Sleep plays an essential role in the body’s health and overall well-being. In fact, getting enough sleep can help protect people’s mental health, quality of life, physical health and safety. While adults sleep, the body works to maintain physical health and brain function. In children and teens, sleep supports development and growth. When someone suffers from a sleep deficiency, it increases their risks for chronic health problems, as well as impacting how well the body can work, think, react, learn [...continue reading]

The Nielsen Total Audience Report conducted a survey and found that American adults spend more than 11 hours a day either watching, listening to, reading or interacting with media. There are many reasons why more people are camping out on media sites. There are many new platforms, and the upcoming younger generation leverages several different social media sites, compared to older generations that focus primarily on one media site, such as TV. The ability to pause Live TV and record [...continue reading]

A new study conducted by the University of Toledo in Ohio shows that blue-tinted screens of electronic devices, such as cell phones, may contribute to vision loss and precipitate macular degeneration. The study, which was recently published in the journal “Scientific Reports” highlights that prolonged exposure to harmful blue light rays may cause a type of toxic chemical reaction, which occurs in the retinal molecules and can ultimately kill photoreceptor cells. Researchers from the study recommend that people avoid using [...continue reading]

Tossing and turning and find yourself tired on a regular basis? Scientists and doctors recognize a link to electronic devices and insomnia. Screen time causes cognitive stimulation, which results in sleep deprivation. Smartphones and artificial light also increase your brain’s electrical activity, causing neurons to race and divert you from the achieving the peaceful state of mind necessary for a good night's sleep. Additionally, the act of responding to text messages, reading emails or browsing through social media sites at [...continue reading]

The science of sleep is fascinating and has interested humankind for centuries. In 350 B.C., Aristotle wrote a pivotal philosophical essay entitled, “On Sleep and Sleeplessness.” Millennia passed, and still, we didn’t have an answer about sleep. It wasn’t until 1924, when Hans Berger, a German psychiatrist invented the machine - the electroencephalogram - that would change the way science views sleep. The device would record electrical activity in the brain when patients would sleep. Over the past few decades, [...continue reading]

Comprehensive vision exams are more than just the simple eye exams we remember from grade school. Comprehensive exams measure a wide array of eye health concerns and can even help detect eye cancer and other serious medical concerns. Here is what you can expect when you have a comprehensive exam: Acuity Tests This is one of the first parts of a comprehensive vision exam. It’s when you read the eye chart, and the doctor determines the sharpness of your vision. [...continue reading]

September is Sports Eye Safety Month. While all age groups are at risk for sports-related eye injuries, some sports are riskier than others. It is especially important for parents to help protect their children’s eyes when they are playing sports. Did you know that eye injuries are the number one leading cause of blindness in children? Here are some surprising statistics. Every 13 minutes a U.S. emergency room receives a visit from a patient suffering from a sports-related eye injury. [...continue reading]

Many Americans don’t receive the necessary seven or more hours of sleep that adults need to remain healthy. In fact, in 2014, reports showed that nearly 35.2% of adults in the U.S. did not obtain seven or more hours of sleep per night. You can view these statistics by state here. Americans spend an estimated $41 billion on sleep remedies and aids, which is expected to increase to $52 billion by 2020. Sleep drugs can be addictive and have side [...continue reading]

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety month. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, there are many things you need to know about children’s eye health. The American Optometric Association recommends that infants receive their first comprehensive physical eye exam at six months, with follow-ups at three years and five or six years. After the age of six, children should receive an eye exam every two years, unless they have eyeglasses, which may require annual checkups. A great [...continue reading]