Heart to Cataract Connection

The aging eye disease cataract also increases the risk of heart diseases such as heart attack and stroke. According to the news of the American website Florida Times, this claim has been made in the study of the Center for Eye Research in Australia. On this research, US ophthalmologist Dr. Matthew Gorsky says, ‘There are many different types of medical conditions, such as high BP, diabetes or smoking, are associated with enlarged cataracts and these diseases are also associated with vascular death. which explains the relationship between them. Therefore, patients should keep their eyes checked from time to time. Especially if you are elderly or are suffering from some kind of disease. Cataract gives a signal of how healthy you are.

This study was done in Australia and it was led by a doctor from the Center for Eye Research Australia at the University of Melbourne. His team analyzed data from nearly 15,000 US patients aged 40 years and older between 1999 and 2008.

Of the 15,000 US patients, more than 2,000 (9.6%) said they had cataract surgery. In an average follow-up of approximately 11 years, approximately 4,000 (19%) participants died. After considering a variety of social, economic and health factors, the researchers found that the risk of dying from any cause was 13% higher and that those who had cataract surgery had a 36% higher risk of dying from heart disease.

The research team found that oxidative stress (an imbalance in the natural oxidative processes that affect cells) and depression may be common factors influencing the formation of cataracts and may also increase a person’s risk of dying from heart disease.

The study’s authors suggest that pre-existing DNA damage due to oxidative stress may contribute to cataract formation, as well as promote unhealthy narrowing of the arteries. According to the Australian team, people with glaucoma are more likely to develop depression after cataract surgery than people who do not have any eye complaints, and people with depression have a higher risk of heart disease. It happens.

If understood in simple language, the formation of patches like white patches on the eyes is called cataract. When this happens, the person sees everything blurry. Patients also have difficulty in walking, especially at night. If it is not treated on time, then the patient may lose sight permanently. This is a disease occurring in the elderly. If you consume cigarettes and alcohol in old age, then the risk of cataract increases even more. These are risk factors that increase the disease.