibomian gland dysfunction is a major cause of evaporative dry eye. Your eye doctor can perform an in-office procedure to unclog the openings of the glands at the base of your eyelashes, which should improve your symptomatic dry eye.

Other treatment options include a temporary punctal plug to close the tear ducts and slow tear loss. Your eye care professional will likely first try a small, plastic plug that is designed to dissolve over time, and then switch to permanent plugs if they don’t help you regain control of your symptoms. Your eye care specialist can also prescribe changes to your medication if the medicines you take are worsening your dry eye symptoms. For example, antihistamines, birth control pills, and blood pressure medicines can all make dry eye symptoms worse.

Prevention

Nearly everyone experiences that gritty, uncomfortable feeling of dry eyes at one time or another. However, for some people, dry eye is a constant and ongoing problem that can cause significant discomfort. The condition, called ocular surface disease, occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears or the right quality of tears to clear away debris from the eye surface and keep it well-lubricated. It can be caused by aging, hormonal changes, medications, or certain diseases, such as Sjogren’s syndrome.

If you suffer from chronic dry eye, you can try some of these self-care strategies to improve your symptoms. You can use artificial tears (available over the counter at pharmacies and many grocery stores) to help lubricate your eyes. Always use preservative-free drops because the preservatives can actually damage the surface of the eye over time. You can also try ointment at bedtime, which is thicker and helps coat the eye more completely than drops.

You can add moisture to the air by using a humidifier during the winter, especially if you live in a cold climate. Avoid getting air blown in your eyes by directing hair dryers, car heaters and fans away from your face. You can also wear glasses that filter blue light from electronic screens to reduce the irritation they can cause. Take frequent breaks from the screen to rest your eyes. When you do look at a screen, follow the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for about 20 seconds.

In addition, you can take omega-3 fatty acid supplements, which some research suggests may support tear production and relieve eye dryness. However, before taking any supplements, talk with your doctor to make sure they are safe for you.

Blepharitis, an infection of the glands on your eyelids, can also contribute to the symptoms of dry eye. This can result in crusting around the lashes and lid margins, red and irritated eyes and itching. You can prevent blepharitis by soaking a cotton flannel in warm water and gently wiping the area around your eyes to remove oil, crusts, bacteria or dust.

What Are the Benefits of Massage?

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Massage is a hands-on treatment that uses various techniques to manipulate the soft tissue of your body. The pressure applied allows blood, oxygen and rich nutrients to flow through the congested areas. It also helps the lymphatic system remove toxins and waste from the body.

Massage

Therapeutic massages can help reduce the stress hormone cortisol and increase neurotransmitters like serotonin to improve mood. They can also enhance your immune system. Visit https://www.flowstate918.com/ to learn more.

Stress can cause muscles to tighten and build up leading to pain. Massage decreases tension by increasing the temperature of the soft tissue, reducing pain and psychologically encouraging relaxation. High levels of muscle tension can also lead to restrictions that reduce the range of motion of a joint making it harder to exercise and train and can increase recovery time after an injury.

Physiologically, massage increases the temperature of the soft tissues by friction against skin which warms the blood and increases circulation. This helps to relax the muscles, increase tissue elasticity and flexibility and decreases tone. A massage can help to release toxins in the body which can further reduce tension and improve muscle health.

Psychologically, massage encourages relaxation by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system which regulates the body back to a normal state after stressful or anxious emotions. This response can help decrease the production of cortisol in the body and increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate moods. Massage can also increase the feelings of well-being and put a person in a happy mood which may further help to reduce stress and anxiety.

Massage can decrease pain by reducing the amount of cortisol in the body, decreasing stress hormones and helping with digestion. It can also help with inflammation by flushing out the excess fluid around the area. It can also help with a range of chronic issues such as depression, fatigue and sleeplessness by increasing serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters that have been shown to decrease stress, anxiety and depression.

Getting regular massages can help prevent and ease many chronic conditions including insomnia, anxiety and chronic headaches. This is due to the fact that it can reduce anxiety, lower heart rate, and increase flexibility and range of motion. It can also help with issues such as menopause and congestive heart failure by decreasing pain, improving circulation and reducing stress. By lowering stress and decreasing pain, massage can improve overall health by helping with weight loss, decreased risk of disease, improved mental clarity, increased energy and better sleep.

Increases Circulation

One of the main benefits of massage is that it increases your blood flow. This helps the body to get more oxygen and nutrients, as well as getting rid of waste products like carbon dioxide and toxins.

To understand how this happens, it helps to know a little bit about the circulatory system. Your circulatory system consists of two parts: the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems. The cardiovascular system is responsible for transporting blood around the body, while the lymphatic system is responsible for draining toxins and waste from the body’s tissues and cells.

When you get a massage, the physical manipulation of soft tissue and chemicals released as a part of the relaxation process both improve your circulation. This is because a massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows down your heart rate and promotes relaxation. It also encourages a healthy blood pressure, and increases the flexibility of your veins and arteries.

Another way that massage improves your circulation is by increasing vasodilation. Vasodilation is the process by which your blood vessels open up and become wider, which allows your blood to move more easily through them. Massage can also increase the number of capillaries surrounding a muscle, which makes it easier for oxygen and nutrients to be transferred from the blood to the muscles.

There are also some studies that have shown that massage increases the speed at which blood travels through the muscle. However, these studies are based on Doppler ultrasound, which only measures changes in the large arteries and veins. They don’t account for the changes in the microcirculation of the muscle tissue, so it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about how much of an impact massage actually has on the overall circulation of your body.

Some people claim that a good massage will flush out your lymphatic system and boost your immune system. This is probably because massage can help reduce the build-up of metabolic wastes, such as lactic acid and other byproducts of cell metabolism. The lymphatic system then removes these wastes from the body, improving the overall condition of your muscles and the efficiency of your immune system.

Relieves Anxiety

Many people who come to a massage studio are looking for an opportunity to pamper themselves, but the healing touch of a massage can also relieve anxiety. Stress is a normal reaction to danger, but when it becomes excessive or chronic, it can lead to psychological and physical problems. People who have an anxiety disorder often find it difficult to relax and can experience depression and insomnia. Studies have shown that massage reduces stress and anxiety by stimulating the body’s release of positive hormones like endorphins, serotonin and dopamine.

The primary stress hormone is cortisol, which can increase blood sugar levels and cause depression and anxiety. In therapeutic massage, the body’s production of cortisol is reduced and serotonin is increased. This results in lower anxiety and depression and a better quality of sleep. A good night’s sleep is essential for reducing anxiety, depression and promoting overall wellness.

Anxiety is a serious problem for some people and can lead to panic attacks. These attacks can be very severe and have a devastating effect on the person experiencing them. Some people have difficulty finding effective treatments for their condition and can become more stressed and anxious as a result. Massage is a natural and safe treatment that has been found to be extremely helpful in alleviating anxiety disorders.

One study involved emergency nurses and found that massage significantly reduced their anxiety. The study used a pre-test and post-test design and compared staff occupational stress, sick leave and anxiety before and after 12 weeks of aromatherapy massage with music. During the winter, the nurses experienced more stress than in summer but this could not be attributed to their workload or patient demands. During both seasons the nurses in the massage group reported significantly less anxiety than the control group.

Another study used a pragmatic RCT to compare classic massage with standard medical care (SMC) in patients with back, neck and shoulder pain. Both treatments had similar effects on pain rating but only the massage group had significant improvements that were maintained at follow-up. The massage group also had improved mood, anxiety and body concept.

Better Sleep

A good night’s sleep is essential for good health. Sleep deprivation can lead to fatigue, decreased memory and concentration, weight gain and an increased risk of illness and accidents in the workplace and while driving. If you’re having trouble falling asleep or are waking frequently during the night, massage may help.

The human touch and pressure applied during therapeutic massage stimulate the body’s release of certain hormones that improve sleep. For instance, the primary stress hormone cortisol decreases during massage and the feel-good chemical serotonin increases, which helps reduce pain levels and encourages a more stable journey from wakefulness to sleep.

In addition, massage can increase your production of melatonin, another sleep-promoting chemical. Studies have also shown that massage decreases the time it takes to fall asleep and increases the length of deep sleep.

Adding massage to your regular sleep routine is an easy and effective way to get a better night’s rest. Try a Swedish or deep tissue massage, both of which promote overall relaxation, or try a trigger point massage, which targets specific areas of tension. You can also try acupressure or Shiatsu, a type of massage that uses the fingers to press against pressure points (also called meridian points) throughout the body.

The best part is, you don’t even have to leave your house to get a great night’s rest: Many massage techniques can be used at home, so if you have a hard time sleeping at night, give yourself a mini-massage by rubbing your neck or temples and applying pressure to those sore spots.

Whether you have trouble sleeping at night or simply want to improve your quality of life, regular massages are an excellent addition to any healthy lifestyle. So take advantage of this amazing natural healing technique, and keep up with your sessions to see the biggest results. Just remember to drink plenty of water after your massage, as it can help flush toxins and keep your hormones in balance. And don’t forget to avoid screens close to bedtime, as the bright light can interfere with your body’s natural melatonin production.

How To Find The Best Birth Injury Law Firm For Your Case

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Medical advances have made childbirth far safer than it used to be, but even a minor birth injury can change life forever. A lawyer can help hold at-fault medical professionals accountable and get compensation for a family’s past and future losses.

Any lawsuit against a medical professional requires the opinion of an expert witness. A good Atlanta Birth Injury Lawyer will secure these experts and manage the process for you.

When medical professionals make a mistake during childbirth, it can change the course of your family’s future. These mistakes can leave your child facing a lifetime of medical expenses and hardships. A successful claim for birth injury can help offset these costs and give your child a better quality of life.

Finding a birth injury law firm with experience handling similar cases to yours is critical. A good firm will have a proven track record, as well as the resources needed to win your case. These include on-staff medical experts and nurse case managers, a wide range of medical data, and more. It is also important to find a law firm that can handle the complexities of your specific case.

The legal team at your birth injury law firm will investigate your child’s medical records and other relevant documents to see if there is evidence of medical malpractice. If there is, they will file a lawsuit against the doctor or hospital that caused your baby’s injury. The plaintiff and defendant become parties in the lawsuit, and both will gather evidence to support their side of the case. This can include witness depositions, expert testimonies, and medical records.

Most lawsuits result in a settlement between the parties. However, if a settlement cannot be reached, the case will go to trial. During the trial, each side will argue their case to a judge or jury. The jury or judge will then decide who wins the case.

While compensation can’t undo the harm done by a medical professional’s negligence, it can provide your child with the resources they need for a secure and comfortable future. It can also help pay for ongoing medical care and other damages.

If you believe that your child’s injuries were caused by a medical mistake, contact an experienced birth injury law firm today to get started on a free case review. A lawyer can help you determine if your child is eligible for compensation, and can help you build a strong case against the medical professionals responsible for the injury.

Reputation

Even with remarkable medical advances, childbirth still presents some risk to the mother and baby. Injuries that occur during childbirth can have lifelong consequences. A qualified birth injury firm can help you hold medical professionals accountable when they make mistakes that can have a devastating impact on your family.

A good law firm has a proven track record of winning compensation for its clients. You can check a potential lawyer’s credentials by reviewing their website for information on past cases and the outcomes of those cases. A reputable firm also has a team of attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and nurse consultants who can support your case and increase the odds of success.

The firm should be able to identify all parties that may have liability for your son or daughter’s injuries. This includes the hospital, obstetrician, nurses, doctor, or other medical professional who provided care to you or your child at the time of the injury. They should be able to establish your damages, which may include the cost of future medical bills, therapy and treatment costs, loss of income, and quality of life.

Your legal team will work diligently to prove that your child’s birth injury was a result of medical malpractice by putting together a strong case. This can be a complex process, and your lawyer should have the experience, expertise, focus, and staff necessary to ensure the best possible outcome for your case.

A good birth injury law firm will fight for the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to receive. This is crucial because a successful claim can cover not only your financial losses, but it can also provide you with closure and assistance to ease the burden of this tragic chapter in your life. Moreover, it can be instrumental in helping to prevent others from experiencing the same type of negligence. In addition, a successful lawsuit can bring about change to the practices of hospitals and healthcare providers, which can benefit everyone in the community. This is especially true when the settlement is large, which can send a message to these facilities that medical mistakes will not be tolerated.

Fees

The birth of a child should be a joyful occasion, but unfortunately, medical mistakes often occur during childbirth. These errors can lead to lifelong injuries for children that could have been prevented with proper care from a medical professional. If you think that your child suffered an injury because of a preventable error or mistake made by a doctor or hospital, it is important to consult with a birth injury law firm as soon as possible. These lawyers can help you build a strong case for financial compensation to pay for your child’s future needs.

The first step in a birth injury lawsuit is proving that a medical professional violated the accepted standard of care during your child’s delivery. This can be done by presenting evidence such as medical records, witness testimony, and expert opinions. Your attorney can also identify policies and protocols that were violated in the case, which is another way to establish negligence.

Once this is done, your attorney can file a lawsuit against the doctor or hospital for medical malpractice. This process will likely involve a series of hearings and discovery, which is the exchange of information between both sides. During this time, your attorney can negotiate with the defendant to settle. However, if the defendant does not agree to settle, your lawyer will be prepared to go to trial to get the money you deserve.

Filing a lawsuit is not cheap, and it’s even more expensive if your lawyer has to front the costs of obtaining medical experts to testify on your behalf. If you choose a birth injury law firm that works on a contingency basis, they will generally cover these expenses and only collect their fee if they win compensation for you. This will reduce your overall legal costs and stress.

Communication

While remarkable medical advances have made childbirth safer than ever, most mothers and their partners understand that giving birth presents a certain amount of risk. They expect their medical professionals to act with the utmost care to avoid errors that could have lifelong consequences. When they don’t, they need to find a firm that can help.

When a family doctor or nurse commits an error that leads to a child suffering from a birth injury, they deserve compensation for their losses. However, the process of filing a lawsuit can be complicated and stressful. A national law firm with experience in handling medical malpractice cases can ease the stress for families.

A reputable firm will provide a free consultation and take over communications with the insurance company, doctors, and defense lawyers on their client’s behalf. This will allow families to focus on their recovery and on caring for their injured child.

The right law firm will also have the resources to successfully pursue a case. This includes access to expert physicians to give testimony and other evidence to support the claim that the medical professional failed in their duty of care. The firm should also be willing to take the case to trial if necessary, instead of accepting a lowball settlement offer from the defendant’s insurance company.

When looking for the best law firm to represent you in your case, ask about past birth injury cases they have handled. While they will likely be unable to disclose details about the individual cases due to confidentiality agreements, they should be able to describe their success rate and the results of those cases.

The right law firm will not charge upfront fees and will only get paid when they secure financial compensation for their clients. The law firm will usually work on a contingency basis, meaning they will not require payment until they have secured a jury verdict or settlement for their clients. For families with limited incomes, this can be a crucial financial lifeline.