Impacts of Aging on Cardiac Health

Posted by Codrin S Arsene on February 6th, 2019

As you age, it’s only natural for some changes in your blood vessels and heart to occur. Most of these changes associated with aging are partly caused by lifestyle and environmental factors, and if not treated can lead to cardiovascular conditions like heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and heart disease. However, while many of them can be slowed down by embracing a healthy lifestyle such as exercising regularly, eating healthily, and staying away from stress; they cannot be avoided completely.

How Does your Heart Respond to Aging

Aging changes to your heart come in many forms:

1) Slower Heartbeat

You see, your ticker is equipped with a pacemaker system whose job is to regulate your heartbeat. As you age, some of its parts may start accumulating fats and developing fibrous matter. This is not good news for your heart health. To make the matter worse, some of your pacemaker cells die with age. The sum outcome of these changes means that your pacemaker will become efficient with age, which may result in reduced heartbeat rate. In fact, your heartbeat can drop from 200 bpm (beats per minute) in your 20s to around 150 bpm by the time you are in your 70s.

2) Your Heart May Increase in Size

It’s not uncommon for the heart to increase slightly in size when you age. This is especially seen in the left ventricle. It’s actually the walls of the heart that thickens, reducing its blood holding capacity. Also, the heart may start filling and emptying slower than normal due to thicker walls.

3) Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a heart condition that’s common in older people. It’s characterized by short breath, loss of stamina, and irregular heartbeat. It may also be caused by an array of other cardiovascular conditions besides aging.

4) Heart Murmur

As you age, some of the heart muscle cells may start degenerating while some of the heart valves may thicken and become more rigid. That’s why heart murmur is often common among senior adults.

Heart Problems Caused By Aging

Heart disease might be the number one issue among older adults, but there are myriads of other cardiovascular problems that are associated with aging. These problems include:

Heath Failure: This condition may be caused by aging or associated problems like heart attack, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy. It’s characterized by the heart’s inability to pump blood to every part of the body.

Currently, there are over 6 million people living with heart failure in the US, with over 75% of them being senior adults. Sadly, half of Americans diagnosed with severe heart failure die within 5 years. The good news is that several interventions are now being developed or are in trial stage for patients already dealing with heart failure. One of these top-notch interventions is Abbott's tiny clip for patients with severe heart failure.

A recent study revealed that this tiny device made by Abbott Laboratories is not only safer than heart surgery but can also reduce heart failure hospital readmission and mortality rates by 40% and 54% respectively.

Heart Attack: Aging is one of the biggest risk factors that contribute to the development of coronary artery disease or heart attack. According to Simon Stertzer, M.D., other risk factors include lack of physical activity, genetic, obesity, poor diet, hypertension, and smoking.

Stroke: This is yet another aging-related heart problem that can do insurmountable damage to your brain cells.

Angina: This encompasses extreme chest discomfort and pain that’s arises when blood flow to the heart muscle is temporarily cut off. It’s often associated with aging, shortness of breath, and heart failure.

Arteriosclerosis: It’s a common aging-related heart condition characterized by the hardening or stiffening of the arteries as fatty plaques deposit on their walls.

Hypertension: High blood pressure can also be caused or made worse by aging.

What are The Warning Signs of Heart Problems Caused by Aging?

●      Chest Pain and Discomfort: As you age, your arteries can become narrowed and eventually get blocked, causing a heart attack or chest discomfort. If you feel pressure, tightness or pain in your chest area, it could be a sign of heart danger.

●      Stomach pain, indigestion, nausea, or heartburn is another indicator of heart problems caused by aging

●      Pain or discomfort that radiates towards your shoulder, chest or arm

●      Sudden or unexplained lightheadedness, dizziness or tiredness

●      Unexplained pain in your jaw, throat or sinuses

●      Sweating and snoring night after night

●      Swollen ankles, feet or legs

●      irregular/abnormal heartbeat

If you're experiencing most or all of the following signs of heart problems due to aging, please call 9-1-1 immediately.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Heart as You Age

Thanks to recent developments in cardiology and tech world, there are several different healthcare technologies in place to help curb rising cases of heart disease. According to Digital Authority Partners, technologies like big data, AI, telemedicine apps, mobile apps, and heart rate sensors are revolutionizing prevention of heart problems and patient care. However, you might want to consider the following tips to take care of your heart better as you age:

Eat for Your Aging Heart

As you age, it’s not just your looks that change; your digestive system may not function as robust as it used to be. Here are a few diet tips that can help keep your ticker healthy:

●      Drink lots of water

●      Load up on fruits, especially berries because they’re rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and other micronutrients.

●      Eat plenty of whole and fiber-rich foods

●      Make a habit of using olive oil in place of other cooking oils and butter. It’s healthier for your aging body.

●      Eat nuts, yogurt, tomatoes, and broccoli. They are teeming with calcium, antioxidants, lycopene, good fat, and vitamins - all of which are great for your heart.

●      Don’t forget red wine and fatty fish

Stay Active - Exercise, Walk, etc.

Regular exercise is good for your heart health - that’s no secret. So, make sure to put in at least 30 minutes of exercising. You can walk, jog, swim or even lift weights. It's not just good for your heart; staying active helps uplift your mood, control your weight, strengthen your bones & muscles, and sleep better.

Socialize and Stay Connected

Loneliness can lead to depression, stress, and anxiety. All of these are not good for your heart health. As such, you need to stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues. Consider joining a country club, team sport, and other social activities.

Get Enough Sleep

Insomnia and sleep apnea is quite common older adults. To sleep better:

●      Avoid alcohol or coffee consumption hours before bedtime.

●      Make sure your bedroom is dark and cozy

●      Stay away from meds that hamper sleep

●      Keep your day naps under 20 minutes

●      Practice meditation, yoga, and other mindful de-stressors