Macular Degeneration and Heart Disease

Did you know that macular degeneration and cardiovascular disease share many of the same risk factors? Risk factors like smoking, obesity and high cholesterol all play a role in both of these conditions as does inflammation and oxidation.

Macular Degeneration Risk Factors

The results showed that current smokers had a 1.9-fold increased risk of AMD while past smokers had about a 1.7-fold increased risk.

Smoking is not only associated with vision loss due to AMD but also with cataracts and optic nerve damage. Poor circulation results from oxidative damage to the cells and reduces the amount of nutrients that can be delivered to the eyes and especially the macula. Most health professionals agree that the single most modifiable risk factor for AMD is to quit smoking.

Of course there are other risk factors that contribute to this retinal condition - some we can control and others we can't. Find out if there is something you can do to prevent AMD in your eyes: Risk Factors for Macular Degeneration

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Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Better Health for Better Vision