Why Quitting Smoking Is So Important For Cataract And Diabetes Management
By now, the world is quite familiar with the serious health dangers caused by smoking. One problem that many may not fully understand is how smoking can contribute to the development of cataracts and even diabetes. The latter problem is particularly important to prevent as it too can contribute to cataracts. Quitting smoking can help keep these problems from becoming serious.
Smoking Seriously Impacts The Eyes
Smokers are at higher risk for developing cataracts because of the ways that smoking causes changes and damage to the lens in the eye. Smoke will seriously attack the lens, causing damage and other problems that can lead to cataracts. Other eye problems that are associated with smoking include dry eyes, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and others that are highly linked to cataracts.
Perhaps the most serious problem is the ways that smoking can contribute to and worsen symptoms of diabetes. The latter problem is particularly tied in with cataracts and an increased risk of developing them, making it important to quit smoking as soon as possible in order to avoid these serious health problems.
Smoking Can Also Contribute To Diabetes
As mentioned above, smoking contributes to the development of diabetes. Diabetes seriously impacts vision and can contribute to cataracts due to the ways that it constricts their blood vessels. As these vessels get damaged, they decrease blood flow to the eyes. This will not only affect the health of the eyes but contribute to the increasing spread of cataracts.
Managing diabetes symptoms through proper self-care may help may fend off the development of cataracts, but smoking will make it a problem that is nearly impossible to manage. That's why it is so important to avoid this damaging situation by quitting smoking as early as possible.
Managing This Problem
The biggest step is quitting smoking immediately, particularly using medical methods such as nicotine patches, gum, inhalers, or even nasal sprays. These methods help smokers get through withdrawal successfully. Quitting cold turkey can be difficult for many, particularly if they are heavy smokers.
This should help slow down the development of diabetes and cataracts. Managing or avoiding diabetes includes eating a balanced diet heavy in fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and avoiding excessive sugar that may cause an imbalance in the body.
However, if cataracts have already developed on the eye, it is important to get them surgically removed. There is no other treatment for cataracts once they have developed. Surgery will remove the affected lenses and replace them with healthy ones. It is also important to stay smoke-free afterward to prevent re-growth.
For more information, see companies like Leader Heights Eye Center.
Share