How does cardiovascular disease affect the elderly?

Adults with the age of 65 and more are likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, heart attack, a stroke, or to develop coronary heart disease (commonly called heart disease) and heart failure than younger people. This disease is the problem with the heart, blood vessels or both. Aging cause changes in the blood vessels and heart, which may increase a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Usually a major cause of heart disease is the build-up of fatty deposits in the walls of arteries over many years. However there are the things you can do to reverse or avoid your risk to delay or lower.

Arteriosclerosis is the most commonly seen change in elderly, which increases the stiffness of the large arteries. In the process of aging another common causes are hypertension or high blood pressure. Other risk factors and High blood pressure including advancing age increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis. But, as it is not a normal part of aging, there are several risk factors that can be modified. Fatty deposits like plaque build-up inside the walls of arteries which narrows and hardens your arteries where it gets difficult for the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the organs and other parts of the body. Blood nutrients and oxygen are supplied to the heart muscle, through the coronary arteries.

When plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, heart disease develops, which reduces the blood flow to the heart muscle. Gradually heart muscle becomes weakened or damaged, which results in heart failure. Heart damage can be caused by diabetes, long-standing hypertension, heart attacks and chronic heavy alcohol use. Some signs of heart disease are: Shortness of breath when active, at rest, or while lying flat, Dizziness, Headaches, Nausea/vomiting, Confusion, Reduced ability to exercise or be physically active, Cold sweats, Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, stomach, and/or neck, Chest pain during physical activity that gets better when you rest, Pain, numbness, and/or tingling in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back, Problems doing your normal activities, Tiredness or fatigue, Light headedness. Prevention of cardiovascular disease is follow a heart-healthy diet, Keep your diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol under control, Keep a healthy weight and If you smoke, quit.