Exercise and Macular DegenerationWhat does exercise and macular degeneration have to do with each other? We all know that cardiovascular exercise benefits the body’s overall health and increases the efficiency of the circulatory system - which helps with blood flow to the heart... and lungs and to other parts of the body... like the retina. In macular degeneration there is a problem with getting oxygen rich blood to the macula and removing built up waste.
Exercise Study and Macular DegenerationSo it is no surprise that researchers from the University of Wisconsin found those with an active lifestyle were 70% less likely to develop macular degeneration than those who did little or no exercise.The Wisconsin study that began in 1988, tracked almost 4,000 men and women (between the ages of 43-86) over a 15 year period by conducting regular eye tests and recording levels of exercise. After accounting for other risk factors such as age, sex, history of arthritis, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, and education, those with a baseline active lifestyle (walking three times or more a week), were 70% less likely to develop macular degeneration than those who did little exercise. The study is published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Why Exercise is Important if You have Macular DegenerationIf you do have macular degeneration you may have found yourself not being as active as you used to be. It does take more effort to exercise with macular degeneration as your sight diminishes.However, the benefits are worth it, such as:
√ Improved energy √ Improved balance √ Better sleep √ Stabilized insulin levels √ Improved mood
What Kind of Exercise is Best?But just like reading or writing, the more you just do it, the more confidence you will build.Always check with your physician before you start an exercise program. That said, here are some ideas to get you started: √ Walking (find a friend or neighbor to go with you) 
√ Exercycle (use it in a room where you can watch your favorite TV show)√ Water Aerobics - low impact and good for your joints √ Swimming - builds endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness. √ Weight lifting - join a local gym where a trainer can get you started Remember, better health leads to better vision. Leslie Degner, RN, BSN www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com
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