A healthy lifestyle for cardiovascular health also promotes eye health

Philadelphia, August 20, 2020-New InvestigationResearchers have found that ideal cardiovascular health, which presents a healthy lifestyle, is associated with lower odds for eye diseases, especially diabetic retinopathy. These findings are American Journal of MedicineThe intervention presented by Elsevier to prevent cardiovascular disease suggests that it may also show promise in preventing eye disease.

Approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from eye disorders that can lead to visual impairment and blindness. About half of these cases should have been prevented. The main causes of visual impairment or blindness are age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma.

“Previous studies have observed an association between eye disorders and individual lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, and hypertension,” lead investigator Dr. Duke Apia, Texas Institute of Technology School of Public Health, Lubbock, Texas, Lubbock, Texas) explained. “It is known that these ideal cardiovascular health metrics do not work alone and can interact additively to cause disease. But prior to our study “No studies have comprehensively evaluated all ideal cardiovascular health metrics and their association with the eye.”

Most eye disorders show few symptoms in the early stages, and many may not seek medical attention despite readily available treatments. A recent online national survey of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States conducted by the Wilmar Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found 88% of 2,044 respondents and 47% of them were in overall health. I believe it is essential to. They rated losing their sight as the worst possible illness to them. Surprisingly, 25% had no knowledge of eye disease and its risk factors.

This study shows that a healthy lifestyle and behavioral habits all contribute to cardiovascular health, as assessed by adherence to the prescription of the American Heart Association’s health index known as Lifestyle Simple Seven (LS7). is showing. LS7 is based on the status of seven cardiovascular disease risk factors. Smoking cessation, regular physical activity, healthy eating, normal weight maintenance, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar control.

Practicing these healthy lifestyles together has been found to be associated with low odds for age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. People with optimal cardiovascular health had 97% lower odds of diabetic retinopathy than those with poor cardiovascular health.

The investigators evaluated data from 6,118 adults aged 40 and older who participated in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The average age of the participants was 57, and 53% were women. A 1-unit increase in LS7 score was associated with reduced odds of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

“Overall, we believe that primary prevention and early detection approaches to eye disease are important given that more than half of all deaths from eye and cardiovascular disease are known to be preventable. MPH, co-worker Noah De La Cruz, MPH, and Obade Chabane, MPH from the Department of Public Health at the Texas Institute of Technology Health Science Center in Lubbock, Texas, USA.

Because of the significant overlap between risk factors for eye and cardiovascular disease, the researchers recommended incorporating eye disease screening into existing clinical and population-based screening for cardiovascular disease.

“Our findings help promote healthy lifestyle adherence to prevent these age-related diseases, while increasing collaboration among cardiologists, optometrists, and ophthalmologists to improve cardiovascular outcomes.” We hope to better prevent the disease and eye diseases,” Appiah said. ..