A recent New York Times article examines the impact of exercise on the retinal integrity of the eye. Yes, the study was conducted on mice, and yes, the lucky ones were forced to run at a mice pace on a tiny treadmill! The more misfortunate group was confined to a dim cage with no opportunity for exercise. And the results show (tada!) that the moving mice had far less retinal deterioration than those that were sedentary. So how does that impact the human population as we continue our lifespanning journey? One thing to consider is that age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the #1 cause of blindness for those over 60 in the developed world. ARMD is a progressive disease of the retina, leading to central vision loss. Currently, more than 11 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with macular degeneration and face varying degrees of disability and impaired quality of life due to vision impairment. Risk factors include family history, hypertension, high fat intake, hypercholesteremia, advanced age and smoking. And women have a higher incidence of the disorder than do men.
Would you be surprised to hear that loss of vision ranks # 1 when Americans were asked which situation they feared most? As reported by Lighthouse International, a non-profit dedicated to combating vision loss, this fear can be reduced by having a yearly comprehensive eye exam and adopting healthy wellness behaviors, including proper weight, healthy levels of blood pressure and blood lipids, and yes, EXERCISE!!! If you need one more reason to commit yourself to a fitness and wellness regimen, this may be the motivational message for you! And if you need assistance to put together a program due to residual functional limitations of injury or illness, EnCORE Fitness & Wellness is here to help!
Check out the New York Times Article here:http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/exercising-for-eye-health/?_php=true&_&ref=health&_r=0
Would you be surprised to hear that loss of vision ranks # 1 when Americans were asked which situation they feared most? As reported by Lighthouse International, a non-profit dedicated to combating vision loss, this fear can be reduced by having a yearly comprehensive eye exam and adopting healthy wellness behaviors, including proper weight, healthy levels of blood pressure and blood lipids, and yes, EXERCISE!!! If you need one more reason to commit yourself to a fitness and wellness regimen, this may be the motivational message for you! And if you need assistance to put together a program due to residual functional limitations of injury or illness, EnCORE Fitness & Wellness is here to help!
Check out the New York Times Article here:http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/exercising-for-eye-health/?_php=true&_&ref=health&_r=0