If you’ve had allergies, you’ve definitely experienced itchy, dry eyes at one point or another—-this can be an incredibly uncomfortable feeling. Luckily, humidifiers and eye drops may help to bring moisture back into your eyes and ease the discomfort. But allergies aren’t the only reason you can get dry eyes, so if you’re experiencing the issue and aren’t sure why it’s happening, read on to learn potential causes: 1. Allergies Environmental factors like pollen, dust mites, smoke, and pet dander can cause allergies to flare up, which then results in inflammation of the eyes, itchy eyes, and decreased tear production which turns into dryness of the eyes. If you know you suffer from environmental allergies, it would be a good idea to take allergy medications or carry eye drops on days when external factors live pollen levels are high. 2. Hormonal changes Hormonal changes, typically estrogen and progesterone, occur most commonly in women after menopause or pregnancy. With changing levels of these hormones, it can impact your meibomian gland and can lead to dryness of the eye. Hormonal changes can also come with your menstrual cycle and the use of birth control, so if you are experiencing significant issues with dry eyes, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by its symptoms of inflammation of the eye muscles and fatty tissue, resulting in eyes pushed forwards that appear ‘bulging.’ TED often occurs as a result of an overactive thyroid gland due to Graves’ disease and often occurs after the diagnosis of thyroid disorder. Symptoms can be managed with treatments and medications such as Tepezza. Here are some early signs of thyroid eye disease to be on the lookout for: 1. Eye bags Due to the inflammation of the eye muscles and fatty tissue, it is normal to get eye bags with TED. Eye bags should reduce with treatment of TED, but if they are still significant, some patients consider aesthetic treatments such as skin care, wrinkle relaxers, and fillers that are injected. 2. Dry or gritty eyes With TED, the muscles around the eyes become affected. The upper lid may pull up whilst the lower lid pulls down—this paired with the build up of tissue behind the eye and ‘bulging’ makes it challenging to close your eyes tight. If you don’t blink enough or cannot close your eyes tightly, moisture will quickly evaporate and result in dry eyes. TED may also result in a reduced production of tears, another cause of dry eyes.

For many of us, water is a constant companion, whether it’s distilled water from a jug in the refrigerator, tap water filtered through a high-tech water filter, sipping on a fruity flavoured water during a midday break, or grabbing a bottled water on the go. However, do we ever pause to think if there’s an optimal time to drink water for maximum health benefits? The answer may surprise you. This article delves into the best times to hydrate ourselves, harnessing the power of H2O for enhanced well-being: 1. When waking up Starting your day with a glass of water is akin to giving your body a head start. After a long period of sleep, your body is slightly dehydrated. Drinking water first thing in the morning rehydrates the body, jump-starts your metabolism, aids in flushing out toxins, and boosts brain function. 2. Before you eat Drinking water approximately 30 minutes before your meals can be incredibly beneficial. This habit aids digestion by preparing your stomach for food, stimulates the production of digestive juices, and can even help control your calorie intake, as the water fills up some space in the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness. 3. When you exercise The body loses water through sweat during physical activities, so it’s vital to replenish the lost fluids.

The progression of ALS can vary from person to person, so symptoms may present differently among individuals in the initial stages. While ALS doesn’t have a cure, the drug edaravone can be administered both by mouth and by intravenous infusion to prevent nerve damage and therefore slow the progression of ALS. Riluzole, a drug taken by mouth, can also be prescribed to treat ALS and increase life expectancy by around 25%. Additionally, various therapies can be provided to treat ALS such as speech therapy, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, and whirlpool or heat therapy. If you believe that you or a loved one may have ALS, here are some early warning symptoms to look out for: 1. Slurred speech For those with ALS, speech may begin to slur early on. Dysarthria—slow, labored, slurred speech and a voice that is hoarse or breathy—is commonly caused by the tightening and weakening of muscles such as the lung muscles, another symptom that is associated with ALS. If you begin to notice signs of slurred speech, it may be time to get in touch with a medical professional. 2. Tight, stiff muscles Losing nerves results in abnormally tightened and stiffened muscles. This is otherwise known as spasticity, a symptom associated with ALS.

Huntington’s disease is a genetic, degenerative disease where mutated genes create a long protein that then attacks and kills your brain cells. This leads to symptoms like tardive dyskinesia, chorea (involuntary, irregular muscle movements) difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), mood swings, stumbling, and so on. While there are medications doctors can prescribe to help with symptom management, such as Austedo and Deutrabenazine, diet also plays an important role. The above-mentioned symptoms, especially chorea and dysphagia, can make preparing food and eating difficult as well as dangerous, as the jerking movements combined with difficulty swallowing can increase choking hazards and aspiration. Here are the worst foods for Huntington’s disease that should be avoided: 1. Raw fruits In order to prevent difficulty eating and increase safety, food consistency should be taken into consideration. Raw fruits, such as apples and pears, are thicker and more difficult to swallow—something you don’t need when already facing difficulty swallowing due to dysphagia. 2. Stringy vegetables Another difficult to swallow food is stringy vegetables, like green beans and celery. Anything that poses a risk to choking or aspiration should be avoided, making it essential that you consider the texture of foods. 3. Tough or crunchy foods Flaky pastries, toast, chips, and crackers pose a risk to those with Huntington’s.