46 THE QUEENS COURIER • SENIOR LIVING • FEBRUARY 13, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
senior living
New eye vitamin tablets may help those with diffi culty swallowing pills
If you’re like most Americans, there are
probably a few things you fi nd diffi cult to
swallow. Like the fact that it’s been more
than 30 years since they stopped making
cassette tapes or that smartphones are
basically entire computers that fi t in the
palm of your hand.
You know what else Americans can fi nd
diffi cult to swallow? Th eir pills!
According to research, 40 percent of
American adults age 50 and older experience
diffi culty swallowing pills, while
some report “pill fatigue” from taking too
many pills. Th ese reasons may cause them
to skip taking them while others would be
more likely to take their pills every day if
they could chew them.
So what does that mean?
Well, it could mean that older Americans
with moderate to advanced age-related
macular degeneration, or AMD, may not
be getting the nutrients they need to support
their eye health.
AMD is the leading cause of vision loss
in people 50 and older, aff ecting more
Americans than Alzheimer’s disease. In
fact, it is estimated that one in fi ve people
over 65 is diagnosed with AMD, a ratio
expected to increase as the population
ages. Th e condition aff ects the macula, the
part of the eye required for central vision,
which is needed for driving, reading and
other important tasks. While there is no
cure for AMD, there are steps one can
take to help reduce the risk of disease progression
- such as including a nutritional
supplement as part of a daily care plan.
When it comes to AMD and the health
of your eyes, there are some important
steps you should take:
• See your eye doctor to create an eye care
plan that’s right for you.
• If you smoke, quit as soon as possible.
• Eat right, exercise regularly and talk to
your eye doctor about taking a daily
supplement that contains the nutrients
recommended by the National Eye
Institute (NEI) based on the landmark
AREDS2 study.
For the millions of Americans who
suff er from AMD and also experience
diffi culty swallowing, there’s good news.
Th e makers of PreserVision(R) now
off er their AREDS 2 nutrient formula
in a convenient and great-tasting chewable
vitamin. PreserVision(R) AREDS 2
Formula eye vitamins are the only ones
that provide the exact levels of all six
clinically proven nutrients recommended
by the NEI.
To learn more about AMD and
AREDS 2 formula vitamins, visit www.
PreserVision.com.
— Courtesy of BPT
A common
bladder health
issue explained
If you’ve ever found yourself mapping
out the nearest restrooms, going out of
your way for a “pee detour,” or even packing
a “just in case” set of clothes for a long
road trip, you understand that the call
of nature can impact your daily routine
and cause you to worry when you may
be far from a restroom for extended periods
of time.
You’re not alone: as many as one in
three Americans ages 40 and older have
reported symptoms of urgency, frequency
or leakage.
Bladder Health Month - recognized
annually - marks an important time
to evaluate your bladder health status,
including any changes to your restroom
habits that may be interfering with your
daily life. In fact, new practice guidelines
issued in 2018 by the Women’s
Preventative Services Initiative recommend
women be screened each year for
urinary incontinence.
“Too oft en, people are embarrassed to
discuss urinary changes with their loved
ones or seek help from their doctor, and
instead take steps to cope with their symptoms
rather than address the underlying
condition,” said Dr. David Staskin, a
Boston-based urologist at St. Elizabeth’s
Medical Center. “Merely coping with your
symptoms may aff ect your daily activities.”
Overactive bladder - sometimes
referred to as “OAB” - occurs when you
cannot control your bladder contractions,
or when your bladder contractions happen
too oft en. Th is may cause you to
experience symptoms of OAB, which are
urgency, frequency and leakage.
According to the American Urological
Association, OAB occurs in both men
and women, may aff ect your daily activities
due to lack of bladder control and
can cause embarrassment, leading some
to just learn to cope with the condition.
“Anyone experiencing urinary control
problems should talk to their physician. In
most cases, these issues can be eff ectively
managed,” added Dr. Staskin, who is also
an associate professor at Tuft s University
School of Medicine. “It’s important to rule
out underlying medical issues, as well as
design a treatment plan that can be customized
to each patient, starting with
some habit changes and including medication
where appropriate for symptoms
with an uncontrolled urge.”
One prescription treatment option is
Myrbetriq® (mirabegron), a medication
for adults used to treat the overactive
bladder symptoms of urgency, frequency
and leakage. It works on a diff erent pathway
to increase bladder capacity by helping
to relax the smooth muscle that surrounds
the bladder.
A qualifi ed health care professional can
help you evaluate any changes to your
bladder health and recommend the appropriate
course of treatment to best meet
your needs. Many resources are available
online to help you keep track of your urinary
symptoms and make it easier to facilitate
a discussion with your physician.
For more information about overactive
bladder and lifestyle tips that can
help with managing symptoms, visit www.
myrbetriq.com.
— Courtesy of BPT
/www.myrbetriq.com
/www.PreserVision.com
/www.myrbetriq.com
/www.PreserVision.com
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