Hormone Deficiency Can Blur Near Vision
Even though I’m 62, I never needed reading glasses until about a year ago. Since then, my near vision has rapidly gotten worse, and I’m wondering if an underlying problem could be causing it. I’ve gone from not needing any reading glasses to having a prescription of 2.0. Should I be worried?
— Joanne N., Reno, Nev.
Worry won’t help you. Have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist to make sure you don’t have a degenerative eye disease or glaucoma. Once those are ruled out, have your hormones checked. Often as we age, low thyroid and estrogen cause our sight to deteriorate faster than expected. The correct amount of thyroid and estrogen in bioidentical forms will help slow down the process. Vitamins A, C, D, E, and B complex, lutein, astaxanthin, zinc, copper, and quercetin, as well as a healthy balance of omega-3 and omega-6 oils should also help stave off loss of eyesight.
My wife has started buying organic vegetables because she says they are healthier. But they are expensive, and I’m skeptical that they do anything at all for our health and that it’s just a big rip-off . What do you think? — Edmund G., Nashville, Tenn.
Organic vegetables are healthier for you because they
are supposedly grown without chemical or hormone additives, allowing for vitamins and minerals to remain in the vegetable. Organic foods are usually grown on
About Dr. Schwartz: Erika Schwartz, M.D., is the leading national expert in wellness, disease prevention, and bioidentical hormone therapies. Dr. Schwartz has written four best-selling books, testified before Congress, hosted her own PBS pledge special on bioidentical hormones, and appeared on various shows and networks, including Fox News Channel, CBS News, Larry King Live, and The View.
SCHWARTZ, M.D. MEDICAL HELP
small, local farms with more care and kinder supervision than mass-produced hormone and antibiotic treated products. Organic is more expensive because it takes more eff ort and time to grow. Having said that, I do believe that organic is occasionally used as an opportunity to overcharge. Local is what you are best advised to
buy if healthy living and organic foods are your priority.
I’m a 52-year-old man in generally good health and not overweight. During my recent checkup my doctor told me I was “pre-hypertensive.” My blood pressure reading was 135 over 87. He prescribed lisinopril. I don’t want to risk having a stroke, but I’d like to try cutting down on salt and exercising more before starting on drugs. What do you think? — Greg W., Superior, Wis.
A pre-hypertensive diagnosis gives you time to change
your diet and increase the amount of exercise you get before being relegated to the medication bandwagon. Medication has side eff ects no matter how safe it is supposed to be. Avoid it if you can. Cut back on your salt intake. Avoid canned or processed foods, since they are full of salt and unhealthy additives, and you should only use salt that contains minerals, like sea salt. Before you start exercising, have a cardiac work-up to make sure your heart and coronary arteries are in good shape. Then, start a consistent combination of cardio/strength and stretching. Your blood pressure should come down to normal in no time.
Note: All information presented in “Medical Help” is for informational purposes only. It is not specific medical advice for any individual. You should take no action solely on the basis of this publication’s contents. Readers are advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being.
Questions for Dr. Schwartz? Email
askschwartz@newsmax.com and write “Ask Dr. Schwartz” in the subject line. FEBRUARY 2012 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 89
ERIKA
GLASSES/ISTOCKPHOTO
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