Dry Weather May Increase Eye Problems

Parts of the United States are experiencing cooler and dryer weather -- and the eye irritation that often accompanies it, says an expert.

"The tear film bathing the cornea and outer eye evaporates faster in dry conditions, which causes burning, tearing, redness and discomfort," said Adam Gordon, associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. "This also makes eyes more susceptible to allergies, since environmental allergens are not washed out effectively."

In addition to the outside air, enclosed spaces with dry heat, such as shopping malls, tend to aggravate dry, sensitive eyes.

Artificial tears can provide temporary relief, but if symptoms persist, switching from contacts to glasses, administering prescription eye drops and blocking tear ducts may be necessary, according to Gordon.

Psoriasis Linked To Heart Trouble

People with psoriasis had heart attacks more than twice as often as people of the same gender and age according to a U.S. study.

"The fact that people with psoriasis exhibit this increased risk for heart disease offers additional proof that psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease rather than just a skin disorder," said study leader Dr. Sherine Gabriel, a Mayo Clinic epidemiologist.

The researchers say they hope that the preliminary results may yield additional clues about the mechanisms that contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Gabriel emphasizes the need for psoriasis patients to monitor their cardiovascular health at an earlier age and to take measures to lessen their risks for heart attack, heart failure and other cardiovascular problems.

The Mayo Clinic researchers are scheduled to present the study data at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.

MRI Of Back Pain May Not Be Helpful

Patients with a new episode of vexing back pain should not expect magnetic resonance imaging to provide a diagnostic explanation, say U.S. researchers.

Development of serious lower back pain is rarely marked by corresponding new and relevant structural changes, according to a study by Dr. Eugene Carragee and colleagues at Stanford University and the University of Hawaii.

The researchers took MR images of 200 patients who had a lifetime history of no significant back problems but risk factors for future low back pain, and followed them for five years.

Only two of 51 patients, or 4 percent, who developed serious low back pain had clinically significant MRI changes, suggesting that the cause of the pain is rarely structural.

"Common degenerative findings are often interpreted as recent developments and the probable anatomic cause of new symptoms," said Carragee. "Findings on MR imaging within 12 weeks of serious low back pain inception are highly unlikely to represent new structural changes."

The findings were presented at the 21st annual meeting of the North American Spine Society in Seattle.