Are you at risk for a stroke? The answer could be in your eyes.


Doctors may soon be able to determine risk just by peeking at the layer of light-sensitive cells in the back of your eyeball, also known as the retina. A new study in the journal Hypertension[1] shows an association between hypertensive retinopathy[2] -- a condition caused by high blood pressure, where the retina becomes damaged -- and stroke risk.


That's because "the retina provides information on the status of blood vessels in the brain[3] ," study researcher Mohammad Kamran Ikram, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Singapore Eye Research Institute at the National University of Singapore, said in a statement. "Retinal imaging is a non-invasive and cheap way of examining the blood vessels of the retina."


Researchers analyzed first-time strokes that occurred over a 13-year period among 2,907 people with high blood pressure. At the beginning of the study, all the participants had photographs taken of their retinas so that researchers could see if they had hypertensive retinopathy.


At the end of the study period, 146 of the participants had experienced a blood-clot-related stroke, while 15 experienced a brain-bleed-related stroke.


After accounting for other known risk factors, researchers found that people who had mild hypertensive retinopathy had a 35 percent higher risk for stroke, and people with moderate or severe hypertensive retinopathy had a 137 percent higher risk for stroke. Plus, even people who were on blood pressure medication and had good control of their condition had a higher risk for blood clot if they had hypertensive retinopathy.


However, researchers cautioned that it's too soon to actually employe retinal imaging to determine a person's stroke risk. But still, this isn't the first time it's been suggested that the eyes could give clues to a person's stroke risk. A small study published in the journal Ophthalmology last year showed that using ocular pulse amplitude [4] -- a test that can be completed during a visit to the ophthalmologist -- can help to detect the stroke risk factor carotid artery stenosis.



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  • Avoid Drugs Known To Raise Blood Pressure


    "Hypertension is by far the most potent risk factor for stroke, caus[ing] a two-to four-fold increase in the risk of stroke before age 80," according to <a href="http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/preventing_stroke.htm#Treatable Risk Factors">National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke</a>. Unfortunately, regular usage of drugs like Acetaminophen (tylenol), and <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-pressure/MY00256">anti-depressants</a> like Venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor XR), Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL), Desipramine (Norpramin) and Phenelzine (Nardil), can increase one's risk of hypertension.




  • Eat More Potassium


    Last year a study published in the journal "<a href="http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/early/2011/07/28/STROKEAHA.111.622142">Stroke</a>," indicated that a potassium rich diet is associated with lower stroke risk. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure, counteract the effects of sodium, and maintains your body's fluid balance. Potassium rich foods include white beans, spinach, potatoes, apricots, banana and avocados.




  • Limit Your Caffeine Intake


    Drinking a large amount of caffeine temporarily raises your blood pressure by blocking a "hormone that keeps your blood vessels widened, allowing blood to easily flow through them," according to the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-pressure/MY00256">Mayo Clinic</a>. While there isn't sufficient evidence to prove that caffeine increases your risk of stroke long-term, doctors recommend limiting your daily caffeine in take to the equivalent of two, <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-pressure/MY00256">12-ounce cups of coffee</a>.




  • Quit Smoking


    Cigarette smoking has been linked to the build-up of fatty substances "in the carotid artery, the main neck artery supplying blood to the brain," according to the <a href="http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/preventing_stroke.htm#Treatable Risk Factors">National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke</a>. The blocking of this artery is the leading cause of stroke among Americans.




  • Avoid Foods That Are High In Cholesterol


    High cholesterol causes the build up of plaque in your arteries, blocking blood flow to the brain, according to the <a href="http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cholesterol">National Stroke Association</a>. Foods high in cholesterol include egg yolk, fatty meats, butter and cream.




  • Exercise Regularly


    Exercising regularly reduces your risk of obesity, diabetes and hypertension - conditions that are all associated with stroke risk.