What To Do About Dry Eyes

If Your Eyes Are Dry…

You might feel like you have sand in your eyes, or they might burn or itch.  You might be sensitive to light, have blurry vision, or, in some cases, your eyes might water.  And you may have a tough time wearing contact lenses.

Your Eyes Need Moisture

This helps them work the way they’re supposed to and keeps them comfortable.  Your body normally makes moisture for your eyes, but when you can’t – or it’s not good quality – that can make your eyes hurt and affect your eyesight.

What Your Tears Do

They soothe the surface of your eyes and protect them from things like debris and infection.  Each time you blink, they go over your eyes, and then drain into the inner corners of your eyelids to the back of your nose.  If you don’t make enough good-quality tears, your eyes can be dry and irritated.

Dry Eye Syndrome

The second most common kind of dry eye happens because your body doesn’t make enough tears.  This is called dry eye syndrome, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).  Many things can cause it.  Depending on what that is, it can go away on its own or last a long time.

Possible Cause:  Age

The glands that make tears don’t work as well as you age, so you don’t make as many.  Also, your eyelids begin to sag, and that can break the seal against your eyeball that helps keep in moisture.

Possible Cause:  Certain Illnesses

Autoimmune diseases – when your immune system attacks parts of your body – can affect your body’s ability to make tears and cause dry eyes.  Examples include lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as Sjogen’s syndrome, which attacks saliva and tear glands.

Possible Cause:  Eye Surgery

Dry eyes can be a side effect of cataract surgery and LASIK or PRK surgery, which correct vision problems.  The nerves that help you make tears can be damaged during these procedures.  Talk with your doctor about eyedrops and other things that can help.  For most people, it gets better as your eyes recover.

Evaporative Dry Eye

If your tears don’t have enough oil in them, they can evaporate (get absorbed into the air) before your eyes get enough moisture—the most common cause of dry eyes.  This often happens when the glands that give your tears their oily texture are blocked.  Also called Meibomian gland dysfunction, it’s treated with warm washcloths and lid scrubs that clear away the dead skin, oil, and bacteria that can build up and plug the glands.

Tear Duct Infection

Also called dacryocysititis, this happens when a tear duct – the small tube that runs down the length of your nose and connects to your eyelid – gets blocked and bacteria get in the area.  It’s most common in infants, but it can happen at any age.  Symptoms include pain, redness, swelling, too many tears, discharge from your eye, and fever.  Antibiotics are the most common treatment, but some people need minor surgery to clear it up.

Medications

If ou have symptoms of dry eyes and take medication, read the label.  Some drugs, such as antihistamines, betablockers, and some antidepressants, can affect your tears and dry out your eyes.  Talk with your doctor to find out if this is a problem for you.

What Can Make It Worse:  Low Humidity

If there’s not a lot of moisture in the air – in a heated or air-conditioned room or in an airplane, for example – dry eyes can get even more irritated.  And a lot of wind can do it, too (that includes riding a bike without protective eyewear).

What Can Make It Worse:  Too Much Scree Time

Looking at a computer or phone screen for long periods of time can cause problems because you’re less likely to blink and get moisture over your eyes.

What Can Make It Worse:  Contact Lenses

They sit inside the tear film, so when that’s dry, it can make it difficult and uncomfortable – even impossible – to wear them.  Talk to your doctor if you’re having trouble with your contacts:  It may help to change solutions or use lenses made from a different material.

What You Can Do:  Artificial Tears

These aren’t the kind your toddler uses when he’s trying to get away with something.  These tears come from the drugstore as drops or ointment.  Some have a chemical that can stop working if you use them too long, but not all have that.  Talk to your doctor about what may work for you.

What You Can Do:  Change Your Diet

Among other health benefits, flax oil and flax oil capsules also may help keep your eyes moist.

Prevention

If your eyes are dry, it’ a good idea to stay away from some things that can irritate them, like hair dryers, air condition, wind, smoke, and some chemicals.  Use a humidifier, and take regular breaks if you spend long hours at a computer.  During sports or outdoors activities, use swim or ski goggles or other protective eyewear that helps you keep moisture around your eyes.

When to Call Your Doctor

If dry eyes are new to you and you’ve had them for more than a few days, talk with your doctor.  It’s also a good idea to check with him before you use over-the-counter artificial tears.  In most cases, dry eyes are more of an annoyance than a health danger, but it’s always best to be sure.

What Happens When You Stop Having Sex

You Might Feel More Anxious

Maybe sex is the last thing on your mind when you’re stressed out.  But it might help lower your anxiety.  Sex seems to lessen the amount of hormones your body releases in response to stress.  And an active sex life can make you happier and healthier, which might also help keep anxiety at bay.

Your Heart May Not Work as Well

Research says that people who have sex once a month or less get heart disease more often than those who have it twice a week or so.  Part of the reason could be that you get a bit more exercise and are less likely to be anxious or depressed.  But it could also be that if you have more sex, you’re physically and mentally healthier in the first place.

You Might Get Less Exercise

Sex typically burns about 5 calories a minute.  That’s about equal to a brisk walk.  And you use a bit more oxygen too – about the same as digging in the garden or walking down the stairs.

That may not seem like much, but it starts to add up over the long term.  And because sex can improve your mental health, you might be more likely to do other types of exercise like the neighborhood kickball team, hiking, or housework.

You May Lose Your Keys More Often

Well, not so much lose them as forget where you put them.  That’s because regular sex seems be linked to improved memory, especially if you’re between ages 50 and 89.  It’s not clear why.

Your Immune System May Get Weaker

Weekly sex seems to boost your immune system compared to those who have it less often.  Part of the reason may be that it raises levels of a germ-fighting substance called immunoglobulin A, or IgA.  But more is not always better here.  People who had sex more than twice a week had lower levels of IgA than those who had no sex.

Your Relationship Changes

Sex bathes your brain in a chemical “afterglow” that lasts about 2 days and helps to bond you to your partner over the long term.  Without it, you could lose some of the satisfaction of your relationship.  A healthy, happy sexual relationship – couples who do it at least once a week seem to be happiest – can help build trust and understanding between you and your partner.

Your Prostate May Be Less Healthy

The reasons aren’t exactly clear, but in at least one study, men who ejaculated less than seven times a month were more likely to get prostate cancer compared to those who did it at least 21 times a month.

But unprotected anonymous sex and multiple partners can also raise your chances for the disease, so when you do have sex, take care.

You Might Sleep Less

Without sex, you’ll miss out on the hormones that promote restful sleep, like prolactin ad oxytocin.  Women get an estrogen boost that helps even more.  The reverse is true, too:  If you decide you want to start having sex again, a good night’s sleep is just the thing to keep you feeling frisky.

Aches and Pains Hang Around

Sex can be a good way to take your mind off of any aches and pains you have.  But it does more than that.  Orgasm causes your body to release endorphins and other hormones that can help ease head, back, and leg aches.  They may help arthritis pain and menstrual cramps, too.

You Could Have Sexual Problems Later

It may seem odd, but “use it or lose it” may apply here.  For women at menopause, vaginal tissue can get thin, shrink, and dry out without regular intercourse.  That can make sex painful and weaken your desire.  And some research says men who have sex less than once a week are twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction (ED) as those who have it weekly.

Your Blood Pressure Might Rise

Sex seems to help keep your blood pressure down.  That makes sense when you consider what it does:  It adds a bit of aerobic and muscle-building exercise, and it can ease anxiety and make you feel better.  Both of those can help keep your numbers where they need to be.

Ways to Exercise If You Hate to Work Out

Video Games

You can fence box, dance, and play virtual tennis, basketball, and other sports.  In one study, people who walked, ran, and climbed on a special mat during a fantasy role-playing game did more exercise than if they’d spent the same amount on a treadmill.  As a bonus, if you play active games, you’re more likely to do more “non-gaming” exercise.

Chores

Wat to get two things done at once?  You’ll get a “moderate” workout if you wash and wax your car, clean out the gutters, or mop or vacuum the floors.  It’ll help get you in better physical shape, and a clean car or house may boost your mental well-being, too.

Gardening

You might not think of it as exercise, but if you dig, bend, and clip around your garden for 30 minutes or so, you’ll get a decent workout.  And it may even put you in a better mood.  If you don’t have a plot of your own, consider volunteering at a community garden.  They can probably use the help.

Sex

You’ll burn around 5 calories a minute, about as many as with a brisk walk.  And you’ll use about the same amount of oxygen as if you were raking leaves.  Plus, research shows that it may help prevent heart disease, through that only seems to be true if you’re in a healthy relationship.

Geocaching

If you like to take walks with a purpose, look online for secret ‘geocache” spots in cities, parks, or along hiking trails.  You follow clues; usually GPS coordinates, to track them down.  You could find a prize in the cache or sign your name in a journal that proves you were there.

Dancing

It can be social, and its lots of fun, even if you do it by yourself.  It can tone our muscles and strengthen your heart and lungs.  It also might lift your spirits.  All you need is a bit of music to get your groove going.

Take That Meting on the Go

When you need to talk with a co-worker, hit the trail (or sidewalk) and kill two birds with one stone.  You’ll get some exercise, and might also make your meeting more creative.  Just keep it to no more than two or three people.  More than that can make it hard to really engage.

Join a Team

Whatever your interest or skill level, there’s probably a sports league in your area that will work for you.  you’ll be less likely to skip out because your teammates will count on you for practice sessions and games.  And the heat of competition could make you forget you’re getting a workout.

Outdoor Sports

If you like to be outside but don’t want to commit to a league, head to the park and join a pickup game of whatever’s going on:  soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, touch football.  Even playing catch will get you moving around.

Indoor Sports

Don’t want to deal with hot or cold weather?  Indoor games can get your competitive juices flowing, like basketball, racquetball, or volleyball.  You can do many “outdoor sports” – like swimming, soccer, and tennis – indoors, too.

Interval Training

Just three 20-second “sprint” intervals – running or cycling, for example – seem to offer about the same benefit as a 50-minute jog.  Even with the warmup, cool down, and rest between intervals, that are just 10 minutes of your time, compared with almost an hour for a run.  Ask your doctor if you haven’t exercised in a while, and start slow.

Batting Cage

You can practice your swing for a team if you’re on one, or relive the glory days of your youth.  Either way, you’ll likely have to concentrate so hard on the ball coming at you that you won’t have time to think about how you’re getting some exercise.  Just be sure to wear a helmet.

Walking

This doesn’t have to be a purposeful stroll.  Park at the back of the lot when you go to the store.  Walk over to your co-worker to tell them something in person rather than send an email.  When you take out the trash or pick up the mail, keep going around the block.  All those steps add up.

Martial Arts

Get into shape while you learn how to defend yourself.  It helps you focus your attention and may keep your brain sharper than sports like running.  And “light” contact types like karate, judo, and taekwondo are pretty safe, compared with other sports, as long as you train with a qualified instructor.

Zombie Runs

You say you’ll only run if something’s chasing you?  Well, that can be arranged.  Zombie courses often have obstacles to get over or a creeks to run through and may run on mud-covered trails.  And if that’s not enough motivation, members of “the living dead” watch from secret locations and jump out to steal your vital organs (in the form of flags) as you try to finish the race.

Things That Can Affect the Smell of Your Urine

What You Eat or Drink

Asparagus might be the most common reason for stinky pee.  The harmless odor is caused by a breakdown of asparagusic acid.  Your genes affect whether you can smell these sulfur byproducts.  If you can’t, that’s called asparagus anosmia.  Your pee may also have a strong smell after you drink coffee, or eat fish, onions, or garlic.

Dehydration

Fluids help water down, or dilute your pee.  While there’s always waste in your urine, like ammonia, the smell is stronger if you’re dehydrated.  That doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy.  But a lack of fluids does raise your chances of getting kidney stones and urinary tract infections.  That’s why it’s important to drink water when you’re thirsty.  Fruits and vegetables can help hydrate you, too.

Urinary Tract Infections

You may go to the bathroom a lot if you have a UTI.  While you’re in there, you might get a whiff of something that doesn’t smell good.  That’s because bacteria can build up in your urine and make it stink.  Talk to your doctor if it hurts to pee and you have a fever.  You may need to take antibiotics to get better.

Kidney Stones

These make your pee smell for a few reasons.  They can stop or slow urine flow, leading to a buildup of salt and ammonia.  They can also make infections more likely.  Some stones are made from likely.  Some stones are made from cysteine, a substance with sulfur in it.  If cysteine is in your urine, it may smell like rotten eggs.  Tell your doctor if you have a fever, blood in your pee, or if you’re in a lot of pain.  You may need to get the stones taken out at a hospital.

Uncontrolled Diabetes

Your pee or breath may smell fruity if you don’t treat high blood sugar.  The sweet smell is from ketonuria, or a buildup of ketones.  Those are chemicals your body makes when you burn fat, instead of glucose, for energy.  Tell your doctor right away if you vomit, have trouble breathing, or feel confused.  You could have a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.  They’ll test your pee for ketones and help your manage your diabetes.

Maple Syrup Urine Disease

People born with this condition can’t break down certain amino acids.  When these amino acids build up, their pee or earwax starts to smell sweet.  If your baby has the disease, you may notice this syrupy odor a day or two after they’re born.  They’ll need to follow a special diet.  Your doctor can help you figure out ways to manage your child’s condition.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Some STIs can lead to smelly discharge in males and females.  You may notice the smell as the fluid mixes with your pee.  You may not have other symptoms.  Or your genitals may itch, and it might burn when you pee.  Bacterial infections like chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics.  You’ll need another kind of medicine for viral infections.

Vitamin Overload

Your body gets rid of nutrients you don’t need through peeing.  Extra vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) can give it a strong odor.  Too much vitamin B1 (thiamine) can make your pee smell like fish.  B vitamins can also make your pee look a bright greenish-yellow.  Talk to a doctor about what vitamin doses is right for you.

Medication

Sulfa drugs can give your pee a bit of stench.  That includes sulfonamide antibiotics.  They’re commonly used to treat UTIs and other infections.  Medicines for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis also can affect the way your pee smells.  If the stinky scent bothers you, tell your doctor about it.  They might want to make sure nothing else is causing the odor.

Pregnancy

Morning sickness may leave you dehydrated.  And prenatal vitamins might change the way your pee smells.  Pregnancy also raises your chances of urinary tract infections and ketonuria.  You could just be super sensitive to scents.  That’s called hyperosmia.  Experts think hormones may change your perception of smells.  And that means that even if your pee is the same, it may seem like the odor is weird or more intense.

Organ Failure

Liver disease can make your pee and breath smell musty.  The odor is caused by the buildup and release of toxins in your urine.  If you have kidney failure, you may smell a lot of ammonia when you go to the bathroom.

Douching

Let your vagina clean itself.  Washing inside of it could upset the balance of good and bad bacteria.  That can lead to infections and discharge, which can smell bad when you pee.  Health issues linked to douching include yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.  There’s no need to erase your vagina’s natural odor.  If you notice a new or strange scent, talk to your doctor.  They can tell you if it’s normal.

Poop Gets in Your Bladder

A fistula is an extra opening that forms between two organs.  If you get one between your bladder and bowels, poop or gas may come out when you pee.  You might get this kind of fistula if you have cancer or an inflammatory condition, like Crohn’s disease or diverticulitis.  If you’re female, it may happen after you give birth or have a certain kind of operation.  Surgery can fix fistulas.

Tyrosinemia

Some babies are born with a condition called Tyrosinemia type 1.  It means they don’t have the right enzyme to break down the amino acid tyrosine.  Too much of this compound can give body fluids, like urine, a rotten odor. It may smell like cabbage.  Tyrosinemia is treated with medicine and a low-tyrosine diet.

Fish Odor Syndrome

Also called trimethlaminuria, this genetic condition can give your pee a fishy smell.  it happens when your bod can’t break down trimethylamine.  You end up getting rid of the compound through your pee, sweat, breath, and other fluids.  It doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy.  But your doctor can help you manage the smell.  They may give you antibiotics, special soap, or suggest eating certain foods.

Holding It for Too Long

Your urine might smell funky if it hangs out in your bladder for a while.  That may also raise your chances of getting a UTI.  This may happen more often in children who don’t pee when they feel the urge.  That’s why it’s always a good idea to remind kids to take bathroom breaks.