{"id":237,"date":"2016-12-19T21:38:58","date_gmt":"2016-12-20T05:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/product-content01.castlighthealth.com\/?p=237"},"modified":"2019-11-07T23:41:08","modified_gmt":"2019-11-08T07:41:08","slug":"seeing-your-eye-doctor-keeps-your-heart-healthy-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/my.engage-wellbeing.com\/blog\/seeing-your-eye-doctor-keeps-your-heart-healthy-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeing your eye doctor keeps your heart healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"

A surprising clue to your blood pressure: it\u2019s in your eyes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whenever you visit the doctor, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ll be asked to roll up your sleeve to have your blood pressure checked. It\u2019s a simple and effective way to monitor cardiovascular health.<\/p>\n

But what you may not know is that there\u2019s another routine that can help doctors check your blood pressure. It's your annual eye exam. By viewing the blood vessels in the retinas of your eyes, your eye doctor can look for early signs of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.<\/p>\n

The importance of detecting \u201cthe silent disease\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Because many with this condition lack symptoms, high blood pressure has been called the \u201csilent disease.\u201d According to the American Heart Association, it affects 76.4 million adults in the United States.(1)<\/a><\/sup> Yet more than one in five people don\u2019t even know they have it.(2)<\/a><\/sup> Because high blood pressure can affect so many vital parts of the body, including the arteries, veins, heart, brain, and kidneys, early detection and treatment are especially important.<\/p>\n

How high blood pressure can affect your vision<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Blood vessels carry blood not only to and from your heart but also to your eyes. Due to their enormous demand for oxygen, tiny blood vessels above and below the eyes\u2019 retinas can be easily damaged by high blood pressure. During a comprehensive eye examination, your eye doctor checks for the many subtle changes high blood pressure causes to the retina. This condition is known as hypertensive retinopathy. Obstruction of the veins and arteries in the retina can be temporary or permanent.<\/p>\n

High blood pressure is also linked to choroidopathy, which occurs when fluid builds up under the retina. The most common symptom of choroidopathy is distorted vision.<\/p>\n

Optic neuropathy is another vision condition related to high blood pressure. It can be caused by blood flow blockage. The lack of blood supply can cause nerve damage resulting in the death of the receptor cells in the retina, creating vision loss and\/or blindness.<\/p>\n

Take care of your heart and your eyes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can help avoid risk factors that may affect heart health and vision.<\/p>\n