Better Health through Improved Eyesight, Hearing and Taking Naps

In this new era of heightened health awareness, somewhere in between the camps of bigger and stronger vs. leaner and meaner, we’ve managed to neglect the one doctrine foundational to them all: a healthy body always starts with a healthy mind.

With that in mind, there are several, simple daily habits adopted by highly effective people in keeping their minds performing at optimum levels, with the added benefit of their bodies following suit.

Eye Health

Recent studies have found a correlation between poor eyesight and its influence on cognitive decline, and even dementia. According to the author of one of these studies, ophthalmologist Suzann Pershing, of the Stanford University School of Medicine, “When people cannot see well, the brain has to work harder in order to process and interpret information and to do basic activities... Essentially, the brain may tire more easily with routine tasks.”

So, if you suspect your eyeglasses have been inaccurately prescribed, or find yourself relying on contact lenses with no prescription, a visit to your local optometrist could pay dividends to more than just your eyesight in the long run. And with non-invasive corrective eye surgeries like Ortho-K (Orthokeratology) coming onto the market, 20/20 vision is slowly becoming a feasible reality for many of the formerly visually impaired.

But with prices for surgery on both eyes ranging in the thousands, topping up with monthly contact lenses is still the most viable option for most. Popular contact lenses rely on comforts and eye protection innovations, such as those conducted by brands like Air Optix and Acuvue. It’s easier for most consumers to rely on this choice of visual aid. This is further enhanced by the website's customer care policy as well as the eye and general health advice and tips are given.

Better Hearing

Another physiological factor with direct bearing on mental health is your sense of hearing. The onset of Alzheimer’s has been linked to poor hearing in a study conducted by Taylor N. Fields for the University of Wisconsin.

She discovered that those with hearing loss were about three times more likely to develop cognitive impairment over time. But the hearing correlation still isn’t as conclusive as for the visual one, with Fields stating that “there seems to be something more going on here,” but “untreated hearing loss is associated with conditions like depression and social isolation, which are themselves risk factors for dementia.”

Nap Rest

While the ability to multitask is typically flaunted as a virtue, focusing on one task at a time has proven to be the surer path to success. The mind is incapable of effectively processing two trains of thought at once.

Naturally, there are times, usually due to poor scheduling, when a person is overtaken by deadlines and pulling all-nighters becomes the unhealthy norm. That’s why learning to identify the symptoms of mental fatigue is of vital importance.

In such instances, "You can get incredible benefits from 15 to 20 minutes of napping," says Sara C. Mednick, Ph.D., author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life. "You reset the system and get a burst of alertness and increased motor performance.”

Taking care of the senses is essential in sustaining effective daily life engagement.