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Aging changes in the heart and blood vessels

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Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Taking your carotid pulse
Taking your carotid pulse
Circulation of blood through the heart
Circulation of blood through the heart
Radial pulse
Radial pulse
Normal heart anatomy (cut section)
Normal heart anatomy (cut section)
Effects of age on blood pressure
Effects of age on blood pressure

Alternative names    Return to top

Heart disease - aging; Atherosclerosis - aging

Information    Return to top

Some changes in the heart and blood vessels normally occur with age, but many others are modifiable factors that, if not treated, can lead to heart disease.

BACKGROUND

The heart has two sides. The right side pumps blood to the lungs to receive oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. The left side pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Blood flows out of the heart through arteries, which branch out and get smaller and smaller as they go into the tissues. In the tissues, they become tiny capillaries.

Capillaries are where the blood gives up oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, and receives carbon dioxide and wastes back from the tissues. Then, the vessels begin to collect together into larger and larger veins, which return blood to the heart.

Aging causes changes in the heart and in the blood vessels. Heart and blood vessel diseases are some of the most common disorders in the elderly.

AGING CHANGES

Heart

Blood vessels

Blood

EFFECT OF CHANGES

Under normal circumstances, the heart continues to adequately supply all parts of the body. However, an aging heart may be slightly less able to tolerate increased workloads, because changes reduce this extra pumping ability (reserve heart function).

Some of the things that can increase heart workload include illness, infections, emotional stress, injuries, extreme physical exertion, and certain medications.

COMMON PROBLEMS

Other problems with the heart and blood vessels include the following:

PREVENTION

You can help your circulatory system (heart and blood vessels). Heart disease risk factors that you have some control over include high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity, and smoking.

RELATED TOPICS

Update Date: 7/3/2004

Updated by: Jonathan Harding, MD, CPE, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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