High blood pressure can lead to hypertension, which is
known to cause a variety of debilitating side effects or symptoms in the life
of the patient. It can also lead to a number of related ailments which can
affect the various organs of the body. The eyes are one of the organs that
are most susceptible to this kind of spike in the body’s blood pressure. Let
us learn more about the connection between the two.
Retina: When
high blood pressure goes untreated for a prolonged period, it can easily start
to affect the blood vessels that can be found in the retina. The retina is the
third or the inner most layer of the eye which is sensitive towards light and
usually helps in refraction. This is where the light reaches so that one can
focus clearly on an image. When the blood pressure of the
patient stays high for a prolonged basis, there is significant pressure on the
blood vessels in this part of the eye which can lead to an eye disease known as
hypertensive retinopathy.
Symptoms: Symptoms of this eye disease include lack of
clarity and focus when the eye comes to rest on an object, as well as headache and
other vision problems that typically spring from eye strain that one will go
through while trying to focus even harder. It may be seen that the symptoms do
not appear in the very early stages of this disease.
Diagnosis: The
diagnosis of the condition is usually done by an ophthalmologist who will use
an ophthalmoscope in order to project light towards the specific part of the
eye so that the back of the eyeballs can be examined. The signs that the doctor
will look for during the examination include narrowing of the blood vessels in
this part of the eye, inflammation of the macula which is the central portion
of the retina, and bleeding in the back of the eye. Also, the doctor will check
for spots in the retina with the help of cotton swabs and exudates.
Treatment: The
best and only way of treating this condition is by keeping one’s blood pressure
in control with the help of medication prescribed by the doctor.
Prevention: There
are many ways of preventing the onset of this disease, including losing weight
so that there is less pressure on the body. Also, one must stick to a healthy
diet and exercise regularly after taking recommendations on the appropriate
exercises from the doctor. Additionally, it is also important to see a doctor
on a regular basis so that there is constant monitoring and regulation of the
medicines and the blood pressure.
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