Our area has been hit extremely hard with unemployment and many people have lost their dental benefits. This, in turn, has affected their decision on scheduling regular preventive wellness (recare) visits with their dentist and hygienist. We are finding that this practice often leads to more extensive treatment down the road.
The American Heart Association has released many studies and information which has connected oral health to diabetes, heart attack stroke, high blood pressure, low birth weight babies and more. The purpose of regular wellness visits is to not only "clean" your teeth, but also to identify small problems before they become large problems.
We have all heard the expression that the eyes are the window to the soul. We believe that the mouth can be the voice of a person's health. According to an ABC news report, researchers say about 90% of all systemic diseases, including diabetes and chronic liver disease, have symptoms that show up in the mouth. Plaque and inflammation of the gums lead to gingivitis and periodontitis (gum and bone disease). Plaque is a build up of bacteria which, in turn, lead to mouth odor and bleeding gums. It is the growth and colonization of bacteria that starts the periodontal process and you may not be aware of the problem until you visit your dental office.
The good news is that you can brush and floss away plaque, which is the soft invisible bacterial film that builds up on teeth. If not removed, plaque turns into calculus which is a hard yellowish deposit and now must be removed during a dental visit. Plaque causes decay and gum disease.
The bad news is that you may transfer the bacteria to others through kissing, tasting, sharing or blowing on food, or by sharing eating utensils, toothbrushes and water bottles. Mothers may be sharing bacteria with their babies by using their mouth to clean off a dropped pacifier and tasting a child's food or testing the temperature with the same spoon that they use to feed the child.
Some people can inherit a gene that makes them more likely to get severe gum disease. As a Center for Dental Medicine we can perform a test on some individuals who have periodontal disease or have family members who have this disease. By knowing if they carry this gene and are susceptible to this disease, together we can devise a plan to help them prevent getting periodontal disease. This in turn will help them control their overall health.
If you are concerned about the possibility of having periodontal disease, be one of the first 20 callers and mention this article and we will arrange for a free periodontal assessment. Call Dr. Donley's office at (231) 744-6661 to make an appointment for this assessment. The sooner you act, the sooner you can begin improving your health.
Annually, it is estimated that two million Americans will suffer from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and many will be unaware. Deep venous thrombosis occurs when a blood clot or thrombus forms in one of the large veins, usually in the legs, leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation.
People who are at a greater risk for getting a DVT are critically ill patients because of medical diseases, postoperative patients and trauma victims. Other risk factors for DVT include smoking, hormone replacement therapy, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, extended travel with limited mobility, and people over the age of 40.
The signs and symptoms associated with DVT may include pain, swelling, tenderness, discoloration or redness of the affected area and skin that is warm to the touch. However, DVT maybe present with minimal to no symptoms.
Most veins are equipped with one way valves that help keep the blood flowing towards the heart. During the formation of a blood clot the valves can be damaged allowing blood to pool in the lower leg. Postphlebitic Syndrome and/or chronic venous insufficiency can occur weeks to months after the occurrence of a DVT and is characterized by leg pain, swelling, itchiness, dryness, tired, achy, heavy or restless and eventually skin ulceration as a result of prolonged venous hypertension.
DVT is a serious condition that if caught early can be treated before permanent damage occurs. A venous duplex is a low cost, noninvasive modality used to diagnose a DVT and chronic venous insufficiencies. This test is a simple out patient procedure that can take 20 to 30 minutes. Everything from varicose veins, venous insufficiency and acute and chronic thrombus remaining in the vessel can be identified.
Computer work places various demands on the visual system. Each of these factors can play a part in computer vision syndrome.
Screen Resolution - Better resolution offers greater clarity and usually leads to improved comfort
Screen Contrast - Adjust the contrast between the characters on the monitor and the background so the letters are easily read.
Screen Glare and Reflections - Minimize reflected glare on your monitor by using window treatments, dimmer switches on lights and glare reduction filters.
Working Distances and Angles - It is important to work at a distance that is comfortable for you and where the image on the screen is clear.
General Eyeglass Prescription May Not be Adequate - Computers are usually further and higher than a typical reading task. Glasses for most people wearing bifocals are not adjusted for this new distance or angle and therefore often are not adequate for using the computer.
While decreasing time spent at a computer may not be an option, there are ways to maximize healthy vision for comfortable use of the computer.
- Have a regular comprehensive eye exam to ensure your eyes are healthy and that you have the correct eyeglass or contact lens prescription.
- Wear glasses that are specifically designed to function comfortably at the computer. The lenses you wear for day-to-day activities may not be the best for working at the computer.
There are a number of things you can do to arrange your workstation to eliminate or minimize visual discomfort.
- Place the monitor 20 to 26 inches from your eyes, depending on the size of the monitor and individual vision conditions.
- The monitor and keyboard should be straight ahead.
- The top of the monitor should be slightly below horizontal eye level. Tilt the top of monitor away from you at a 10 to 20 degree angle. The center of the monitor should be 10 to 20 degrees below your eyes.
- Keep the monitor free from fingerprints and dust. Both can reduce clarity.
Although the visual system faces considerable challenges when using a computer, most issues can be solved. Heeding the suggestions made here along with those made by your eye doctor will enable you to use your computer comfortably and productively.