The Link Between Blood Pressure and Your Eyesight
When you have high blood pressure, this increases the risk of several health problems. One aspect of your health that a lot of people do not realise is linked to their blood pressure is their eyesight. People may not realise they have high blood pressure . As your eyes have some of the smallest blood vessels in your body the effects of persistent high blood pressure can be seen early by an Optician’ If not kept under control high blood pressure can have serious complications for your eyes and vision .
Fortunately, there are many ways that you can manage your blood pressure to avoid any of the potential health risks associated with high blood pressure. This includes:
Weight management
People who are overweight or obese are more likely to have high blood pressure, so getting more active and doing regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage weight, along with a healthy, balanced diet.
Reduce caffeine
If you drink a lot of coffee, or other drinks that are high in caffeine, this could be causing you to have higher blood pressure. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others, but for many people, it can raise blood pressure by up to 10 mm HG.
Stress reduction
Having a lot of stress in your life is another issue that can contribute to high blood pressure. If you suffer from chronic stress, you should be looking at ways to change your lifestyle to rectify this. If your job is a major source of stress, then you should try and find ways to reduce your stress levels, whether that is changing your job, or talking to your manager or HR to get some support.
There are lots of activities that can help you to manage stress, such as meditation or spending more times outdoors. Studies also show that listening to music for 30 minutes a day can reduce your level of stress. Finding a hobby or activity that makes you feel calm, from cooking to reading a book can help you to better manage stress levels.
Reduce sodium
Foods that are high in sodium should be limited and you should also try to reduce the amount of salt that you add to your meals, as sodium and sodium chloride (salt) increase blood pressure in a lot of people. Processed foods tend to have a large amount of sodium, so you should always check food labels to see the sodium content.
Limit alcohol
While some studies show that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol can lower your blood pressure, drinking more than what is considered to be moderate amounts will cause your blood pressure to increase, so you should try to cut down your alcohol intake if you are drinking regularly.
Have regular blood pressure checks
It is a good idea to regularly monitor your blood pressure, especially if hypertension runs in your family or you have had high blood pressure in the past. You can visit your GP for a check of your blood pressure, or you can buy a monitor to use at home if you want to check more regularly.
If you follow these tips, you should be able to better manage your blood pressure and significantly reduce the chance of high blood pressure affecting your eyesight. It is also important to have regular eye checks, at least every two years.
Book your eye test with Harrold Opticians for a full eye health check.
