January Health Observances

The month of January has important health observances and I want to talk abut two of them.

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, sponsored by Prevent Blindness America.

Glaucoma? Many of us know people who have had glaucoma without having a disability. It cannot be cured, but it is often manageable. There are several treatments including eye drops, oral medication, and surgery. My uncle had surgery and has enjoyed good sight for years now. So if there are treatments, why is an awareness month needed?

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness, and about half the people who have it do not know they do. Perhaps an article or ad will prompt someone experiencing vision problems to have it checked while it can still be treated. Because it is hereditary, people who have glaucoma must take an extra step and share the news with family -- the whole family -- but they do not talk about it. This is important.

Glaucoma is not just an old person's condition. Young people, children, aunts, nephews, and actually, all of us are susceptible to fluid build up that leads to glaucoma which may lead to blindness.

This one is of particular interest to me because my son was born with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), very simply, a hole in his heart. We were so lucky because his hole was small, his long-term outlook was good, and in fact his VSD self corrected over time. However, many newborns and their parents are not so lucky when the defect is severe and the prognosis is long-term.

There are many types and causes of defects that the March of Dimes works with all year round. The National Birth Defects Prevention Month, however, focuses on just one area each year. The focus for 2009 is “Obesity Prevention and Weight Management – Before, During, and After Pregnancy.”

The goal is to "give all babies a fighting chance"* and all parents a happy birthing experience.