Magazine Article Review: The Semi-Complete User's Guide to Your Eyes

The Semi-Complete User's Guide to Your Eyes by Kevin Dupzyk, Men's Health, September/October 2025, pp 20-21.

This short article provides tips for different eye issues and general advise.

1. Tired eyes is usually caused  by too much screen time.  I good idea is the 20-20-20 rule.  Every twenty minutes look 20  feet away for 20 seconds.

2. Chronically dry eyes is caused by dry eye disease is are best treated with over the counter drops such as artificial tears.  A warm compress placed over they eyes can also be helpful.

3. Itchy as Hell eyes are a sign of allergies.  In the allergy section find drops with olopatidine which blocks the release of histamine.  

In terms of general advice for eye health, control blood pressure and blood sugar, blink more (especially if you have lots of screen time), carrots and leafy greens.  Tinted glasses are a mixed bag.  They won'y help eye strain but can help with migrains or brain injury.

Things to avoid are smoking, excessive sun, dirty contacts and "get the red out" drops.  These drops offer temporary relief but can create a vicious cycle.

Magazine Artivle Review: The New-ish Fight Over Flouride

The New-ish Fight Over Fluoride: What to Know about the Controversial Mineral in your Water and Toothpaste by Erica Sweeney and Marty Munson, Men's Health Magazine, Hearst Magazines International, January-February 2025 pp 18-19.

This is an argument in which I have a vested interest.  I was born and lived in an area with natural fluoride until I was six years old.  My older siblings swore it greatly improved their teeth and helped them avoid cavities.  I can't say the same for myself.  My sister passed away of esophogeal cancer tens years ago.  My brother and I have both been treated for skin cancer.  Is there a correlation?  Proba bly not with the skin cancers; we spent lots of time in the sun.  But with my sister maybe.  We also lived close to a nuclear energy site in Richland, Washington.

Anyway to the article.  About 75 percent of us get fluoride through their water supply.  It has been called toxic, Robert F. Kennedy calls it industrial waster that causes many health problems.  While dentists and public health advocates say it is important to your health.   Dentists first noticed that people who lived where fluoride was naturally occurring had less cavities.  Fluoride combines with our teeth to make them stronger.  Cavities and loss of teeth can be a big problem.  Fluoridated water reduces cavities by 25 percent.  Consequently there is less pain in teeth and less need for dental care which can be painful.  

There is worry the fluoride may cause problems in the body elsewhere.  However this does not pan out, except for possible decrease ingtelligence in children.  No significant difference for adults.  However there are holes in the research and more study is needed.  Health risks from fluoride may be at levels way beyond what is normally used.