| Macular degeneration is the leading cause of | | | | below: factorsMacular degeneration is age |
| blindness in | | | | related as noted above and the |
| | | | |
| the age 65 and over group in both the United | | | | older you are, the more at risk you are. |
| States and | | | | Race also factors |
| | | | |
| the United Kingdom. One in six Americans | | | | in here as it is more common in whites but |
| between the ages of | | | | does occur in |
| | | | |
| 55 and 64 will be affected which increases | | | | all races. It is more common in those who |
| to one in four | | | | are farsighted.Now for some risk factors over |
| | | | which we all have some |
| between the ages of 64 and 74. Over the age | | | | |
| of 75 one in | | | | control.SmokingHigh blood pressureVascular |
| | | | diseaseHigh intake of saturated fat and |
| three will be affected. Each year 1.2 | | | | cholesterolHigh blood cholesterol |
| million people of the | | | | levelExposure to |
| | | | sunlight*************SummaryTo lower your |
| estimated 12 million people with macular | | | | risk for macular degeneration:Stop |
| degeneration will | | | | smokingWork to decrease your blood pressure. |
| | | | Please see the last |
| have severe loss of central vision.What is | | | | |
| macular degenerationThe macular portion of | | | | two newsletters on blood pressure to see |
| the retina is where central vision | | | | what lifestyle |
| | | | |
| occurs. This is the vision that allows us | | | | changes you can make to help lower your |
| basically to | | | | blood pressure. |
| | | | |
| see. This portion of the retina is mostly | | | | If you would like to review these articles |
| populated | | | | they are both |
| | | | |
| with cone cells, which are the cells that | | | | posted on this site or visit Dr. Mericle's |
| allow us to | | | | blog (the link |
| | | | |
| read, write and generally see things when | | | | is in the resource box at the bottom of this |
| there is sufficient | | | | article).Always wear sunglasses with good UV |
| | | | protection when you are |
| light. The rod cells populate the rest of | | | | |
| the retina | | | | outside and always be careful to never look |
| | | | into direct |
| and are what we see with in darkness. The | | | | |
| cone portion | | | | sunlight.Dietary ModificationA low |
| | | | cholestrol, low fat and low or NO sugar diet |
| of the retina has one of the highest | | | | which is |
| metabolic rates of any | | | | |
| | | | high in green leafy vegetables and foods |
| group of cells in the body and like the | | | | that are high in |
| brain, needs a | | | | |
| | | | vitamins E and C and Lutien, which is an |
| constant supply of nutrients to maintain | | | | antioxidant found |
| good vision. | | | | |
| | | | in high quantities in spinach, kale and |
| Anything that compromises blood flow to | | | | other dark green |
| these cells can | | | | |
| | | | leafy vegetables, is recommended.The leading |
| cause loss of function of these cells ie | | | | causes of vascular diseases here in America |
| macular degeneration.SymptomsBecause the | | | | |
| brain is very good at filling in the visual | | | | are sugar ingestion (adult onset diabetes) |
| | | | and animal |
| picture, the early loss of function of the | | | | |
| macular cone cells | | | | protein ingestion (coronary artery disease |
| | | | and stroke).The MericleDietThe MericleDiet is |
| may go unnoticed. This means that in the | | | | the only diet today that meets or exceeds |
| early stages most | | | | |
| | | | these requirements. It makes the transition |
| people with macular degeneration don't know | | | | away from sugar |
| they have it. | | | | |
| | | | and animal products as easy as it can be and |
| By the time it is usually diagnosed, it can | | | | will supply |
| be very advanced | | | | |
| | | | your retina with all the dark leafy green |
| with considerable loss of visual acuity / | | | | vegetables and |
| central vision.TestingIf you are concerned | | | | |
| about macular degeneration a visit to | | | | energy from complex carbohydrates that it |
| | | | needs. It will |
| your local ophthalmologist might be in | | | | |
| order. Also, by visiting | | | | lower your risk of adult onset diabetes |
| | | | mellitus and the |
| the site below you can test yourself with | | | | |
| the Amsler grid. | | | | ongoing vascular destruction associated with |
| | | | diabetes and |
| This is a test used to determine if there is | | | | |
| any significant | | | | keep your larger arteries more healthy by |
| | | | keeping your |
| compromise in central vision. To do this | | | | |
| follow the link | | | | saturated fat and cholesterol levels |
| | | | low.Reference: you for your time. |