September 2005
Health News Tips from the
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Sunglasses should be more than a fashion
statement
As the parade of cloudless Texas
summer days continues, ophthalmologists at UT Southwestern Medical
Center remind everyone to protect their eyes from the sun.
“Sunglasses should be used by adults and children when outdoors for
prolonged periods of time. For eyeglass wearers, polycarbonate
lenses, which are thin and shatterproof, offer protection from
ultraviolet radiation,” says Dr. V. Vinod Mootha, associate
professor of cornea, external disease, refractive and cataract
surgery.
The surface of the eye and the cornea are particularly vulnerable to
the sun’s rays. “Excessive exposure may increase the risk for the
formation of a fleshy tissue over the cornea, some forms of cataract
and possibly macular degeneration,” Dr. Mootha says.
UV-B exposure is higher on sunny
days (especially at noon) and low-ozone days.
Dr. Mootha says some sunlight is good for you but common sense
should be a guide for limiting your exposure.
Counter Parkinson’s limitations with
active exercise
Despite the limits that
Parkinson’s disease inflicts, it’s important to keep exercising –
particularly extending your range of motion, says Dr. Padraig
O’Suilleabhain, associate professor of neurology at UT Southwestern
Medical Center. Keeping your joints limber reduces the chance of
getting arthritis in addition to Parkinson’s, he says.
For arms, he recommends rotating
the shoulder slowly three times forward and three times back as far
as it can go. For hamstrings, hold on to a support and place one
foot about two feet behind the other, both facing forward, with
knees and back straight. Gradually move the feet farther apart.
Dental implants
help keep a beautiful, healthy smile
The loss of a tooth can strongly
affect the attractiveness of a smile. One remedy for this is a
dental implant.
“Implants provide a stable
foundation for tooth replacement that are closest in look, feel and
function to natural teeth. Dental implants also replace the dental
roots, which prevents bone deterioration,” said Kathia Steel, a
dentist and assistant professor of surgery at UT Southwestern
Medical Center.
Patients need to have good general
health, including healthy gums and a jaw bone that is strong enough
to support the implant, to receive a dental implant. There are
treatment options available to enhance the bone and gum in order to
be able to support an implant.
“It is important to remember that
even though a dental implant will not develop tooth decay, a
meticulous oral hygiene routine, including flossing, brushing and
regular dental visits, is a must in keeping your natural teeth nice
and healthy,” Dr. Steel said.
Putting off treatment for the
replacement of a lost tooth can lead to dental problems like tooth
decay, gum disease, changes in biting force, speech difficulties,
loss of jaw bone and/or additional tooth loss.