HUNTINGTON, NY -- Think macular degeneration only affects your eyes? Think again. A recent study shows that macular degeneration sufferers over the age of 75 double the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
This is serious news, as millions of people suffer from age related macular degeneration. Over 3,000 people over the age of 49 participated in the study conducted by the Centre for Vision Research in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney. Many of the study participants were re-examined five years later, and again 10 years later.
In the Washington Post article, "Age-Related Macular Degeneration Doubles Heart Attack and Stroke Risk", by Steven Reinberg, lead researcher Dr. Paul Mitchell explains the link between macular degeneration and heart problems.
"We found a positive long-term link between AMD and subsequent cardiovascular and stroke mortality in a population of older Australians. This was particularly increased for late-blinding cases," says Mitchell.
If having even twice the risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke is frightening, macular degeneration sufferers in the advanced stage of AMD actually have five times the risk for heart attacks and 10 times the risk for a stroke. However, researchers are actively seeking new macular degeneration treatment options.
The National Eye Institute conducted the Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) to discover whether large amounts of Anti-Oxidants and Zinc had an effect on slowing the progression of macular degeneration. They did - by up to 25%. VisiVite.com, a macular degeneration vitamins supplier, duplicated the ingredients used in AREDS in their Macular Degeneration Vitamins. The National Eye Institute is currently overseeing AREDS 2 to analyze if Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids also have an effect on combating AMD.
"Previous studies have shown that macular degeneration and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors, such is elevated cholesterol and increased C-reactive protein," says Dr. Paul Krawitz, a leading eye surgeon who presides on VisiVite.com's panel of ophthalmologists working to develop effective macular degeneration treatment formulas. "Based upon this current Australian study, more research will be needed to determine if taking steps to reduce cardiac risk also reduces macular degeneration progression. It will be interesting to see whether the National Eye Institute's AREDS 2 trial, which now includes Omega-3 essential fatty acids, demonstrates this benefit to both the heart and eyes."
About VisiVite.com:
VisiVite.com was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to providing customers with state of the art macular degeneration vitamins to lessen the risk of age related macular degeneration. Their products range from the VisiVite AREDS Formula and Macular Degeneration Vitamins to Dry Eye Relief Vitamins, and AMD Eye Multivitamins. For more information and up to the minute AMD news, visit VisiVite.com.
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VisiVite.com
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