| High blood pressure can pose a serious health risk | | | | these vessels leak as the result of a micro |
| to your eyes. Hypertension typically hardens blood | | | | aneurism the pooling blood may cause the retina |
| vessels denying them the ability to flex and | | | | to swell creating distorted vision. Additionally, there |
| efficiently control the distribution of blood when | | | | may be some permanent scarring of the retina |
| the heart beats. | | | | as well. |
| Additionally, HBP encourages the development of | | | | - Optic Neuropathy: This deals with the vessel |
| plaque along the walls of the blood vessels. We | | | | that directly feeds the optic nerve. If the nerve is |
| usually think of these conditions occurring in the | | | | denied nutrients and oxygen as the result of a |
| arteries but the truth is it occurs in the entire | | | | blocked vessel, the cells will die and there will be a |
| vascular system to include the delicate vessels in | | | | loss of sight. |
| the eye. | | | | As more studies are completed, it becomes |
| If the vessels in the eye become blocked or leak, | | | | obvious that HBP is involved in causing or |
| nutrients and oxygen can not reach the cells in | | | | contributing to a vast array of ailments and that |
| sufficient amounts. Consequently, HBP or | | | | truly is unfortunate. Hypertension is totally |
| hypertension may cause one or more of the | | | | preventable, controllable and reversible with simple |
| following conditions: | | | | changes in diet exercise and stress management. |
| - Retinopathy: If the vessels leading to the eye | | | | However to make any effort to control it, you |
| leak, as in a micro aneurism, the fluids may cause | | | | have to first know that you have it. The |
| the optic nerve to swell leading to blurred vision or | | | | American Heart Association estimates that at |
| possible loss of sight in the eye. If a person has | | | | least 30 million Americans have the disease and |
| both Diabetes and high blood pressure the risks of | | | | don't know it. The lesson here is to get your |
| this occurring increases significantly. | | | | pressure checked frequently and take immediate |
| - Choroidopathy: There is a layer of blood vessels | | | | action if you discover it is elevated. Your eyes will |
| located just under the retina called the choroid. If | | | | thank you. |