Do Blue Light Glasses Really Help?

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Updated Dec 23, 2024 | 10:00 AM IST

Do Blue Light Glasses Actually Protect Our Eyes?

SummaryWith the rise of digital device and spending most hours of our day on screen, concerns over blue light exposure have grown significantly. This is why blue light glasses and lenses have been introduced to help mitigate potential harm. But the question is: are they really that effective?

Have you come across blue lenses? Every time I go to get my new glasses made, I am always asked whether I want the blue lenses. But what exactly are these blue lenses? I am told that it protects your eyes from the blue light that comes from our phone and computer screens. With the rise of digital device and spending most hours of our day on screen, concerns over blue light exposure have grown significantly. This is why blue light glasses and lenses have been introduced to help mitigate potential harm. But the question is: are they really that effective or are there other ways to protect your eyes from blue light-related symptoms like eye fatigue and dry eye?

Let’s break it down.

What is Blue Light?

Blue light is a type of visible light, which has a shorter wavelength of 415 to 455 nanometers, this is what gives it more energy than other light types. The source is not artificial, but also when we look up at the blue sky.

However, for years, humans were exposed to this blue light only during the hours when sun was up. This is why our brain trained us to be active and alert and keep our bodies up when we see that light. However, with phones and computer screens which emit blue light all the time, leaves our body and brain confused. It also interferes in the circadian rhythm of the body.

Too much blue light during the day can lead to:

  • Eye fatigue: Prolonged screen time can make your eyes feel strained.
  • Dry eye: Staring at screens reduces your blinking rate, causing dryness.
  • Sleep disruption: Blue light interferes with melatonin production, a hormone crucial for sleep, leading to poor sleep quality.

What Are Blue Light Glasses?

Blue light glasses are designed to filter out blue light wavelengths before they reach your eyes. The idea is that this filtering minimizes the harmful effects of prolonged exposure, like eyestrain, dry eye, and disrupted sleep patterns.

But do they actually work?

The evidence is mixed.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology does not currently endorse blue-light-filtering glasses for reducing computer-related eyestrain, suggesting more research is needed.

  • A 2023 study, titled Blue-Light Filtering Spectacle Lenses: Optical and Clinical Performances, found no significant short-term benefits of blue-light-filtering lenses in reducing visual fatigue compared to regular lenses.
  • A 2017 review of clinical trials, published in the National Library of Medicine showed limited evidence supporting blue-light-blocking glasses for eye health and dry eye prevention.
  • Some users report benefits like reduced glare and improved screen visibility, but studies like one funded by Swiss Lens Laboratory Ltd. suggest potential bias.
While research is ongoing, there’s no conclusive proof that blue light glasses are a cure-all.

Practical Tips to Reduce Blue Light Exposure

You don’t need special glasses to protect your eyes from blue light. Simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference:

  • Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This reduces eye strain.
  • Take screen breaks: Step outside for a walk, leaving your devices behind. This not only gives your eyes a break but also boosts vitamin D levels.
  • Dim your lighting: Use softer lighting at home, and consider red light for nightlights, as it’s less disruptive to your sleep cycle.
  • Adopt screen-free hobbies: Activities like reading, knitting, or cooking can help you reduce screen time.
  • Limit screens before bed: Avoid devices for 2–3 hours before sleeping to improve sleep quality.
  • Use lubricating eye drops: If dry eye is a problem, over-the-counter drops can provide relief.

What Are the Side Effects of Blue Light Exposure?

Prolonged exposure to blue light can cause:

  • Computer Vision Syndrome: Symptoms include eyestrain, dry eye, blurred vision, and headaches.
  • Sleep disturbances: Reduced melatonin production disrupts your circadian rhythm, impacting your ability to fall and stay asleep.
  • Stress sensitivity: Poor sleep due to blue light exposure can increase stress levels, as REM sleep is essential for mental relaxation.

When to See a Doctor

If you experience persistent or severe symptoms, consult an eye doctor. Warning signs include:

Frequent or long-lasting eyestrain

Chronic dry eye symptoms

Noticeable decline in vision quality

Consistently blurred vision

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Updated Apr 28, 2025 | 02:15 PM IST

Grief Can Change The Way Your Heart Functions, Especially After 50

SummaryHeartbreak is a painful experience, both mentally and physically. Many people talk about how this experience altered their life and functionality. However, many do not realize that heartbreaks are also capable of altering your heart’s anatomy.

“Heartbreaks happen to many people, it’s ok” or “You’ll move on, it’s a heartbreak, not the end of the world” and similar phrases as these are ones we have all heard. However, how much truth these sentences hold has been questioned. Many people experience mental health issues after experiencing heartbreak like depressive episodes and anxiety symptoms. However, did you know that heartbreaks can actually affect your heart?

The pain associated with heartbreaks is often thought of as psychological, but it can actually weaken the ability to pump blood effectively. This is a condition known as the broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

According to the Harvard Health Publishing, it is a sudden change in the shape of the heart's left ventricle, which is its primary pumping chamber. This is a concerning issue as it weakens the heart’s ability to effectively circulate blood throughout the body.

The British Heart Foundation explains that some people, like women over 50s are more susceptible to getting this issue. It could also be an issue if you have other mental health issues like anxiety or depression.

Symptoms Mimic A Heart Attack

Harvard explains that most cases of this syndrome occur in the age frames of 58 to 75. 5% of these women thought they were having a heart attack. The symptoms can indeed be very similar to those of a heart attack and may include:

  • Sudden, intense chest pain
  • A feeling of pressure or heaviness in the chest
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Heart palpitations (irregular or forceful heartbeat)
  • Feeling faint or lightheaded
  • Nausea

Can Stress Cause This Issue?

While the precise cause of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy remains under investigation, medical experts believe that a sudden surge of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, triggered by intense emotional distress, plays a significant role. The syndrome often occurs following significant emotional events like bereavement, serious illness, or trauma, which is why it's commonly referred to as 'broken heart syndrome'. But that is not the only reason why you may experience this, other causes may include sudden drop in blood pressure, severe pain, asthma attack, intense fear, serious illnesses or surgery, etc.

When doctors are diagnosing this syndrome, they look for things like, no evidence of blockages in the angiogram, which helps them rule out heart attacks, they also use imaging techniques like echocardiogram, that will show abnormalities in the left ventricle.

Fortunately, it is temporary. The condition is typically managed with medications aimed at reducing the strain on the heart and minimizing the risk of complications. These medications can include:

  • Diuretics (to reduce fluid buildup)
  • Beta blockers (to slow heart rate and lower blood pressure)
  • Blood thinners (to prevent blood clots)

Can You Prevent Broken Heart Syndrome?

While most people recover fully, approximately one in ten patients may experience a recurrence of broken heart syndrome. Additionally, some individuals may have persistent symptoms or lasting changes to the shape of their heart, potentially requiring long-term medication.

Once a person has fully recovered from broken heart syndrome, it is advisable to focus on managing stress levels, adopting a healthy diet, and maintaining regular physical activity to help prevent future episodes.

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(Credit-Kidney Cancer UK TikTok)

Updated Apr 28, 2025 | 11:15 AM IST

Vague Symptoms Of This Deadly Disease Caused Woman To Mistake It For Menopause

SummarySometimes looking beyond the surface level can help you avoid grave mistakes. While you may see a regular health symptom, further probing can reveal the true nature of the seeming non-issue.

Misleading signs are often worse than no signs, you may be working on the symptoms when the disease is already doing damage to your body. When something goes wrong in our body, most of us can catch onto it. However, we almost always tackle the most obvious issue, not knowing there could be something worse going on.

A similar issue happens to a UK-based woman, named, Loise who was suffering with high blood pressure and dismissed it as a symptom of menopause. Soon she found out that it was in fact not menopause that she was going through, rather she had been battling kidney cancer and did not know about it.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide with nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Cancer is a generic term for many different diseases that affect parts of one's body, according to the World Health Organization. Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancer in UK adults and 14th most common cancer worldwide. According to Cancer Research UK, the average number of cases reported for kidney cancer in 2017-19 UK was 13,834. It is also more common in the elderly, aged 80-84, and there has been a 92% rise in the incidence rates of kidney cancer since the 1990s.

Misleading Symptoms and Important Warnings

In the Kidney Cancer UK's TikTok page, Louise's highlights the critical importance of recognizing that not all symptoms in middle-aged women are solely due to hormonal changes. In her case, the elevated blood pressure was an indicator of an aggressive form of kidney cancer.

Often, kidney cancer doesn't manifest with clear and distinct symptoms, and it is frequently discovered incidentally during tests conducted for other health concerns. Louise emphasized the challenge of diagnosis, "Symptoms are unfortunately vague, especially for women, as it includes high blood pressure, night sweats, blood in your urine and flank pain. GPs often relate these to menopause symptoms." She strongly advises everyone to "regularly scan your body" and to pay attention to persistent discomfort. She urged, "How long have those niggling pains been there? Get them checked - always better to be safe than sorry!"

What To Expect After The Diagnosis?

Reflecting on her own diagnosis, Louise recounted having "high blood pressure but unseen blood" in her urine. She explained how her cancer was detected, "I was lucky routine bloods picked up an issue with my liver, prompting ultrasound."

Her treatment journey involved significant surgical interventions, "I have now had two major surgeries to remove cancer and my kidney within the last 15 months. I'm three weeks post open surgery and recovering well." The outcome of recent tests brought encouraging news, "The news that all the biopsies came back as not cancer has been amazing."

Currently, Louise is managing side effects from her immunotherapy treatment. Looking ahead, Louise remains realistic but hopeful "My cancer was the most aggressive at grade 4 so there will always be a high chance of it coming back, but medications and research is changing all the time and I have faith that the surveillance scans will help us nip anything untoward in the bud!"

Kidney Cancer Symptoms You Should Look Out For

While kidney cancer often progresses without noticeable symptoms, the NHS indicates that when they do appear, they can include:

  • Blood in your pee
  • A lump or swelling in your back, under your ribs, or in your neck
  • Persistent pain between your ribs and waist
  • Unexplained loss of appetite or weight loss
  • Persistent fatigue or lack of energy
  • A recurring high temperature
  • Excessive sweating, particularly at night

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Can Natural Disasters Impact Your Mental Health? Here's What Experts Say

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Updated Apr 28, 2025 | 10:00 AM IST

Can Natural Disasters Impact Your Mental Health? Here's What Experts Say

SummaryRecent flooding in Kentucky’s Franklin County highlights how natural disasters not only threaten physical safety but also leave lasting impacts on mental health, experts and studies reveal.

Throughout the first week of April, the state of Kentucky witnessed flooding, due to heavy rains, specifically in the Franklin County. The reason being, it is located on the Kentucky River for over 200 years. While such natural disasters can cause distress in terms of physical safety, expert also reveals that such natural disasters could impact one's mental health too.

Natural disasters like Kentucky's recent flooding can have serious impacts on victim's mental health, reveals Christal Badour, associate professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky and a trauma recovery research.

As reported in Weku NPR, the UK psychologist explains that reactions to traumatic events typically fall into short-term and long-term symptoms. These include people feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, and difficulty communicating. While most people eventually recover without lasting effects, some may struggle for a longer duration.

These long-term issues include depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Badour also notes that people who already had a mental health difficulty before the natural disaster could also further feel isolated. Along with that, individuals with fewer financial resources could be at more risk of long-term problems.

Are These Long-term Symptoms Common?

According to a report from Clinical Psychology Review, 20 to 80% of people will experience long-term symptoms after a disaster. These rates could vary depending on the type of disaster one faces. PTSD symptoms often improve after the first year, however, depression and anxiety are more likely to linger.

What Do Other Experts Say?

There have been previous studies too that confirm the same. As per a 2024 study, titled Impact of Natural Disasters on Mental Health: Evidence and Implications, by Eamin Z Heanoy and Norman R Brown, notes: "Natural disasters are large-scale catastrophic events, and they are increasing in frequency and severity. Converging evidence indicates that the mental health consequences of disasters are extensive and are often associated with trauma and the disruption of personal and socioeconomic factors in people’s lives."

However, the study also notes that although most individuals who experience disaster-related traumatic events do not develop mental illnesses, some could experience adverse psychological effects of the disaster.

Another expert, Nomy Levy-Carric, MD, MPhil, writes for Mass General Brigham, which is an institute dedicated to serving the community and enhancing patient care, teaching, and research, notes that natural disaster can indeed leave a lasting impact on individuals, families, and often an entire community.

Levy Carrick notes: "A person’s reaction depends on many factors, including their past experiences, what is happening in their life at that moment, the nature of their exposure, and the support available to them as they rebuild. The sudden loss of control and uncertainty can be overwhelming, making it harder to cope in both the short and long term."

What Are The Types Of Natural Disasters?

  • Hurricanes and tropical storms
  • Earthquakes
  • Tornadoes
  • Wildfire
  • Floods
  • Blizzards and winter storms
  • Drought and extreme heat
  • Landslides and mudslides

The doctor notes the Psychological First Aid or PFA provides a structured way to support emotional recovery immediately after a disaster.

However, notes Badour, there is still a major gap in treatment. Most disaster relief services only last up to one year.

“After that year has passed, a lot of people feel like there's no one there to help them, especially if you're in a community that was already lacking in mental health support and resources,” she said.

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