Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Health Tip: Macular Degeneration Destroys Vision
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(HealthDay News) -- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease common in the elderly that slowly destroys sharp central vision, according to the U.S. National Eye Institute. The macula, part of the retina, is made up of millions of light-sensing cells that help to produce central vision. With AMD, these cells are slowly destroyed, in some cases leading to blindness. AMD occurs in two forms, dry AMD and wet AMD. Blurred vision is the most common sign of dry AMD, while straight lines looking crooked are usually what identify wet AMD. People in middle age have only about a 2 percent chance of getting AMD, while the risk increases to more than 30 percent in people in their 70s, research has shown. No treatment is available for dry AMD, but some with wet AMD may be helped with laser surgery.
Last Updated: March 13, 2006 |