Glaucoma, that can lead to blindness, may be an autoimmune disease
Autoimmune disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body's own cells.
By PTI |
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BOSTON: Glaucoma, an eye disease which affects nearly 70 million people worldwide, may be an autoimmune disease, according to a study. Autoimmune disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body's own cells.
Little is known about the origins of the disease, which damages the retina and optic nerve and can lead to blindness.
Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study conducted in mice showed that the body's own T cells are responsible for the progressive retinal degeneration seen in glaucoma.
Be Cautious This Season: Superfoods To Boost Immunity And Keep You Healthy
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Monsoon is here and so are the diseases. The change in season can result in various viral infections, flus and poor health conditions.
The tricky season can lead to various health problems like sore throat, itchy nose, sneeze, ceaseless cough, common cold, and many water-borne diseases like typhoid, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, diarrhoea, malaria and dengue.
While regular exercising and staying hydrated is important, it is crucial to consume the right foods to strengthen your immunity and beat the illness this season.
Dolly Kumar, founder and director of Gaia; Eesha Kanade, Obino's health coach; Luke Coutinho, MD in alternative medicine & holistic nutritionist; and holistic health guru Dr Mickey Mehta share a list of best immunity-boosting foods that will keep you healthy.
Monsoon is here and so are the diseases. The change in season can result in various viral infections, flus and poor health conditions.The tricky season can lead to various health problems like sore t..
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Hony is the best remedy to cure a sore throat. Grate half a ginger, add a spoonful of honey and you have the perfect home-made remedy for sore throat. Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it is a great substitute to sugar. It is also cholesterol-free and sodium-free. A spoonful of honey in warm water is one of the perfect ingredients to solve many of your health problems like high blood pressure, blood purification, etc.
Hony is the best remedy to cure a sore throat. Grate half a ginger, add a spoonful of honey and you have the perfect home-made remedy for sore throat. Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it ..
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Neem helps boost your immune system while cooling down your body internally. It possesses both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that help keep your skin clean, radiant and healthy. Neem also has blood-purifying properties. It helps clear toxins and impurities from the blood leaving you with a strengthened immune system.
Neem helps boost your immune system while cooling down your body internally. It possesses both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that help keep your skin clean, radiant and healthy. Neem also..
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Keeping yourself nourished from the inside is very important. Indulge in a hearty bowl of oats. Rich in dietary fibre and protein, oats are a low-calorie food that keeps you fuller for longer. It also helps manage cholesterol levels, maintain healthy body weight, and reduce the risk of blood sugar and diabetes.
Keeping yourself nourished from the inside is very important. Indulge in a hearty bowl of oats. Rich in dietary fibre and protein, oats are a low-calorie food that keeps you fuller for longer. It als..
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Green Tea contains powerful anti-oxidants and nutrients that help regulate blood sugar, improve brain function and enhance metabolism. This ’super-drink’ also has essential minerals, bioactive compounds and fat-burning qualities. It also helps in increasing the detoxification process in the body and aids in weight loss.
Green Tea contains powerful anti-oxidants and nutrients that help regulate blood sugar, improve brain function and enhance metabolism. This ’super-drink’ also has essential minerals, bioactive compou..
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Olive oil is a great alternative to regular cooking oil. It is rich in monosaturated fatty-acids and has a light texture that would compliment with your dish perfectly. Packed with anti-oxidants, it also reduces the risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer.
Olive oil is a great alternative to regular cooking oil. It is rich in monosaturated fatty-acids and has a light texture that would compliment with your dish perfectly. Packed with anti-oxidants, it ..
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It helps improve gut health, digestion and absorption of nutrients. Yogurt, beet sauerkraut, kefir, garlic and onion are grest probiotic options to consume. It allows the good intestinal bacteria to flourish which further synthesises Vitamin B12 for a healthier gut.
It helps improve gut health, digestion and absorption of nutrients. Yogurt, beet sauerkraut, kefir, garlic and onion are grest probiotic options to consume. It allows the good intestinal bacteria to ..
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Garlic is a potent anti-bacterial and anti-viral food, thanks to the naturally present allicin. Consuming a preparation of honey and crushed garlic every morning can keep you healthy and strong.
Garlic is a potent anti-bacterial and anti-viral food, thanks to the naturally present allicin. Consuming a preparation of honey and crushed garlic every morning can keep you healthy and strong.
Carrot contains high level of beta-carotene which acts as an antioxidant. It is a good detoxifier and has the ability to regenerate enzymes in the liver.
Carrot contains high level of beta-carotene which acts as an antioxidant. It is a good detoxifier and has the ability to regenerate enzymes in the liver.
Make sure you consume dates, apricots, groundnuts, almonds, pine nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and others regularly for a healthier life. They are rich in Omega-3, zinc and magnesium which helps boost immunity. It also enables absorption of fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E, K .
Make sure you consume dates, apricots, groundnuts, almonds, pine nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and others regularly for a healthier life. They are rich in Omega-3, zinc and magnesium which help..
These T cells appear to be primed to attack retinal neurons as the result of previous interactions with bacteria that normally live in our body, researchers said.
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It could be possible to develop new treatments for glaucoma by blocking this autoimmune activity, they said.
"This opens a new approach to prevent and treat glaucoma," said Jianzhu Chen, a professor at MIT.
One of the biggest risk factors for glaucoma is elevated pressure in the eye, which often occurs as people age and the ducts that allow fluid to drain from the eye become blocked.
The disease often goes undetected at first; patients may not realise they have the disease until half of their retinal ganglion cells have been lost.
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The researchers looked for immune cells in the retinas of these mice and found that indeed, T cells were there.
This is unusual because T cells are normally blocked from entering the retina, by a tight layer of cells called the blood-retina barrier, to suppress inflammation of the eye.
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The researchers found that when intraocular pressure goes up, T cells are somehow able to get through this barrier and into the retina.
They generated high intraocular pressure in mice that lack T cells and found that while this pressure induced only a small amount of damage to the retina, the disease did not progress any further after eye pressure returned to normal.
World No Tobacco Day: Smoking Can Hurt Eyes, Bones And Brain
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Most smokers believe smoking is cool. No matter how you indulge in it, tobacco is harmful to your health. Tobacco contains over 7,000 toxins and 70 known carcinogens (chemicals that increase cancer risk) and can damage nearly every organ of the body.
Dr Sachin Kumar, Senior Consultant - Pulmonology at Sakra World Hospital explains how smoking affects every part of your body.
The next time you are tempted to take a drag, just pause for a minute and think of the consequences of your indulgence.
Most smokers believe smoking is cool. No matter how you indulge in it, tobacco is harmful to your health. Tobacco contains over 7,000 toxins and 70 known carcinogens (chemicals that increase cancer r..
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Smoking usually helps smokers relax on a short-term basis. But, it comes at a huge price in the long-term. Smoking results in addiction and anxiety. It alters the brain chemistry and can increase the risk of stroke.
Smoking usually helps smokers relax on a short-term basis. But, it comes at a huge price in the long-term. Smoking results in addiction and anxiety. It alters the brain chemistry and can increase the..
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Cancer of mouth and throat is common among smokers. In addition, smoking can also result in gum disease, premature tooth loss, discolouration of teeth, etc.
Cancer of mouth and throat is common among smokers. In addition, smoking can also result in gum disease, premature tooth loss, discolouration of teeth, etc.
Lung cancer, one of the leading causes of death in the world, develops due to smoking. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which causes difficulty in breathing is another common cause of death among smokers. Chronic Bronchitis, the inflammation of the bronchial tubes which also results in difficulty in breathing, is caused primarily due to smoking.
Smoking also increases the risk of other infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc.
Lung cancer, one of the leading causes of death in the world, develops due to smoking. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which causes difficulty in breathing is another common cause of death amon..
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Smoking is one of the leading causes for heart diseases. Regular smokers, as well as second-hand/passive smokers, are at high risk of heart disease.
Tobacco also contributes to heart conditions by reducing the good cholesterol (HDL) and increasing the bad cholesterol (LDL and Triglycerides) in the body.
Smoking is one of the leading causes for heart diseases. Regular smokers, as well as second-hand/passive smokers, are at high risk of heart disease.
Tobacco also contributes to heart conditions by r..
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In men, smoking can result in abnormality of sperm, impotence, erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer.
In women, smoking can result in infertility, miscarriage, early menopause, and cervical and ovarian cancer.
Smoking can impact the future generation, and can lead to physical deformities and sudden infant deaths.
In men, smoking can result in abnormality of sperm, impotence, erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer.
In women, smoking can result in infertility, miscarriage, early menopause, and cervical and ..
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Smoking increases the risk of eye-related problems like stinging, excessive tearing, glaucoma and cataract. It can result in partial or total blindness if untreated.
Smoking increases the risk of eye-related problems like stinging, excessive tearing, glaucoma and cataract. It can result in partial or total blindness if untreated.
The kidney's main function is to clear the toxic wastes from our body. But, smoking does exactly the opposite.
It increases the chances of kidney failure, bladder cancer and other urinary tract-related problems.
The kidney's main function is to clear the toxic wastes from our body. But, smoking does exactly the opposite.
It increases the chances of kidney failure, bladder cancer and other urinary tract-rela..
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Bones provide structure to the body. Due to the toxins present in tobacco, smoking can result in osteoporosis (weakening of the bones), increasing the risk of hip fracture, spine-related problems, bone marrow cancer and also rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to the above-mentioned problems, tobacco can also result in premature ageing, hair loss, weak immunity etc.
Bones provide structure to the body. Due to the toxins present in tobacco, smoking can result in osteoporosis (weakening of the bones), increasing the risk of hip fracture, spine-related problems, bo..
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Smoking reduces appetite. It prevents adequate nutrition to the body which makes the body weak. It can also up the insulin resistance of the body which makes people susceptible to type 2 diabetes. It also has a negative impact on the liver and intestine, and can increase the risk of ulcers in the stomach and intestine.
Smoking reduces appetite. It prevents adequate nutrition to the body which makes the body weak. It can also up the insulin resistance of the body which makes people susceptible to type 2 diabetes. It..
