5 Ways Your Eyes May Be Warning You About Potential Health Problems

According to experts, the eyes can reveal a host of potential health problems. It is therefore wise to pay them closer attention.

See five seemingly harmless ways your eyes could be warning you about underlying health conditions:

1. DARK CIRCLES

Dark circles under the eyes, often called ‘panda eyes’ are one of the most common eye issues that women struggle with. Lack of sleep is perhaps the most obvious culprit. And we’ve all experienced the mad rush the morning after a late night, applying thick concealer to try and mask our exhaustion.

On average, sleep experts agree, seven or eight hours a night of good quality sleep is best – that should be enough to erase the dark circles. But, nutritionists warn, if sleep isn’t enough to help, it could indicate a series of other health issues.

‘There are two potential health causes: thyroid problems or anaemia,’ says nutritionist, Cassandra Barns.

‘If you’re confident that you’re getting enough sleep but are still feeling excessively tired, which can be a symptom of both these conditions, and the dark circles just won’t go, then see your doctor to get tested for both of these conditions.’

2. YELLOW WHITES OF THE EYES

As with many other eye symptoms, it is important to see your doctor if the whites of your eyes look yellow.

The symptom can be a sign of potentially fatal liver disease, and should not be ignored.

Ms Barns said: ‘This can potentially be due to conditions such as hepatitis, liver dysfunction, bile duct obstruction or jaundice.’

If you have seen your doctor and ruled out these causes, then most likely, it could be that your liver needs extra support.

According to Michela Vagnini, nutritionist at naturesplus.co.uk you can show your liver some love by following these simple steps:

• Cutting down on alcohol (or giving yourself a complete break for a month or two)
• Cutting out processed foods and vegetable oils, and reducing your intake of sugar and white flour
• Increasing your vegetable intake – they provide fibre to bind bile and toxins in the gut, as well as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support detoxification In particular, eating bitter greens such as rocket and watercress, and cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, kale and cauliflower
• Eating eggs, onions and garlic – they provide sulphur compounds that support liver detoxification pathways
• Taking a liver support supplements, that contain choline, which contributes to normal liver function, as well as milk thistle, artichoke, broccoli sprout concentrate, and a range of antioxidant-rich whole food extracts
• Drinking warm water with a squeeze of lemon juice first thing in the morning to cleanse your body from toxins

3. BLOODSHOT EYES  

If you’re experiencing red or bloodshot eyes it’s wise to see your doctor in the first instance.

‘Serious conditions like conjunctivitis, blepharitis, uveitis and glaucoma can all result in redness,’ warned Elouise Bauskis, a nutritionist at nutricentre.com. But, there are also other, less serious explanations often triggered by your daily life.

For most, working at a computer for at least eight hours a day is the norm. And as a result bloodshot eyes could be a sign of eye-strain.

We tend to blink less frequently in front of the screen – about one third as often as we usually do.

Ms Bauskis said: ‘Make sure you’re giving your eyes a break every now and then – at least for five to 10 minutes once an hour, and preferably looking away and into the distance every 15 minutes or so. If you’re experiencing eye-strain it can also be worth having an eye test to see if you need glasses or to have your prescription changed.’

The condition can also be caused by a weakening of the capillaries, a condition called capillary fragility.

4. DRY EYES

For many, the uncomfortable feeling of having sand in the eyes is a familiar one.

The gritty feeling could be a sign you’re suffering dry eye syndrome, Ms Burns said.

She said: ‘This gritty sensation may be caused by age, for example in post-menopausal women, taking certain medications, environmental factors as well as deficiency in vitamin A.’

So, how can we top up vitamin A levels?

Sharon Morey, a nutritionist at Quest Vitamins, says the best way is to eat a small serving of liver once or twice a week.

Another contributing factor to dry eyes may be lack of healthy fats in your diet, potentially because you need fats to actually absorb vitamin A from your foods, Ms Bauskis said.

‘Making sure you have enough good fats in your diet is essential – think coconut oil, avocados, olive oil and nuts and seeds,’ she said.

Lastly, another cause for dry eyes can be a condition called Sjögren’s syndrome.

‘This is an autoimmune condition that can affect many areas of the body but particularly the glands that produce saliva and tears. If you suffer from Sjögren’s syndrome then it is best to work with a nutritional practitioner or doctor who can work with you to tackle the underlying immune imbalance,’ said Ms Barns.

5. PUFFY EYES

As well as dark circles adorning your face, another sign you’ve not had enough shut eye, is the puffy, pillow-like cushions that appear like bags.

Many will have tried a cooling cucumber slice, or a teabag from the freezer to try and relieve the puffy look.

But, when that fails, it can be a sign that more serious health problems are to blame.

Ms Bauskis said: ‘Puffy eyes may be related to an imbalance between sodium and potassium in your diet – specifically, too much sodium, which means basically salt. Most processed foods tend to be high in added salt, providing high doses of sodium but very little potassium – these include breads, cereals, sauces, processed meats and snack foods. In contrast, vegetables contain much more potassium than sodium and better match the natural balance that we should be getting. So cutting down on processed foods, avoiding adding salt to your foods and increasing your fresh vegetable intake can help.’

In addition, puffy eyes can also be a sign that you’re kidneys require extra support.

‘Drinking enough water is the most important step here, to ensure you’re well hydrated,’ said Ms Vagnini.

‘Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which are diuretics and can make the problem worse.’

Source: DailyMail