Aging and Cardio-Vascular disease
With age the function of the heart is influenced mainly by the decrease in the elasticity and the ability to respond to changes in pressure of the artery system. Therefore the increase in the resistance to the pumping action of the heart increases the work needed to drive the blood to the various organs of the body.
Older people have an increased risk of getting Cardio vascular disease and are increasingly common with advancing age. As a person gets older, the heart undergoes physiologic changes, even in the absence of disease. The heart muscle of an older person may relax less completely between beats and as a result the pumping chambers become stiffer and may work less efficiently.
Cardiovascular disease is a term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels. Blood flow to the heart, the brain or body can be due to a blood clot (thrombosis) or the build-up of fatty deposits inside an artery leading to the artery hardening and narrowing (atherosclerosis).The four main types of Cardio vascular disease include * Coronary heart disease – This is when your conary arteries become narrowed by a gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls.The condition is called atherosclerosis and the fatty material is called atheroma.In time your arteries may become so narrow that they cannot deliver enough oxygen rich blood to your heart.The pain and discomfort when this happens is called angina.If a piece of fatty material breaks off it may cause a blood clot to form.If this blocks your coronary artery and cuts off the supply of oxygen rich blood to your heart muscle , the heart may become damaged this is a heart attack.
There are several risk factors for coronary heart diseases these include:
Smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, Diabetes, being overweight, family history, and age * Stroke- A stroke is