Blood Pressure Readings

Macular Degeneration Risk Factors

Having high blood pressure increases your risk of developing macular degeneration.  Healthy pressure is needed to delivery oxygen and nutrients to your body, including your eyes as well as removing and clearing out toxins.

The Top 5 Risk Factors for AMD listed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology are:

• Being Over the Age of 60
  
• Having a family history of AMD
• Cigarette smoking
• Obesity
• Hypertension

David Boyer, M.D. the author of, Macular Degeneration: From Diagnosis to Treatment writes, "For people with uncontrolled hypertension (above 160/95), the risk (of developing macular degeneration) is three times greater than for people with normal blood pressure. Hypertension has also been linked with an increased risk for wet macular degeneration and a more rapid progression of this disease."

Blood Pressure Numbers

Your blood pressure numbers may be one of the most important health related numbers you need to know. At your doctor's visit be sure to ask for your blood pressure numbers and write them down.

Systolic blood pressure is the pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood. This is the top number.

Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats. This is your bottom number.

High blood pressure is a serious condition that by itself does not have symptoms. People can have high blood pressure for years and not know it. However, it may be your eye doctor who first discovers that you have hypertension. That's because an eye exam is the only non-invasive exam that allows a physician to actually view your blood vessels. The condition of the blood vessels in your eyes, reflects the condition of the blood vessels in the rest of your body.

Meanwhile, without a person even knowing it, this condition is causing damage to not only the blood vessels, but also to the heart, kidneys and yes, the eyes.

Knowing your blood pressure numbers is extremely important. Always ask the doctor or nurse what your blood pressure readings are, write them down, and if you need a reminder ask what your numbers mean. As of 2017 these are the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Blood Pressure Guidelines.

Normal is below: 120/less than 80

Prehypertension is: 120-129/less than 80

Stage 1 is: 130-139/80-89

Stage 2 is: 140 & above/90 & above

Blood pressure numbers are written with the systolic number above with the diastolic listed below, such as 120/80 mmHg. (The mmHg is millimeters of mercury—the units used to measure blood pressure.)

Causes of High Blood Pressure

There are certain factors that contribute to the development of high blood pressure. The causes of high blood pressure can include:

1) Obesity - As a persons body weight increases so does their blood pressure

2) Alcohol use - drinking more than one to two drinks of alcohol per day tends to raise blood pressure in those who are sensitive to alcohol

3) Lack of exercise - a lack of physical activity contributes to the development of obesity and high blood pressure.

4) Sensitivity to salt - those who are sensitive to sodium or salt will see their blood pressure go up if they use salt.

Reducing sodium intake tends to lower their blood pressure. Americans consume 10-15 times more sodium than they need. Fast foods and processed foods contain particularly high amounts of sodium.

5) Kidney Diseases can cause secondary hypertension. Meaning that the high blood pressure is caused by another condition.

6) Medications - birth control pills, amphetamines (stimulants), diet pills, and some pills used for cold and allergy symptoms, tend to raise blood pressure.

7) Eating Unhealthy Foods especially foods that have been fried or are high in sugar.

8) Adrenal Gland dysfunction or tumors. There are several disorders of the adrenal glands that can cause high blood pressure. The adrenal glands are two small organs that sit above the kidneys and produce several important hormones.

Talking Blood Pressure Monitor

Monitoring one's blood pressure at home is important to determine if your blood pressure medication is working or if you are in normal range.

Utilize a monitor that will tell you your numbers and/or has large easy to read numbers.  This one will keep a record of your last 99 measurements along with the date and time. 

The extra-large display will report your pulse rate, and your systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Talking Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Blood Pressure Cuff with Large Backlit LCD Display for Detecting Irregular Heartbeat-2 Users * 99 Memories, 2AAA Batteries and Carrying Case Included

How to Lower Blood Pressure

Do you want to know how to lower blood pressure to improve your health, including your eye health?  First, talk to your doctor about high blood pressure medication and what lifestyle changes you need to make to lower your numbers.

Never stop taking your blood pressure medication without your physician's supervision - doing so can put you at an increased risk of stroke.

As a registered nurse, I have seen many patients who have experienced strokes because they ran out of or stopped taking their blood pressure medication while still having high blood pressure.

There are many things you can do to lower your blood pressure if it is lifestyle related. They are:

1. Loose Weight

2. Exercise Regularly

3. Quit Smoking

4. Limit eating fast foods and processed foods

5. Take medications

6. Reduce Salt and Sodium Intake

Never reduce or take yourself off your blood pressure medication without the supervision of your physician. Doing so can increase your risk for a stroke.

You must be serious about making lifestyle changes and be committed to exercise, diet and lifestyle changes to help get your numbers healthy.

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