Cancer Brain Disorders Skin & Hair Weight Loss Orthopedics Diabetes Ear, Nose and Throat Nutrition Muscles & Bones
Edit Profile
Categories
header
Health & Wellbeing > Heart Conditions
Heart Conditions

Can an Eye Exam Predict Future Cardiovascular Problems?

Natalia J.
A+ A-
New research from the Hypertension journal maintains that your eyes may be the windows to your heart, quite literally. In fact, by simply looking at your eyes, the researchers can predict if you’ll be suffering from hypertension or have other cardiovascular problems years after. Scroll below to learn more about this research. 
Eye Exam Predicts Future Cardiovascular Problems blue eyes closeup
Heart disease and cardiovascular issues are on the rise, and there’s a lot we don’t know about it, still. One major issue is that of early diagnosis and prevention, with medical professionals still lacking the tools that could let them select the individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease, with many unexplained cases of heart attack and stroke slipping through the cracks each year.
In search of quick and non-invasive methods that could help predict cardiovascular issues, scientists turned to our eyes, which they believe may tell us more about our hearts than we’d expect. Previous research has established that retinal alterations in adults can predict hypertension in adults and even in children.

In fact, a Swiss pediatric study found that children as young as 6 years old exhibit changes in the blood supply to the eyes that points to the earliest signs of blood pressure alterations. These previous studies prompted a large scale project in the UK looking at retinal changes in 55,000 middle-aged and senior adults.

Eye Exam Predicts Future Cardiovascular Problems eye exam
To do so, 3.5 million images of the blood vessels in the eyes were taken and then analyzed. The study found that the smallest capillaries located in the back of the eye were affected by hypertension and artery stiffness. None of these changes affected the patients’ vision, but they were a reflection of the cardiovascular health of each patient.
Related Article: Hot Flashes Can Predict Heart Disease in Women
This way, just a quick look at a person’s eye may show a medical professional how likely the patient is to have a heart event or any other cardiovascular issue, making this eye exam a useful diagnostic tool. The next step in the study is to put the theory and observations to the test and see how well the recorded retinal changes will predict the likelihood of a heart event in the next 10 years.
Given that cardiovascular disease in one of the greatest health threats of the present, a retinal exam like this may soon become a useful tool for managing and preventing heart conditions and hypertension.
Send to friends Share WhatsApp
Receive the newest health updates directly to your mail inbox
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Found a mistake? | Report copyright infringement
You may also like
content Heart Conditions Taking a Daily Bath Can Benefit Your Cardiovascular Health Taking a Daily Bath Can Benefit Your Cardiovascular Health
content Immune Health Is Taking a Daily Aspirin a Good Idea? Is Taking a Daily Aspirin a Good Idea?
content Female Health Hot Flashes in Women Are More Serious Than You Might Think Hot Flashes in Women Are More Serious Than You Might Think
content Diabetes New FDA-Approved Medication Delays Type 1 Diabetes New FDA-Approved Medication Delays Type 1 Diabetes
content Heart Conditions How Much Coffee Is Good for Your Heart? How Much Coffee Is Good for Your Heart?
content Heart Conditions Forget Apples! It's an Egg a Day That Keeps the Doc Away... Forget Apples! It's an Egg a Day That Keeps the Doc Away...
content Heart Conditions You Can Maintain Heart Health With TEA, New Study Finds You Can Maintain Heart Health With TEA, New Study Finds
content Heart Conditions The 9 Most Intriguing Hypertension Studies of 2019 The 9 Most Intriguing Hypertension Studies of 2019
Related Topics: research , heart attack , prevention , test , hypertension , medical studies , cardiovascular disease , eye problems , examination
More in Heart Conditions
content Why Potassium Salt Is the Future of Healthy Eating Why Potassium Salt Is the Future of Healthy Eating
content Can an Eye Exam Predict Future Cardiovascular Problems? Can an Eye Exam Predict Future Cardiovascular Problems?
content Health Experts Say These Teas Can Help You Live Longer Health Experts Say These Teas Can Help You Live Longer
content Want to Prevent Dementia? This Workout Might Be the Answer Want to Prevent Dementia? This Workout Might Be the Answer
content Slash Heart Disease Risk by Eating This Type of Breakfast Slash Heart Disease Risk by Eating This Type of Breakfast
content This Underrated Fruit is Nature’s Answer to Pain Relief This Underrated Fruit is Nature’s Answer to Pain Relief
content Carbs and Sugar: Not as Similar as You Think They Are Carbs and Sugar: Not as Similar as You Think They Are
content Doctors Warn Against These Supposedly ‘Healthy’ Habits Doctors Warn Against These Supposedly ‘Healthy’ Habits
Receive the newest health updates directly to your mail inbox
Did you mean:
Continue With: Facebook Google
By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Cancer Brain Disorders Skin & Hair Weight Loss Orthopedics Sleep Problems Diabetes Pain Management Ear, Nose and Throat Autoimmune Diseases Nutrition Stomach & Digestion Heart Conditions General Health Mouth & Teeth Inner Organs Bacteria & Viruses Mental Health First Aid & Injuries Pediatrics Female Health Ageing Lungs & Breathing Men's Health Weight Loss Diets Eye Health Immune Health Kidney & Bladder Health Endocrine Health Liver Conditions Yoga Muscles & Bones
Contact us | Help | About us | Terms | Privacy policy | Archive | Advertise