AGING AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

According to the World Health Organization, the term “elderly” refers to people over the age of 65. Decreases in heart rate, heart function, oxygen consumption and stroke rate occur with aging. Many changes occur in the cardiovascular system with aging, and this predisposes to diseases. The aim of this review article is to examine the physiological relationship between aging and cardiovascular diseases. Depending on genetic differences and age, the heart's ability to pump blood decreases, the myocardium loses flexibility, and the heart valves thicken and increase in diameter. Aging is an inevitable part of life and constitutes the most important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Arteriosclerosis increases the thickness of blood vessels while decreasing their elasticity. Functional and structural changes in the cardiovascular system in older ages increase the risk of coronary artery disease, heart diseases, heart failure, venous thrombosis, and hypertension. Cardiac output and stroke volume decreases and the risk of postural hypotension increases. With advancing age, a continuous rise in systolic blood pressure occurs as a result of a hardening of the vessels and their diminished elasticity. After the age of 60, either a slight decrease or no change is seen in diastolic blood pressure.