Laura Stevens

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over seven million people in the US alone suffer from severe vision loss or blindness. In the past, low vision was truly a life-altering condition. Those seemingly everyday tasks that were once so simple instead became difficult--whether one had to work, cook, read, drive, go out to shop, or even turn on a light switch, one's world had been completely turned upside down. Today, however, things have begun to change. With the revolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) already underway, many of the major barriers caused by diminished or fully lost vision have been lessened or completely eliminated. In Low Vision Matters, authors Laura Stevens and Thomas Blackman provide a comprehensive guide to all the aids and equipment now available--along with important practical advice--to those who are vision-challenged. The book is divided into two parts. Part One focuses on the day-to-day activities that low vision can affect--from safety in your home or traveling outside, to the handling of finances or one's home entertainment system. It discusses the latest technologies that can enable a person with eyesight problems to turn on a light, start a dishwasher, or even answer a phone through the use of oral commands--and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Part Two then provides a breakdown of the various kinds of helpful vision-aid products now available. Because the authors understand the costs involved in purchasing such equipment, they include the names of those organizations and associations in an extensive Resources section along with various other crucial contacts about which those with low vision and their loved ones and caretakers need to know. Times have changed. Low Vision Matters provides a wealth of information that can vastly improve the daily life of a person living with vision loss or blindness.

No one is ever prepared for a stroke. It just happens, and when it does, the results can be life altering. From difficulties with communication to weakness, numbness, and cognitive difficulties, a stroke can have a wide range of consequences. For most people affected by a stroke, a flood of questions come afterward: How did this happen? What do we do next? What are our options? How long will recovery take? Am I at risk for another stroke? To answer these questions and so many others, stroke specialist Dr. Amytis Towfighi and best-selling health writer and stroke survivor Laura Stevens have written What You Must Know About Strokes. Written in plain English, this useful guide offers all the information stroke survivors and their loved ones need to know in order to ask the right questions and make informed decisions. The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 explains what a stroke is and which risk factors increase the odds of having a stroke. It also includes information on identifying the early signs of a stroke and what to do when they appear. Part 2 looks at the immediate care given to stroke survivors as they are brought into a hospital setting. Part 3 details the most common rehabilitation treatments given to stroke patients to help them regain their ability to carry out their daily activities, mobility, speech, and cognition. These include occupational, physical, and speech therapies. It also discusses a number of complementary and alternative treatments that may be helpful. Part 4 offers important suggestions on lifestyle and nutrition to help patients avoid another stroke. Part 5 provides a look at life after a stroke and the issues stroke survivors may face. It offers practical and easy-to-follow advice on moving forward. The book also offers a section of resources, listing services and agencies that provide answers and assistance to stroke patients and their families. The many challenges of dealing with a stroke are great--for patients as well as their loved ones. The road back is not always easy. Understanding what is happening and what treatment options are available is crucial. The information contained in this book can greatly benefit anyone dealing with the aftermath of a stroke and make all the difference in the world.

Age-related macular degeneration--AMD--is the most commonly diagnosed eye disorder in people over fifty. Well over two million Americans have been told they have AMD, and that number is expected to grow substantially. While this is a frightening statistic, over the last several years, medical researchers have shown that a number of effective treatments can slow, stop, and even reverse the progress of AMD. Now, best-selling authors Dr. Jeffrey Anshel and Laura Stevens, who herself has been diagnosed with this condition, have joined forces to produce an up-to-date guide to what you need to know to combat and even prevent AMD. The book is divided into four parts. Part One explains how the eye works and how AMD develops, in both its wet and its dry forms. It then looks at the most common risk factors and explains how each of these factors negatively affects the structures of the eye. In Part Two, the authors look at the specific nutrients that affect the various cells of the eye. Included is a discussion of AREDS--the National Eye Institute's study that showed which supplements help protect the eye from disease. Part Three offers an additional weapon against AMD. It explains why diet matters and offers advice on selecting foods that promote eye health while eliminating those that do the most damage. Part Four provides practical suggestions and easy-to-follow tips on how to incorporate this valuable information into your life. If AMD runs in your family or you have been diagnosed with this potentially life-altering condition, it is important to know that there is not only hope, but a real path to a better, healthier life. Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the more likely you are to avoid the consequences of AMD. Let What You Must Know About Age-Related Macular Degeneration help you safeguard one of your most precious gifts--eyesight.