Senior Matters Information Help

                                               Photograph by Paula Neumeyer from Pexels What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) is high. This raised pressure causes damage to the optic nerve which is responsible for carrying the visual sensations to the brain. The field of vision (both central and side vision) is gradually lost corresponding to the extent of optic nerve damage. According to the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) , Glaucoma accounts for 20% of blindness worldwide. The overall presence of Glaucoma in India is said to be 3.9% in all age groups and 4.4% in adults over 35 years. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in India next to cataract and corneal blindness According to the Mayo Clinic ,  “ Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. It affects more than 2.7 million individuals age 40 or older in the United States — approximately 1.9 percen

                      Photo by Teona Swift from Pexels What is Urinary Incontinence?   It is a loss of bladder control resulting in leakage of urine.   It usually occurs in the elderly and can range from a few drops to moderate amounts.   One should consult a doctor if the symptoms limit daily activities and social interactions.   It can be temporary due to an underlying medical condition or more chronic   What causes Urinary Incontinence?   Though it is not an inevitable result of aging, UI is more common after the age of 50 .   It occurs due to specific changes in body function as a result of disease or an effect of medication.   For example, urinary incontinence may be the only symptom of a urinary tract infection. So when the infection is treated the incontinence resolves.   Women are most likely to develop UI during pregnancy and childbirth or at menopause due to hormonal changes.   Types of Urinary Incontinence?   There are 4 main types   A. Stress inco

    Light and weighty issues about seniors and hair coloring                               Photo by Menuyert Gonullu from Pexels I began to color my hair in my early forties My sister started coloring her hair when she was a mere 35 years old.   Premature greying runs in the family.   Solution? Dye or color it to its original beautiful color. In our case black.   When I started to grey I felt compelled to do it. Indian Brown-face combined with white hair didn’t do much for my self-confidence. Hence color it (back) black I did.   Now at 63 years, I don’t have such compelling reasons. But coloring my hair has become a habit.   I have a friend who was ambivalent about covering up her grey hair. She took the dyeing route, then stopped after a decade of doing so.  Her hair turned snowy white. Many people did not recognize her. After a couple of years, her snowy-white hair settled into a vague whitish-grey pallor.   I have observed the same phenomenon with my neighbor. Sta