“Sarcoidosis is an illness that causes tiny islands of inflammatory cells to form throughout the body. These microscopic groups of cells are called granulomas. They are especially common in the lungs, lymph nodes, skin, eyes, and liver. The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown.

Sometimes these granulomas cause very little damage, so a person with sarcoidosis does not have any symptoms of illness and may not even know they have it. In other cases, however, the granulomas produce large areas of inflammation and scarring that can interfere with an organ’s normal functions.”

Harvard Health (Sarcoidosis – Harvard Health)

Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DOE-SIS) is an inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of granulomas, tiny clumps of inflammatory cells, in one or more organs of the body. When the immune system goes into overdrive and too many of these clumps form, they can interfere with an organ’s structure and function. When left unchecked, chronic inflammation can lead to fibrosis, which is permanent thickening or scarring of organ tissue.

This disorder can affect almost any organ in the body, including the heart, skin, liver, kidneys, brain, sinuses, eyes, muscles, bones, and other areas. Sarcoidosis most commonly targets the lungs and the lymph nodes, which are an important part of the immune system. When it affects the lungs, it is called pulmonary sarcoidosis. Ninety percent or more of people diagnosed with the disease have lung involvement.

Doctors believe sarcoidosis results from the body’s immune system responding to an unknown substance, most likely something inhaled from the air.

Symptoms in general to people affected by this disease sarcoidosis:

For many people, sarcoidosis begins with these symptoms in general:

“The Cleveland Clinic states that cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures, with surgeons performing more than 3 million cataract surgeries in the United States, and 20 million globally, improving vision for 97 percent of patients. For those who have had cataract surgery recommended by their eye doctors,”

Prevent Blindness (Cataract Awareness Month 2024: Essential Eye Health Tips)

Medications that can cause Cataracts:

Certain medications are well-known causes of cataracts, and some drugs can also accelerate their development. Steroid medications – whether pills, injections, or eye drops – are most frequently associated with cataract formation. If you are taking steroid medications to manage a long-term condition, it is important to note any visual changes and to have your ocular health managed by a qualified ophthalmologist. The medications that can cause cataracts include:  Corticosteroids, Eye drops containing steroids, Glaucoma medications, Certain antipsychotics and antidepressants, Certain medications for autoimmune conditions, and Medication to control heart arrhythmia

Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts:

You may not have any symptoms at first, when cataracts are mild. But as cataracts grow, they can cause changes in your vision. For example, you may notice that:

• Your vision is cloudy or blurry
• Colors look faded
• You can’t see well at night
• Lamps, sunlight, or headlights seem too bright
• You see a halo around lights
• You see double (this sometimes goes away as the cataract gets bigger)
• You have to change the prescription for your glasses often

These symptoms can be a sign of other eye problems, too. Be sure to talk to your eye doctor if you have any of these problems.

HOW YOU CAN PREVENT CATARACTS:

Maintaining healthy eating habits can help to prevent cataracts in two ways. First, a good diet will control your weight, thus eliminating one of the significant risk factors. Second, increasing your antioxidant intake can also inhibit the oxidation process. In a 2013 Swedish, researchers observed 30,000 women over age 49, and found that those who consumed the highest amounts of antioxidants had a 13 percent lower chance of developing cataracts than those who consumed the least amounts.

To reduce your risk for cataracts, be sure to eat plenty of foods high in antioxidants.

TREATMENTS FOR CATARACTS:

“Did you know that cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide? Did you know that cataracts can be treated with cataract surgery, one of the most common elective procedures in the U.S.? Did you know cataract surgery and its ability to restore vision has been associated with significant improvements in quality of life?

Well, this Cataract Awareness Month, ASCRS, the largest specialty society in the U.S. dedicated to cataract surgery education and the needs of anterior segment surgeons with input from member ophthalmologist on what they want patients to know most, has put together materials to help patients and caregivers better understand cataracts and cataract surgery.”

American Society of Cataract and Refractory Surgery  (Cataract Awareness Month | ASCRS)

A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. Cataracts are very common as you get older. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts.

At first, you may not notice that you have a cataract. But over time, cataracts can make your vision blurry, hazy, or less colorful. You may have trouble reading or doing other everyday activities.

There are 3 types of Cataracts:

1-Nuclear cataracts, which form in the lens’ nucleus, are the most common type of cataracts. Because opacity develops in the center of the lens, known as the central nucleus, nuclear cataracts interfere with a person’s ability to see objects in the distance. Usually the result of advancing age, nuclear cataracts can take years to develop and often give the nucleus a yellow tint.

2=Cortical cataracts begin at the outer rim of the lens and gradually work toward the central core. Thus, this type of cataract resembles spokes of a wheel. Patients with cortical cataracts often notice problems with glare, or a “halo” effect around lights. They may also experience a disruption of both near and distance vision.

3-Subcapsular cataracts progress the most rapidly. While nuclear cataracts take years to develop, subcapsular cataracts reach an advanced stage within a matter of months. Posterior subcapsular cataracts affect the back of the lens, causing glare and blurriness. This type of cataract is usually seen in patients who suffer from diabetes, extreme nearsightedness or retinitus pigmentosa, as well as among those who take steroid medication.

Obesity is most commonly linked to the development of posterior subcapsular cataracts. According to researchers at Harvard University, individuals with a BMI of 33 had at least a 30 percent greater likelihood of developing cataracts, compared to subjects with a BMI of 23 or below.

**Congenital cataracts exist and refer to cataracts that are present from birth, as well as to those that develop in early childhood. These cataracts can be nuclear, cortical, or subcapsular. Congenital cataracts may be linked to an infection contracted by the mother during pregnancy or to a genetic condition such as Fabry disease, Alport syndrome, or galactosemia. Because clear vision is essential to the development of the child’s eyes and brain, it is important to diagnose congenital cataracts as early as possible.

Most cataracts form as a result of advancing age. Other possible causes of cataracts include environmental factors and certain medications, such as antidepressants. If your medical history or lifestyle increases your risk of developing cataracts, it is important to have your eye health monitored regularly by a qualified ophthalmologist.

Over 50 percent of Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts

RISK FACTORS:

1 Age

Age is the main reason cataracts form. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the eye disease appears in over 22 million Americans over the age of 40. Over 50 percent of Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts. In fact, if we live long enough, nearly all of us will eventually develop this condition. Because the lens of the eye cannot shed old cells naturally, protein that accumulates on the lens gradually builds up over time, progressively obscuring vision by preventing light from reaching the retina.

2 History of Cataracts in the family

3 Ultraviolet Radiation (UVA or UVB)

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially UVB rays, can cause changes in pigment that lead to the formation of cataracts. This is especially common in tropical climates, where high concentrations of UV exposure occur year-round. To protect the eyes from sun damage, it is important to wear sunglasses with a high level of UVA/UVB protection.

4 Trauma to the eye

Injury or trauma to the eye increases a patient’s risk of developing cataracts. Individuals who have experienced inflammation in the eye, either post-operatively or as the result of another eye disease, are also more likely to eventually develop cataracts. For instance, iritis is an ocular condition that causes chronic inflammation inside the eye, and is commonly linked to early and rapid cataract formation.

5 Have certain health problems, like diabetes

6 Smoking and Alcohol

Lifestyle habits such as smoking or consuming alcohol are often considered causes of cataracts.

7 Medications

Certain medications are well-known causes of cataracts, and some drugs can also accelerate their development. Steroid medications – whether pills, injections, or eye drops – are most frequently associated with cataract formation. If you are taking steroid medications to manage a long-term condition, it is important to note any visual changes and to have your ocular health managed by a qualified ophthalmologist.

Most cataracts are caused by normal changes in your eyes as you get older.

When you’re young, the lens in your eye is clear. Around age 40, the proteins in t he lens of your eye start to break down and clump together. This clump makes a cloudy area on your lens — or a cataract. Over time, the cataract gets more severe and clouds more of the lens.

“Peyronie’s is most likely caused by trauma to the penile area. The condition often develops over time due to inflammation flare-ups in the spongiosum area of the penis. This elastic area of the penis is made up of specific blood cells that fill with blood and expand when an erection is achieved. When these cells become covered with scar tissue from the inflammation, they cannot expand correctly causing a bend or curve to the penis along with a decrease in size/shrinkage.”

Pivotal Health Products-PH                                                                                                          (Peyronies Disease Google 2026-1 – Pivotal Health)

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex.

Having erection trouble from time to time isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems. Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease.

If you’re concerned about erectile dysfunction, talk to your doctor — even if you’re embarrassed. Sometimes, treating an underlying condition is enough to reverse erectile dysfunction. In other cases, medications or other direct treatments might be needed.

Symptoms

Erectile dysfunction symptoms might include persistent:

• Trouble getting an erection
• Trouble keeping an erection
• Reduced sexual desire

When to see a doctor

A family doctor is a good place to start when you have erectile problems. See your doctor if:

• You have concerns about your erections or you’re experiencing other sexual problems such as premature or delayed ejaculation
• You have diabetes, heart disease or another known health condition that might be linked to erectile dysfunction
• You have other symptoms along with erectile dysfunction

Causes

Male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem with any of these. Likewise, stress and mental health concerns can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.

Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological issues causes erectile dysfunction. For instance, a minor physical condition that slows your sexual response might cause anxiety about maintaining an erection. The resulting anxiety can lead to or worsen erectile dysfunction.

Physical causes of erectile dysfunction

In many cases, erectile dysfunction is caused by something physical. Common causes include:

• Heart disease
• Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Metabolic syndrome — a condition involving increased blood pressure, high insulin levels, body fat around the waist and high cholesterol
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Certain prescription medications
• Tobacco use
• Peyronie’s disease — development of scar tissue inside the penis
• Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse
• Sleep disorders
• Treatments for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate
• Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord

Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction

The brain plays a key role in triggering the series of physical events that cause an erection, starting with feelings of sexual excitement. A number of things can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. These include:

• Depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions
• Stress
• Relationship problems due to stress, poor communication or other concerns

Risk factors

As you get older, erections might take longer to develop and might not be as firm. You might need more direct touch to your penis to get and keep an erection.

Various risk factors can contribute to erectile dysfunction, including:

• Medical conditions, particularly diabetes or heart conditions
• Tobacco use, which restricts blood flow to veins and arteries, can — over time — cause chronic health conditions that lead to erectile dysfunction
• Being overweight, especially if you’re obese
• Certain medical treatments, such as prostate surgery or radiation treatment for cancer
• Injuries, particularly if they damage the nerves or arteries that control erections
• Medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines and medications to treat high blood pressure, pain or prostate conditions
• Psychological conditions, such as stress, anxiety or depression
• Drug and alcohol use, especially if you’re a long-term drug user or heavy drinker

Complications

Complications resulting from erectile dysfunction can include:

• An unsatisfactory sex life
• Stress or anxiety
• Embarrassment or low self-esteem
• Relationship problems
• The inability to get your partner pregnant

Prevention

The best way to prevent erectile dysfunction is to make healthy lifestyle choices and to manage any existing health conditions. For example:

• Work with your doctor to manage diabetes, heart disease or other chronic health conditions.
• See your doctor for regular checkups and medical screening tests.
• Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol, and don’t use illegal drugs.
• Exercise regularly.
• Take steps to reduce stress.
• Get help for anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns.

“Regarding high blood pressure and men by CDC:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (High Blood Pressure Facts | High Blood Pressure | CDC & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Men’s Health Facts – Search )

The times and the era we live in are those of uncertainty. The state of flux caused by economic upheavals and pandemic-related restrictions have added to our health woes, with the crazy chaosis going on with our government to not protesting but RIOTING being allowed on college campuses like now aiding to having hypertension in your life that you didn’t have before. People have been facing stress on all fronts. Job losses, health issues starting, family issues or even losses, etc.  Our government is not thinking of family (the US citizens but illegals?  Really!)   Stress can cause short-term spikes in blood pressure. It is your body doing FIGHT OR FLIGHT and your rotten diet living on fast food places or going 3 times a week as finally starting to impact you at a later age or now with the stress induced on it. 

Being under stress can cause your blood pressure to spike briefly. But researchers aren’t sure whether stress can cause blood pressure to rise long-term.

Experts do know that exercising 3 to 5 times a week for 30 minutes can lower stress. For people with high blood pressure, doing activities that help manage stress and improve health can help lower blood pressure.

We do know furthermore the following facts in how reactions to stress can affect the blood pressure:

The body releases a surge of hormones when under stress. These hormones cause the heart to beat faster and the blood vessels to narrow. These actions increase blood pressure for a time.

There’s no proof that stress by itself causes long-term high blood pressure. But reacting to stress in unhealthy ways can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Behaviors linked to higher blood pressure.  What we do know already is how diet can impact B/P due to bad diet behaviors in your choice in what to eat commonly which is the following:

• Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine.
• Eating unhealthy foods=Processed, restaurants/fast foods, bakery items, food delivery, pizzeria, deli meats.
• Eating too much.  Too much salt in your diet or caffeine or unhealthy foods.
• Not moving enough.

Heart disease also might be linked to certain health conditions related to stress, such as:

• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• Being cut off from friends and family.

Diabetes alot of times goes with heart disease, renal disease and others.  The best thing too do eat healthy, stay in your body mass index (therapeutic weight), some exercise everyday 30 mins or more & routine M.D. check ups.

There’s no proof that these conditions are directly linked to high blood pressure but it can impact it. Remember again when we are under stress we go through flight and flight (meaning we either deal with it or we don’t at all). But the hormones the body makes when under emotional stress might damage arteries. The artery damage might lead to heart disease. And symptoms of depression and anxiety might cause some people to forget to take medicines to control high blood pressure or other heart conditions.

Stress can cause a steep rise in blood pressure. But when stress goes away, blood pressure returns to what it was before the stress. However, short spikes in blood pressure can cause heart attacks or strokes and may also damage blood vessels, the heart and the kidneys over time. The damage is like the damage from long-term high blood pressure.

SO THE BIG QUESTION IS CAN ANYTHING BE DONE IN CONTROLLING STRESS? THE ANSWER IS YES!!!

Here are some ways to manage stress:

One way is simply adjust your schedule. If you have too much to do, look at your calendar and to-do lists. Ask others to do some things. Schedule less time for activities that aren’t important to you. Say no to things you don’t want to do.

Harvard Health Publishing/Harvard Medical School states the following in helping to reduce stress:

1. Get enough sleep. Inadequate or poor-quality sleep can negatively affect your mood, mental alertness, energy level, and physical health.
2. Learn relaxation techniques. Meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, deep breathing exercises, and yoga are powerful relaxation techniques and stress-busters.
3. Strengthen your social network. Connect with others by taking a class, joining an organization, or participating in a support group.
4. Hone your time-management skills. The more efficiently you can juggle work and family demands, the lower your stress level.
5. Try to resolve stressful situations if you can. Don’t let stressful situations fester. Hold family problem-solving sessions and use negotiation skills at home and at work.
6. Nurture yourself. Treat yourself to a massage. Truly savor an experience: for example, eat slowly and really focus on the taste and sensations of each bite. Take a walk or a nap, or listen to your favorite music.
7. Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your spouse, friends, and neighbors. If stress and anxiety persist, talk to your doctor.

Along with these ways to reduce stress, add in a healthy lifestyle — maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, regular exercise, and a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthful fats — and high blood pressure could be a thing of the past.

American Heart Association states the following in how to go about stress to lower it that decreases your B/P:

“1. You can’t control all the outside events in your life.

However, you can change how you handle them emotionally and psychologically. Try to learn to accept things you can’t change. You don’t have to solve all of life’s problems.

2. Think about problems under your control and make a plan to solve them.

You could talk to your boss about difficulties at work, talk with your neighbor if his dog bothers you or get help when you have too much to do.

3. Know your stress triggers.

Think ahead about what may upset you. Some things you can avoid. For example, spend less time with people who bother you or avoid driving in rush-hour traffic.

4. Reduce stress by taking care of your mood

Relaxing is important!  Even if you are busy, take 15 to 20 minutes a day to sit quietly, breathe deeply and think of a peaceful picture.

5. Spend time developing supportive and nurturing relationships.

We all need supportive and encouraging relationships. Invest yourself in developing relationships that build character and foster growth.

6. Give yourself the gift of a healthy lifestyle.

Engage in physical activity regularly. Do what you enjoy; walk, swim, ride a bike or jog to get your muscles going. Letting go of the tension in your body will help you feel better.

Limit alcohol, don’t overeat and don’t smoke.

Relaxing for short periods during your workday, at night and on weekends may help lower your blood pressure. Another great stress-buster is to get regular physical activity.

7. Reduce stress by practicing gratitude and joy

Change how you respond to difficult situations, focusing on the positive, not the negative. Expressing gratitude to others can also boost your level of feeling good about life and reduce stressful thoughts.

8. Know what brings you pleasure and find ways to enjoy the experience.

Perhaps you enjoy volunteer opportunities or cooking your favorite foods. By taking time not only to participate in these activities but to intentionally enjoy them, you can build a satisfying life rather than hurry through your “relaxing activities” at a stressful pace.

Reducing B/P by reducing bad foods in our diet the would cause vessel vasoconstriction or blockages in our vessels causing HTN, with reducing stress in out lives, practicing activities healthy in our lives like getting a 1/2 to 1 full hour of exercise a day, meditating a few times a week, loosing weight to therapeutic level will all help reduce your B/P or HTN.  It is all up to you in what moves you do to change your live to better your health and live a productive, happy and relaxing at frequency in your life!  Don’t be ill that stops you from doing things you enjoy and be healthy!

Revised 5/07/24