Question:
Why is the elderly at risk for heart disease?
The Elderly and Heart Disease Risk
Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death in people over 65 years of age. Approximately 85 percent of people who die from coronary artery disease are over the age of 65.
The most common type of heart disease in the elderly population is coronary artery disease.
It is believed that the elderly are at higher-risk for heart disease because of their age and the fact that there may have been accumulated heart damage throughout a person's lifetime.
For example, as a person grows older, his or her heart often changes. The muscles in an elderly persons heart may become less able to relax between beats. The end result of this is the chambers that pump the blood become stiff and do not work as well.
An elderly persons heart may not pump as well as it used to, which leads to the heart losing its effectiveness. These factors often leave an elderly person's heart more susceptible to diseases.
It is also believed that as a person ages so does the person's chances of developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure is often associated with heart failure, stroke, and heart attack.
It is important for the population, as it grows older, to have blood pressure checks regularly.
Heart Disease Frequently Asked Questions
Who is at risk for heart disease?
Why is the elderly at risk for heart disease?
Who is at more risk for heart disease? Men or women?
Why does heredity put a person at risk of heart disease?
Why are people of a certain race at risk for heart disease?
Why does smoking contribute to heart disease?
How does cholesterol contribute to heart disease?
How can high blood pressure contribute to heart disease?
How does body weight contribute to heart disease?
How can not exercising and eating poorly contribute to heart disease?
What is coronary artery disease?
What is congestive heart failure?
How many women will die of a heart attack this year alone?
How many men died of heart disease in 2002?
How many Hispanic men and African American men have heart disease?
What is the number one cause of death in African American and Hispanic females?
Which countries have the lowest rate of heart disease?
What should people eat for a heart healthy diet?
How much saturated fat should be in vegetable oil or margarine?
How much fiber should adults have daily?
How much sodium intake should a healthy adult have daily?
What are some recommended diet and recipe books for those with heart disease?
How can risk factor screening help prevent heart disease?
Aspirin can reduce your risk of heart disease by how much?
How can educating yourself help prevent heart disease?
What interventions should one take if they are determined to be high risk for heart disease?
What can one drink a day help do?
What are the risk factors for heart disease?
How can I prevent getting heart disease?
How many people have heart disease?
What is fiber's effect on heart disease risk?
What are nuts effect on cholesterol levels?
What is the diet for heart disease?
What is the waist-to-hip ratio?
When will my doctor recommend cholesterol medication?
What is the metabolic syndrome?
| Guru Spotlight |
| Lynne Christen |
