Healthy eyes

Vision is important to quality of life. Here are some resources to help you make eyesight a priority, take care of your eyes, and retain visual health.

National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health has these tips to protect your vision.

• Eat lots of leafy green vegetables and fish
• Exercise
• Control blood pressure
• Wear sunglasses and a hat with a brim
• Don't smoke
• Use protective eyewear as necessary

Books we have for you to check out include:

• Reader's digest guide to eye care: common vision problems, from dry eye to macular degeneration by Jennifer S. Weizer and Joshua D. Stein
• Fact and fiction of healthy vision: eye care for adults and children by Clyde K. Kitchen
• The big book of family eye care by Joe Di Girolamo
• Eye care sourcebook edited by Sandra J. Judd
• Taking care of your eyes: a collection of the patient education handouts used by America's leading eye doctors by Melvin L. Rubin & Lawrence A. Winograd

Click over to the SLPL catalog to search for more books on eye health, or use your SLPL card to access Consumer Health Complete, a database full of reliable information you can access from anywhere.

Problematic pollen

Seasonal allergies are a very common condition that can make being outside less fun.  The immune system sees pollen and mold as invaders, and tries to protect the body by producing antibodies to fight them off.  This overreaction results in the sneezing, itching, and congestion that affect your quality of life, and maybe even work/school performance.

Pollen levels are higher in the morning, so scheduling your outdoor activities in the evening could help.  Knowing what the pollen counts are could help you avoid allergens too.

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology has a map where you can see what the pollen and mold levels are in your area.  Today's report for St. Louis says that mold is high, tree pollen is very high, and pollen from both weeds and grasses is low.  For more details, including which species are contributing the most, you can create a free account.  Today's top culprits are mulberry, oak, and ash.

Celebrate National Library Week with Laughter Yoga and Exercise

Next week is National Library Week, and what better way to celebrate than by attending an event in the Healthy Living series put together by the St. Louis Public Library.  There are two options (go to both or either), both at the Library's Buder Branch:

• Tuesday April 14 at 6:30 p.m.
•  Marlene Chertok, founder of the St. Louis Laughter Club, and a Registered Nurse and certified laughter yoga leader, will lead Laughter Yoga – Laugh for the Health of it!  Developed by a physician from Mumbai, India, laughter yoga will help you to stay in high spirits when life throws you challenges. It will enhance your ability to laugh and smile when dealing with negative emotions, situations, and negative or difficult people. Instructor. This session is open to people of all ages and abilities and to anyone who wants to laugh!


• Thursday April 16 at 6:30 p.m. 
• OASIS will provide a free beginners exercise class to teach about the benefits of exercise and how to improve functional fitness.  Participants will learn basic exercises that are not only safe and effective, but energizing and fun! This is a low impact exercise program.