Eye problems and injuries in Adolescents

Every year more than one million people get eye injuries, out of which ninety percent are preventable if safety eyewear is used. One hundred and twenty five thousand eye injury cases are caused by household products.

It is a good habit to wash hands regularly, especially after handling household chemicals. When using detergents and hazardous solvents, the handler must wear chemical safety goggles. Also, no children must be around while handling chemicals. While spraying, the nozzle must be turned away from the face. Fertilizers, pesticides and paints must be stored away from reach. While doing household activities proper protective gears such as goggles, gloves, boots and helmet should be worn, if required. The house must be illuminated adequately to avoid accidents in the dark. Stairs should also be illuminated and the rails must also be installed. The instructions for opening the tops of bottles must be read carefully to avoid them from popping and injuring other people. Children and adolescents should read instructions before handling operating equipment before playing games. All power equipment must be installed with guards. While playing outside, the eyes must be protected by UV protective goggles and it is a bad idea to look at the sun directly.

Precautions should not only be taken indoors, but outdoors too. This is because; more than forty thousand people get eye injuries outdoors. Ninety nine percent of the injuries are caused while playing sports. So it is necessary for the youngsters to wear protective eyewear while playing sports or when involved in outdoor recreational activities. A special helmet is designed with wire shield or polycarbonate face mask which is not only safe, but comfortable, too. Protective eyewear should also be worn while performing experiments in science lab. Fireworks must only be handled by adults.

Because of increasing use of computers, more and more youngsters are getting eye strains. The symptoms of eye strain caused by computer are red & watery eyes, focusing problems, aching & tired eyelids, eye muscle spasm, backache and headache. In such an environment, eye exercise must be done regularly. The eyes must be made to focus on distant objects and should be rotated from side to side. It is extremely important to give ample rest to the eyes. Glasses with UV shield must be worn when looking at the computer screen. Eye strain can be avoided by increasing the distance from the monitor.

Eye hazards are also caused when cosmetics are used improperly by contact lens wearers. Some of the adverse reactions are injury, eye irritation, allergy, dryness, infection, and lens deposition. That is the reason why adolescents must be made aware of the risk they will face when opting for contact lens. Girls should understand that they should buy hypoallergenic cosmetics and especially the non-scented variety, manufactured by big brand names. Cosmetics should not be shared with anything else. The applicator brushes must be washed regularly and old mascara must be disposed and not refilled. Eye shadows which are glittery, pearlized, frosted or iridescent contain ground tinsel or oyster shell, which should be always avoided. Eyeliner should not be applied in the inner lid edge. Loose powder should be avoided. Cream should not be applied near the eyes. The wearer should wash hands while handling contact lens. No crying, washing of face or bathing should be done with the contact lens on.

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Sports Injuries Explained

There are several specific types of injuries that are particularly associated with sports and it is especially vital to understand the various injuries so that the appropriate treatment can be sought as soon as possible. Quick treatment for most injuries can really reduce the amount of time it takes to heal as well as the expense associated with treatment, which makes it especially important to determine an injury quickly and begin the recovery process.

Acute This type of injury is usually associated with suddenly occurring, and often being associated with bruises, fractures, broken bones, blood, ligament strain or breakage and even spinal cord injuries. The exact type of injury is not as important as the classification. Acute injuries require immediate medical treatment to help reduce the pain, as well as begin the treatment process.

Some acute injuries such as those associated with sprains and strains need to be bandaged and splinted to prevent further damage to the body and aid in healing. In addition, eye injuries must be carefully treated once the eyes are carefully cleaned to avoid any further damage. Typically, acute injuries are the result of being hit with a ball, hit by another player, or even falling while playing. Additional ways acute injuries occur are possible, and not all injuries are the result of another player on the field.

Overuse Injuries These injuries typically occur due to extended repetition while engaged in an activity. This can occur in adults or children and while it is possible to minimize this injury through exercise and conditioning, it generally cannot be entirely avoided. Athletes who play sports a lot do tend to experience some form of overuse injury at some point.

Some examples of overuse injuries include swimmers shoulder, little league elbow, shin splits and spondylolysis. Each type of injury is typically associated with continuous repetition but most especially in younger children. Plenty of exercises and strength training will usually help to tone and condition the muscles to avoid the problems and injuries associated with the repetition of sports.

To help really avoid overuse injuries it is advisable to always warm up carefully before playing, always ensure you are using appropriate equipment that fits properly and also try to limit the number of sports you play at once. For example, try to avoid being involved in more than one activity per season as this can help strain the muscles and joints much faster.

Reinjury This is the final type of injury that is common amongst athletes. This most often occurs when an athlete pushes recovery to return to playing sports again before they are fully healed. Most athletes who have reinjury problems tend to return to sports before getting the approval of their doctor; however, it is possible on rare occasions that the doctor will make a mistake. Returning to the sport before the injury has fully healed can cause the same injury to progress, and can also cause additional injuries depending on the circumstances surrounding the reinjury.

The best way to avoid a reinjury is to carefully allow your body to fully heal upon becoming injured. By following the instructions that the doctor recommends, as well as carefully and slowly re-entering the sports field after recovering from an injury you can greatly reduce the risk of a reinjury rather than making yourself susceptible to another injury so quickly.

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