Did you know your eyes can give insights into your heart’s health? It’s true!

Our eyes are made up of blood vessels, nerves, and tissue, which can be hard to see most of the time. However, by looking at your eyes, your eye doctor has a unique opportunity to view these areas without relying on invasive procedures. In fact, an eye exam can help detect early signs of over 270 health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Heart disease is often called a “silent disease,” meaning there are no signs or symptoms until an event, such as a heart attack, occurs. Early detection is crucial in preventing an event such as a heart attack or stroke, making eye exams a key part of your wellness routine.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and can be used to refer to a variety of heart conditions, such as:

• Heart attacks: These occur when a clot or plaque build-up blocks blood flow in the heart.
• Stroke: A stroke happens when blood vessels that feed into the brain become blocked by a blood clot, cutting off blood supply to part of the brain.
• Heart failure: Refers to when the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should, meaning the body’s need for oxygen and blood aren’t being met.
• Arrhythmia: Occurs when a heart has an abnormal rhythm, such as beating too fast, too slow, or irregularly.
• Heart valve problems: These occur when your heart valves either don’t open enough to allow proper blood flow or don’t close enough to prevent blood flow.  

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease

Often, people don’t experience or notice signs of heart disease until something happens. Yet, early detection of heart disease is critical to preventing these events from occurring and keeping you healthy. That doesn’t mean there aren’t signs of heart disease to watch for, such as:

• Fluttering feelings (palpitations) in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Fatigue
• Swelling in your feet, legs, abdomen
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath

If you experience these symptoms, be sure to seek medical attention right away.

Heart Disease Risk Factors

While anyone could develop heart disease, certain things can increase your risk of developing a heart disease. You may be at increased risk of heart disease if you:

• Have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
• Smoke or drink alcohol excessively
• Are overweight or obese
• Eat an unhealthy diet
• Don’t get enough physical activity

How to Prevent Heart Disease

There are things you can do to help lower your risk of developing heart disease, such as:

• Eating well
• Being physically active
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Quitting smoking
• Managing your stress levels

Eye Exams and Your Heart Health

During your eye exam, your eye doctor will check for vision and eye health problems while also checking for signs of other health conditions, such as heart disease.

Did you know that the retina can show signs of stroke or indicate heart disease?

If your eye doctor notices marks on the retina while doing an exam, these can indicate heart disease, and your eye doctor will refer you to a medical doctor for additional treatment.

Prioritize Your Health

Eye care is healthcare. If it’s been a while since your last eye exam, find a VSP^® network doctor near you and schedule an appointment today.

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Article provided by VSP. Information received through VSP Vision Care channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.