CDC: Most Contact Lens Wearers Are Risking Infection - http://clapway.com/2015/08/20/cdc-most-contact-lens-wearers-are-risking-infection123/

According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most contact lens wearers are at risk of getting an eye infection.

“Taken together, the survey results indicate that millions of Americans could be at risk for serious eye infections because of poor contact lens hygiene behaviors,” the CDC said in a statement to the press. Almost one third of respondents in the survey of Americans that wear contact lenses reported that they had gone to the doctor for uncomfortable or red eyes because of issues caused by contacts.

WHAT THEY DID WRONG

– 99 percent of the people interviewed said that engaged in at least one risk related to their contacts.

– 82.3 percent wore the lens for a longer than recommended period.

– 50.2 percent slept with their contacts in.

– 55.1 percent of respondents added new solution to the one they had previously used instead of emptying the case first.

Doing any of these things will increase your risk of eye infection by at least five times.

“Good vision contributes to overall well-being and independence for people of all ages, so it’s important not to cut corners on healthy contact lens wear and care,” said Dr. Jennifer Cope, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC, said.

HOW TO HEALTHY WITH YOUR CONTACTS

In the press release, the CDC also listed some of the healthy contact habits that you can adopt to avoid infection, like changing replacing the cases every three months and washing hands with soap and water before touching the contact lenses.

For a complete list of healthy contact habits check out these great guidelines that the organization made. It describes all of the things you can do to have great eye health, as well as the science behind all of it.

CONTACT LENS HEALTH WEEK

The CDC has made August 24-28 2015 Contact Lens Health Week, which it is preparing by publishing research like the survey mentioned above and working with its partners in the eye care industry.

MORE COOL EYE STUFF

Check out this awesome Clapway article to learn about glasses that can potentially make the colorblind see color!

PHOTO SOURCE: OPTHALMIC CONSULTANTS OF BOSTON

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CDC: Most Contact Lens Wearers Are Risking Infection

Link found between #smoking and #HotFlashes from #menopause. - http://clapway.com/2015/07/26/want-to-reduce-hot-flashes-from-menopause-put-out-that-cigarette-234/

A new study says women who quit smoking may suffer less hot flashes during menopause. So if you’re a smoking woman getting to be of a certain age, you may want to extinguish that cigarette.

Quitting Smoking Helps Reduce Hot Flashes from Menopause

Researchers from the University of Illinois say that an added benefit for women who quit smoking may come in the form of cooler days during menopause. Less hot flashes with a shorter duration was a positive side effect the researchers found in former female smokers.

Menopause is a stage of a woman’s health around her late 40s or early 50s. At this stage of her life, a woman’s menstruation will cease and her hormones will deplete, leaving sometimes terrible side effects, including insomnia, mood swings, and dreaded hot flashes.

The researchers found that women who had given up smoking cigarettes five or more years prior to menopausal onset had a 45% reduction in hot flashes over women who still smoked. Women who had never smoked, however, had an even less occurrence of hot flashes.

Smoking and Women’s Health: A No-No At Any Age

Lead author on the study, epidemiologist Rebecca Smith of the University of Illinois hopes the findings will urge smokers to quit sooner and non-smokers to continue refraining from the harmful habit.

Though the study focused on menopausal women and how cigarette smoking affected hot flashes, Smith and the other researchers as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) know all too well that smoking at any age in a woman’s life is harmful and potentially fatal.

According to the CDC, smoking can lead to lung and mouth cancers, as well as increased possibility of strokes and heart problems. Presently, smoking-related illnesses top the charts in cause of death in the United States.

Study Encourages Women To Stop Smoking Before Menopause

The study was conducted over a period of 7 years focusing on women with an average age of 50. Of the 700 women in the study, half of them (346) reported experiencing hot flashes. The smokers of the study had more hot flashes and had an increased duration. The smokers had hot flashes four times more frequently than the former smokers who had quit prior to menopause.

Though a small study, the benefits of quitting smoking before reaching menopause may not only save your lungs, your skin, your organs, and your life, but it can also save you the agonizing sweat-soaked nights of hot flashes when you’re at the prime of your life.

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Want to Reduce Hot Flashes from Menopause? Put Out That Cigarette