Clear Vision, Sharp Hearing: Sense the Differences :: Health and Disease

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Clear Vision, Sharp Hearing: Sense the Differences
by author Julian Whitaker, MD

Although memory loss heads the list of concerns among agingCanadians, vision and hearing loss are far more likely to afflict us as we
get older.

These common changes can impair your ability to drive, read and enjoy simple
pleasures. Fortunately, you can do several things to preserve your eyesight
and hearing.

UV rays = vision loss

The single greatest contributor to vision loss is free radical damage, which
accumulates in the eyes due to a lifetime of exposure to damaging
ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight.

Plants, which have even greater UV exposure, have built-in protection
against free radicals: carotenoids. These phytonutrients, found in brightly
coloured vegetables and fruits, also nourish and protect your eyes. The most
important carotenoids for the eyes are beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin,
which absorb harmful radiation, helping prevent macular thinning and
degeneration. Research shows that simply eating leafy greens and other foods
rich in these protective nutrients can stave off vision loss.

Supplements are a must

Nutritional supplements offer significant protection against age-related
vision problems. In the 2001 Age-Related Eye Disease Study in Archives of
Opthamology, supplementation with zinc, vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene
reduced the risk of macular degeneration in high-risk patients by 20 per
cent compared to placebo. Long-term supplementation with vitamin C cut the
risk of cataracts by 77 per cent in one large 1997 American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition study, while bilberry, which improves nighttime vision,
slows the progression of cataracts in 97 per cent of patients when used in
combination with vitamin E.

Loud noise = hearing loss

Though hearing loss may not spell an end to independence, it can
dramatically reduce quality of life. The primary cause of age-related
hearing loss is damage to the hair cells in the inner ear that transmit
sounds to the brain. Noise literally blows these delicate hair cells away.
Any condition that impairs blood flow, such as atherosclerosis, high blood
pressure or diabetes, contributes to hair cell damage; however, the chief
culprit is exposure to loud noise.

Any sound level over 85 decibels may cause hearing damage. (City traffic
measures 80 decibels, a lawnmower 90 decibels, and a power saw 110 decibels,
a level that can cause permanent hearing loss after just two minutes of
exposure). Use earplugs whenever you are exposed to loud noise. If you use a
portable radio or CD player with earphones, always play it at half volume or
lower.

Nutritional deficiencies can impair hearingA 1998 study in the
America

A 1998 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women
over age 60 with hearing loss had 38 per cent lower levels of vitamin B12
and 31 per cent lower levels of folate than women with normal hearing.
Vitamin D deficiencies also produce hearing loss that can be reversed by
supplementation with this nutrient.

Other nutrients may also prove helpful for age-related hearing loss,
particularly for those with poor circulation. Both ginkgo biloba and
vinpocetine enhance blood flow through the tiniest capillaries, helping
transport nutrients to the fragile hair cells.

At a Glance

Daily supplements for eye health

beta-carotene and other carotenoids: 15,000 IU
bilberry: 320 mg
selenium: 200 mcg
vitamin A: 5,000 IU
vitamin C: 2,500 mg
vitamin E: 800 IU
zinc: 30 mg

A longtime advocate of healthy living, Julian Whitaker, MD, isthe founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute Medical Clinic in Newport Beach, Calif., and editor of the monthly newsletter, Health and Healing.

Source: alive #247, May 2003

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