An Insight On Eyesight

 “WE ARE ONLY BLIND, AS WE WANT TO BE”-

The name of this topic is a well-known quote made by American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Although the quote was made with a different thought in mind, it also applies to us, common people who don’t pay proper heed to instructions or methods when it comes to taking care of our eyes. Don’t worry, as CUREYA is here to debunk some of the myths regarding treating our eyes the right way, as well as providing proper methods for the same.

HOW TO TAKE PROPER CARE OF EYES? :-

Eyes form one of the most, if not the most vital sensory organ when it comes to the human body. It helps us to navigate and often it’s the eyes that show early symptoms of anything wrong happening in our body, both physically and mentally. Taking care of eyes is not simply wearing Sunglasses when going out on an extra sunny day or simply, getting a pair of corrective lenses to improve vision. It’s much more than that.

You can fight back against eye diseases employing the following methods-

• Proper Sleeping- When it comes to taking care of eyes, nothing beats proper sleep, i.e., giving our eyes proper amount of rest. Also, we must keep in mind that resting eyes doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping for 16 hours straight, or going into hibernation mode, as 8 hours sleep is enough for our body. We can rest our eyes by lowering our exposures to high U-V radiations (Computer, Mobile Screens, etc), whenever we can.

• Choosing Proper Eyewear- Wearing protective sunglasses on an extra sunny day or wearing specialized glasses with U-V protective coating while going out in the sun, helps to a certain extent to keep our eyes safe and eyesight sound. It's equally important, as in the cases where we need to wear goggles and special protective coverings on our eyes when dealing with chemicals or working with harmful radiations. So all the budding chemists do take some notes!

• Following A Healthy Diet- Having foods rich in Vitamin A (such as carrots) can help to a much larger extent than we think it does! Sticking to a healthy and nutritious diet sure helps in treating the eyes well.

• Avoid Harmful Habits Like Smoking- Ever wondered that smoking not only affects the lungs but also the eyes? Several research papers have established this fact that smoking increases the risk of getting eye diseases like glaucoma, dry eye syndrome and such incurable diseases. Also, smokers are three- times more likely to be affected by diseases like cataract than non-smokers.

• Eye Check-Ups- In our daily busy schedule we often tend not to follow the above guidelines. So, it is advisable to pay a visit to an ophthalmologist, at least once every six months.

MYTHS REGARDING EYE-CARE: -

Coming to this, one quote seems to come to my mind, “All that glitters is not gold, and all the statements are not facts, as some are MYTHS too!” Here’s some of those myths (Some are hilarious by the way!):

• People who are colour blind, see no colours at all! – Just imagine this, the people who are colour blind are seeing this world in a retro fashion. No, this is simply a myth as colour-blind people often have problems distinguishing the colours between red and green.

• Reading in dim-light may cause loss of eye-sight! – No! Not at all! Its true that reading under improper light conditions may cause eye-strain (only if you are reading for long hours), but that can simply be relieved by taking a break in between. However, it will not cause any sort of blindness.

• Reading small-lettered writings very closely can harm your eyes greatly- It's similar to the earlier case where it can cause a mild eye strain but wont damage your eyesight extensively.

• No need for checking your eyes until you are 40- This is also a myth as one can have eye-sight issues right from birth (generally congenital) or can occur at any age (generally acquired). So, as stated earlier, regular visits to an ophthalmologist is advisable at any age.

• If you are wearing specs which are poorly fit, you will face serious eye-problems- Poorly fit spectacles won’t cause any harm to your eyes, but also won't lead to proper vision too, so get that fixed, without believing in this myth.

So, as long you take proper diet and follow some of the mentioned guidelines and stay away from the myths you are good to go! So cheers to a healthy lifestyle!

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Credit Author Ranit Laha

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What is Depression, Symptoms, Know all.

 

We hear the term depression more commonly in recent days, especially during the pandemic. It is a mental disorder that happens when a person suppresses their thoughts and emotions. For instance, not venting out your emotions when it's needed the most. It is also, thankfully, treatable. Depression produces unhappiness and/or a loss of interest in previously appreciated activities. It can cause a slew of mental and physical issues, as well as a reduction in your capacity to operate at work and at home.

WHO states that 5.0% of adults suffer from depression and it’s one of the prominent reasons contributing to the overall burden of the disease. Depression is different from mood swings. Dive into this article to know A to Z about depression.

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is a major “depressive disorder”. It makes you feel sad, emotionally weak or you may lack interest consistently in almost everything around you.

Depression negatively affects your thought process, feelings, and actions and you may feel lonely. You may feel low most of the time, you may not be able to enjoy a situation that you have enjoyed in the past. For example, a hang out with friends / a weekend party.

There are many types of depression, out of which the most common are major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder.

WHY DEPRESSION IS MORE COMMON IN WOMEN?

Depression is common among women due to environmental/lifestyle-related factors. Apart from this women are more sensitive to opinions than men, so the way of socialization has an impact too.

Studies show that women depression is more prevalent among women due to bodily factors like:

(1)Postpartum

(2)Menopause

(3)Hormonal changes

Societal pressure is also an important reason for depression in women if a woman stays to be a homemaker she gets devalued by society whereas a woman who goes to work might face physical or emotional, or sexual attacks by a co-worker.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

You can easily identify depression by observing these symptoms

1. Feeling sad/hopeless all the times

2. High level of frustration even for small issues

3. Lack of concentration in work

4. Sleep-deprived / affected by Insomnia

5. Unable to think clearly

6. Lack of interest in almost all day to day activities

7. Suicidal thoughts/ suicide attempts

8. Loss of appetite

9. Guilt

RISK FACTORS OF DEPRESSION

Depression happens due to various reasons like:

(i)Financial instability / Bankruptcy

(ii)Stressful life with no work-life balance

(iii) Divorce

(iv)Death of a beloved

(v)Prolonged / fatal illness

Though there are a lot of risk factors that can contribute to depression as mentioned above, below is the list of the major factors that prominently causes depression,

1. Hereditary reasons: You may get affected by depression if there is a history of depression in your family.

2. The difference in opinion: Personal turmoil within the close circle might lead to depression.

3. Abuse: Emotional/sexual abuse in the past /present may cause depression.

TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION

Though you can identify depression with these symptoms by yourself, it’s advisable to consult a registered medical practitioner. Preferably a psychologist, who can help you get rid of depression with medications or therapies considering your physical and emotional state.

Generally, doctors prescribe antidepressants to treat depression however depending upon the criticality of depression the treatment differs.

Cognitive behavior therapy(CBT) is the best kind of psychotherapy to treat depression.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN AYURVEDA AND DEPRESSION

Ayurveda states that 3 kinds of doshas in a person’s body

1. Vata

2. Pita

3. Kapa

If there is an imbalance in these doshas leads to illness and depression.

Ayurveda strongly believes that physical and emotional wellness supports and complements one another and so, to have a healthy mind one should have a healthy body.

Ayurveda provides safe and holistic remedies via herbal supplements, lifestyle, and diet to combat depression and stress. Ayurveda helps us get rid of depression with little or no side effects. Ayurveda provides a long-term solution to depression.

CONCLUSION

It’s always better to get depression diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage so that it will not leave a mark on your life. Hope this article served as an eye-opener to you about depression. Keep the mantra simple, have a healthy and balanced diet. Try to spend quality time with friends and family, and know what’s happening in your kids’ life. Also, hear the kids out every now and then, and have a workout routine. Remember that tough times are like passing clouds, don’t stress upon yourself a lot. Consult a psychologist in case you need and regular counseling could help you avoid depression.

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Writer - Janani Chandrasekhar

Picture credit Freepik