Out and About June 2022 -issue198
Welcome to the June 2022 edition Out and About Magazine Costa Blanca the weather is now in the 30's and summer is here! Enjoy reading our articles and finding out more about what is going on in Costa Blanca. You can find the handy A5 printed version of Out and About magazine, at local bars, cafes, shops, and restaurants which you can keep with you when you out for a walk or sitting on the beach.
Welcome to the June 2022 edition Out and About Magazine Costa Blanca the weather is now in the 30's and summer is here! Enjoy reading our articles and finding out more about what is going on in Costa Blanca. You can find the handy A5 printed version of Out and About magazine, at local bars, cafes, shops, and restaurants which you can keep with you when you out for a walk or sitting on the beach.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
12 | OUT AND ABOUT COSTA BLANCA<br />
Chronically high blood pressure, or<br />
hypertension, can hurt your eyes <strong>and</strong><br />
vision if it leads to:<br />
• Damaged retinal blood vessels,<br />
called retinopathy<br />
• Fluid accumulation<br />
beneath the retina,<br />
called choroidopathy<br />
• Nerve damage,<br />
called optic<br />
neuropathy<br />
These issues can<br />
cause blurry vision,<br />
bleeding in the eyes<br />
<strong>and</strong> even sight loss.<br />
Hypertension<br />
is also linked to<br />
cataracts, high<br />
intraocular pressure,<br />
age-related macular<br />
degeneration <strong>and</strong> diabetic<br />
eye complications.<br />
If your eye doctor observes signs<br />
of hypertension during an eye exam, they will<br />
recommend that you see your primary care<br />
doctor for assessment. In addition to its effects<br />
on the eyes, untreated high blood pressure<br />
can have fatal consequences, including stroke,<br />
heart attack, kidney failure <strong>and</strong> dementia.<br />
What is hypertension?<br />
Hypertension, or high blood pressure,<br />
occurs when the force of the blood flowing<br />
through the body’s blood vessels is chronically<br />
too high. This makes the arteries in the body:<br />
less elastic, leaky, <strong>and</strong> narrower<br />
Hereditary <strong>and</strong> lifestyle factors both<br />
contribute to elevated blood pressure. Risk<br />
factors for hypertension include: Eating a<br />
high-salt diet, Obesity or extra weight in the<br />
middle of the midsection; alcohol or tobacco<br />
use; family history of hypertension <strong>and</strong> high<br />
stress levels.<br />
How does hypertension<br />
affect the eyes?<br />
DR. M. ISABEL SIGNES-SOLER<br />
Symptoms of high blood pressure can occur<br />
years after it has begun to damage the body.<br />
This is why it is important to have<br />
routine physical exams <strong>and</strong> eye<br />
exams to monitor your health<br />
<strong>and</strong> check for signs of<br />
hypertension <strong>and</strong> other<br />
serious conditions.<br />
How do I maintain<br />
healthy blood<br />
pressure?<br />
In addition to<br />
following the<br />
recommendations<br />
of your primary care<br />
provider, there are<br />
many lifestyle choices<br />
that can help you<br />
maintain healthy blood<br />
pressure:<br />
• Reduce your intake of salt – A<br />
high-salt diet contributes to high<br />
blood pressure.<br />
• Eat a nutritious diet – Eat meals that<br />
are composed of whole foods such as<br />
vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes <strong>and</strong> other<br />
lean proteins.<br />
• Exercise – Studies show that exercising 150<br />
minutes a week greatly improves overall<br />
Dra. Maria Isabel Signes-Soler, PhD, FAAO • Tel: 965832080
Change language