Macular degeneration is an age-related eye disease that progressively worsens over time. It is a common eye disorder mostly affecting individuals aged 50-years old and above. Macular degeneration occurs due as the macular lining, a small central part of the retina that senses the light and is responsible for clear vision, thins out. This wearing out leads to blurred or reduced vision, and in extreme cases, it can lead to permanent loss of vision. Common symptoms of macular degeneration include: 1. Blurred or fuzzy vision Blurred vision may indicate several disorders. However, it could also indicate that you may have developed macular degeneration. Blurred or fuzzy vision is the main early symptom of the condition. As indicated, macular degeneration occurs when the macular, part of the retina, wears out. The retina is responsible for the clear vision in your direct line of sight. Individuals suffering from wet macular degeneration may experience a fuzzy-like vision due to the leaking of blood vessels beneath the retina. Moreover, individuals may experience severe loss of straight-ahead vision. For individuals suffering from dry macular degeneration, the formation of yellow deposits may result in blurred vision. Patients with advanced macular degeneration are considered legally binding. Thus, for individuals 50 years and above, it is crucial to seek medical attention.

Eczema is an umbrella term given to a group of conditions that make the skin itchy, inflamed, or trigger the appearance of rashes. Some of the most popular types of eczema include atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. While eczema is not contagious, it can start at any stage in life with mild to severe symptoms. Certain soaps may trigger eczema symptoms if used for washing. Here are a few of them and their effects on eczema prone skin: 1. Antibacterial soaps While antibacterial soaps may be good in theory, some may pose some risks to people with eczema. Many of the brands add triclosan as one of the active ingredients. This agent may irritate damaged, sensitive skin, and children’s skins. Some soaps have harsher chemicals that strip the skin of the little oil that is left on the scary patches, making the user feel itchy. For people with eczema, regular soap works well. 2. Strong fragrance soaps The fragrance is added to soaps to make you smell great when you leave the shower. However, the National Eczema Association (NEA) estimates as many as 15% of eczema patients suffer from some form of fragrance allergy. Most fragrances used in soaps are petroleum by-products such as toluene, benzene derivatives, and aldehydes.

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most dangerous conditions associated with diabetes. Not everyone with diabetes will experience diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage associated with high blood sugar or glucose. If someone successfully manages their blood sugar levels they’ll reduce the risk of this condition even further. However, anyone who suffers from diabetic neuropathy should watch out for the following associated symptoms. Early detection can reduce progression before any significant nerve damage occurs: 1. Increased sensitivity to touch Think about how sensitive an area of your body is after an injury. You probably don’t want anything to touch your knee after you’ve bumped it against a sharp corner of your table. This sensitivity occurs because you’ve damaged the area. Likewise, diabetic neuropathy often makes areas of your body particularly sensitive to touch as it progresses in severity. This is due to the fact that you’re suffering far more damage to your nerves from neuropathy than you would from simply bumping against a sharp corner. 2. Sharp pain or cramping in the legs and feet This signifies a subset of diabetic neuropathy called distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy. The main difference between the two conditions is that the latter definition specifies the concentration of symptoms in one’s extremities.

Parkinson’s disease is a continuously progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the nervous system, particularly the brain’s substantia nigra, responsible for dopamine production. It constitutes the basal ganglia circuit. The basal ganglia circuit is responsible for voluntary movements, and the lack of dopamine affects how you move. Parkinson’s disease does not have a specific cause, but scientists have linked several risk factors such as age, gender, environmental factors, genetics, and even head trauma. The following early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease are not easily noticeable, especially if they occur irregularly: 1. Tremors Tremors are the most prominent symptoms at the onset of Parkinson’s disease. A person will start experiencing slight twitches or shaking in their limbs, often in the fingers that will only be noticeable to them at the beginning. Initially, only one side of the body is affected by the shakes. However, as the disease progresses, the shakes become more widespread in the body, and other people will also start noticing the shakes. 2. Rigid muscles and stiffness The inability of your muscles to relax is typically known as rigidity. Rigid muscles and stiffness is a common occurrence in healthy people but eventually goes away. However, with Parkinson’s disease the rigidity and stiffness of the muscles progressively become prevalent.

Tinnitus is a hearing disturbance that can afflict anyone at any time of life. People with tinnitus may hear buzzing, humming, hissing, clicking, pulsing, or even roaring. The sounds may affect either or both ears, may be soft or loud, may be constant or intermittent, and may be temporary or permanent. Tinnitus is not generated by external sources, rather the sounds arise from problems within the ear, nerves, or brain. Although the condition itself is painless, it can be disruptive. Here are some common tinnitus causes: 1. Exposure to loud noises Loud noise exposure is the most common cause of tinnitus, meaning that it is often preventable if addressed early in life. Delicate hair cells deep inside the inner ear respond to external sound waves with vibrations, triggering electrical impulses conducted to the brain by the auditory nerves. Either traumatically loud sound events or constant exposure to moderately loud noise can permanently damage these hair cells. Normal sounds may then be perceived as muffled or distorted along with spontaneous random sounds. 2. Ear infections or blockages Ear wax, pus, fluid, and other material prevent soundwaves from reaching the nerves that carry the signals to the brain. Sometimes a severe sinus or upper respiratory infection spreads into the Eustachian tubes and the middle ear, causing pressure that results in tinnitus.