Interventions for Cushing S Disease and Glaucoma

Glaucoma is one of the health conditions that have generated significant attention in the health care sector because it is the second-leading cause of blindness. This disease is a major challenge because it progresses or develops without symptoms until it successfully damages the optic nerve. As a result, approximately 50% of people with this condition remain undiagnosed while nearly one in every ten people aged 80 years or more are affected by it (Parente, 2011).

Given its tendency to develop without symptoms until it becomes severe, glaucoma is a major health risk to every individual ranging from newborns to the elderly. While standard treatments exist, glaucoma can cause loss of vision or total blindness because of pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma, which is also known as increased intraocular pressure (IOP), is a condition attributable to insufficient drainage of aqueous humor from the eye's anterior chamber (Vera, 2013). The condition results in damage of the optic nerve of the eye, which becomes worse or severe over time.

As a result of increased pressure, glaucoma results the atrophy of the optic nerve which may progress to blindness if untreated. Since this condition tends to be inherited, it may not be detected until during later stages in life. Glaucoma is classified into two i.e. open-angle and close-angle or narrow angle. The most common type of this illness is recurring open-angle glaucoma, which accounts for 90% of the disease. Open-angle glaucoma tends to develop slowly and may affect both eyes while it's also associated with myopia and diabetes.

Given the lack of early warning signs, open-angle glaucoma can contribute to gradual loss of peripheral vision. On the contrary, close-angle or narrow angle glaucoma is less common and mostly linked to eye trauma, papillary dilation, and several inflammatory procedures following the installation of mydriatic drops. It is mostly manifested through sudden excruciating pain around or in the eye, ocular redness, and blurred vision. Interventions for Glaucoma Even though there is no cure for glaucoma, it can be prevented in cases where associated changes are detected early and properly treated.

However, there are several interventions that can be utilized to help in treatment of this condition including: The first intervention measure for glaucoma is eye drops, which are absorbed into the bloodstream and help control eye pressure. However, the effectiveness of this intervention requires counting drops and complying with schedule and/or doses (Vera, 2013). Medications are administered depending on the severity of the condition and because of the inadequacy of eye drops to effectively control increased intraocular pressure.

The most commonly used medications are pills, which help reduce the production of fluid in the eye or turn down the eye's faucet. Surgical procedures are utilized when medications fail to generate desired results or produce intolerable side effects. Some of the most commonly utilized surgical interventions include laser surgery, trabeculectomy, non-penetrating surgery, and drainage implant surgery. Drug therapy, which must be meticulously complied with, is utilized because it prevents increased intraocular pressure that generates disk changes.

Standardized extracts of bilberry and French maritime pine bark are natural interventions used in preventing this condition. These interventions reverse the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the disease (Parente, 2011). Cushing's Disease Cushing's disease is a serious health condition brought by excess of the steroid hormone cortisol in the blood level. The excessiveness of this steroid hormone is caused by a pituitary tumor that produces adrenocorticotropic hormone (UCLA Health, n.d.).

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACH) is a hormone that is generated by the ordinary pituitary gland and arouses adrenal glands to create cortisol, which are known as stress hormone. The adrenal glands, which are stimulated by ACH, are situated on top of the kidneys. While this disease is rare, it currently affects between 10 and 15 million people annually and occurs among individuals aged between 20 and 50 years. Women are the most commonly affected individuals since they account for 70% of cases relating to Cushing's disease.

Most of the patients suffering from Cushing's disease tend to have small tumors, which are also known as pituitary microadenomas. According to Wisse (2013), Cushing's disease is a health condition caused by a tumor or excessive growth of pituitary gland, which is also known as hyperplasia. The most common source or cause of this condition is adenoma, which is a kind of pituitary gland that is located at the base of the brain. Cortisol (the stress hormone) that is usually produced and released by ACH is normally released during stressful conditions.

This hormone controls how the human body utilizes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Moreover, cortisol helps in lessening the response of the immune system to inflammation or swelling. The most common symptoms of Cushing's disease include slow growth rate in children, upper body obesity, and round, red, full face (Wisse, 2013). The condition also generates skin changes like thin skin, purple marks, skin infections and ACNE as well as muscle and bone changes like bone tenderness or pain, weak muscles, and backache.

Male patients tend to have decreased desire for sex or impotence while females have irregular menstrual cycles. Interventions for Cushing's Disease The Cushing's disease is treated through various interventions following tests that are carried out to determine whether the body has excess cortisol and the level of ACH in the blood. Given the difficulties in diagnosing the condition, the diagnosis is usually delayed and may contribute to the disease's severity.

Some of the most common interventions for Cushing's disease include: Surgery: Surgical procedures are carried out to remove the pituitary adenoma and tend to be long-term cure for the condition. These procedures are carried out by health professionals like pituitary.