Soak Up the Sunshine Vitamin HEALTH BENEFITS OF VITAMIN D
With spring on the horizon, we all will be able to get outdoors a little more and soak up some sun — and extra vitamin D! Bring on the picnics, pool days, hiking, sports activities, and leisurely walks through the park!
and depression. To ensure that you support your mental health, step outside and get some happy, feel-good rays! IT’S POSSIBLY LINKED TO WEIGHT LOSS. While it’s not fully proven that vitamin D helps with weight loss, many studies have found links between vitamin D supplements and shedding a few pounds. In one study, one group of people taking vitamin D and calcium supplements lost more weight than another group taking placebos. IT PREVENTS AND HELPS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. Not only is vitamin D proven to lower a person’s chances of getting this horrible disease, but for those who already have it, it can also reduce symptoms or slow down the disease’s progression. This spring, be sure to get outdoors and soak up some vitamin D; however, don’t forget to protect your skin, too! To avoid overexposure, only about 10–15 minutes a day of unprotected sun is recommended.
Let’s take a look at the many benefits this vitamin provides for our bodies.
IT BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. Vitamin D helps your body fight off sickness. In fact, it’s been proven that deficiencies in vitamin D are connected to an increased possibility of developing infections and autoimmune diseases such as the flu, heart disease, and diabetes. IT COUNTERS OSTEOPOROSIS. Osteoporosis, a loss in bone mass, is common as we get older. However, vitamin D is one of the key players in helping to slow down bone loss and prevent or treat osteoporosis so we can maintain a healthy skeletal system. IT REDUCES THE RISKS OF DEPRESSION. Studies have shown that those who are deficient in vitamin D become more prone to mood disorders
A CHALAZION PATIENT REVIEWS DR. SCOTT ‘Thorough, Professional, Compassionate’
Susan was preparing for cataract surgery when another problem upended her plans. “I was seeing an ophthalmologist who is very well-respected and well- known,” she says, “and I had what I thought was a stye in my eye.” Her doctor determined surgery could not go forward. “He said, ‘We have to wait,’” she remembers, “and he told me the best person to see is Dr. Scott.” The growth near Susan’s eye was a chalazion. “It’s a gland that’s blocked,” she explains. “The oil hardens, and you have to surgically excise it by going into the lid and draining it.” Unfortunately, the chalazion was not a one-time occurrence. “Dr. Scott says some people are just predisposed to it,” Susan says. “I think I hold the record for the number Dr. Scott has treated. We’re up to about 8 or 10.” Due to the recurring problem, Susan has seen Dr. Scott and his staff for approximately five years. “I want to give a shout-out to Dawn,” she says. “When she answers the phone, I know she’s going to take care of me. She will get me in because she knows how horrible chalazion pain can be. There’s nobody else like her.”
As for Dr. Scott, Susan says, “He’s really good at educating patients.” Susan is a self-professed “gym rat,” so it’s crucial to keep her eyelids clear of excess sweat and oil. “I now apply sprays and wipes that Dr. Scott has recommended to try and keep the chalazions at bay.” After experiencing so many, Susan has a sense of humor about her chalazions. “I had a big one right after Christmas one year,” she remembers, “so large it had a white head on it like a pimple. The kids in our family were screaming, ‘Oh my God, it’s going to pop!’” she laughs. “I was walking around with one eye open, and I thought it was hilarious that they were all freaked out by this huge thing.” Susan professes that she can’t say enough good things about Dr. Scott. “Just the fact that a peer recommended him speaks volumes to me,” she says. “He’s got a good bedside manner. He’s very thorough, very professional, and very compassionate. He really wants to help reduce any pain and mitigate the problem.”
2 EyePlasticMD.com
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