Mainly the loss of elasticity in the walls of veins and arteries, the accumulation of fat deposits, the loss of muscular tone and speed of reaction of the heart among other. However, the right diet and exercise may diminish and delay most effects
The cardiovascular system is a term that describes your heart and its associated blood vessels--or circulatory system--which collectively pump oxygen-rich blood to your body and retrieve oxygen-depleted blood for replenishment in your lungs. As you age, normal changes in your cardiovascular system tend to reduce blood flow in your body. However, the extent of these changes can vary considerably, and you may be able to diminish some changes through regular exercise.
Symptoms and signs may mimic those of almost any form of heart disease. Chest pain is common. Mild myocarditis or cardiomyopathy is frequently asymptomatic; severe cases are associated with heart failure, arrhythmias, and systemic embolization. Manifestations of the underlying disease may be prominent. Most patients with biopsy-proven myocarditis report a recent viral prodrome preceding cardiovascular symptoms.
EKG abnormalities are often present, although the changes are frequently nonspecific. A pattern characteristic of left ventricular hypertrophy may be present. Flat or inverted T waves are most common, often with low-voltage QRS complexes. Intraventricular conduction defects and bundle branch block, especially left bundle branch block, are also common. An echocardiogram is useful to detect wall motion abnormalities or a pericardial effusion. Chest radiographs can be normal or can show evidence of congestive heart failure with pulmonary edema or cardiomegaly
Heart disease - aging; Atherosclerosis - aging
InformationSome 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
ReferencesSchwartz JB, Zipes DP. Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa; Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 75.
Heart disease - aging; Atherosclerosis - aging
InformationSome changes in the heart and blood vessels normally occur with age, but many other changes that are common with aging are due to 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 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:
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
ReferencesMinaker KL. Common clinical sequelae of aging. In: Goldman L, Ausielo D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 23.
Schwartz JB, Zipes DP. Cardiovascular disease in the elderly. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa; Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 75.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 08/15/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
changes in diastolic funtion during exercise.
They get bigger and cooler.
because it does. just face is your blood will change Some changes is start from the heart and blood vessels normally occur with age, but many other changes that are common with aging are due to modifiable factors that, if not treated, can lead to heart disease
The heart blood and the vessels are in your body and everyone has them including you too.
Heart-your heart is to pump blood into the blood vessels.Blood vessels-the blood vessels are used to carry bloodBlood- blood carry nutrients to your whole body.
The heart and the blood vessels of the body.
Veins are blood vessels that direct blood toward the heart.
Veins are blood vessels that direct blood toward the heart.
The five main parts are the arteries, capillaries, veins, heart and most people don't count blood but blood is also one!
The heart blood and the vessels are in your body and everyone has them including you too.
The ventricles is the lower heart chambers not the blood vessels that direct blood toward the heart.
The vessels carrying blood Away from the heart are the Arteries, while the veins return blood to the heart.
The vessels that carry blood to the heart of the blood vessels called veins. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the various body tissues.
The vessels that carry blood to the heart of the blood vessels called veins. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the various body tissues.