Heart Disease and the Elderly The objective of this work in writing is to examine how heart disease takes a toll elderly. Toward this end, this work will conduct a review of literature that examines the toll that heart disease takes on the elderly population. Approximately 18 million people or 7% of all individuals in the United States have heart disease. Heart disease affects older people more significantly as the elderly are

For example, some prescription drugs have been shown to increase risk for heart disease (Fries, nd). In particular, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are commonly prescribed for relieving the pain associated with arthritis, have been shown to cause heart-related side effects (Fries, nd). Unfortunately, patients who suffer from chronic pain sometimes need to choose between increasing their risk for heart disease and coping with severe chronic pain. Interestingly, though,

Other symptoms are shortness of breath and heaviness on the chest, a sensation of tightness, pain, burning sensation, squeezing or pressure on the breastbone or in the arms, neck and jaws. However, some persons showed no symptoms of coronary artery disease before a heart attack and just died suddenly (De Milto). Beneficial and Adverse Effects of Treatment The finding that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory response brought attention to the beneficial use

Its use on those with acute PAH should be performed with caution. The complication rate was observed at 2% in patients with acute PAH. The use of the procedure was deemed relatively safe for chronic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Severely ill patients should be subjected to non-invasive imaging method exhaustively before resorting to pulmonary angiography (Hofman et al.).# BIBLIOGRAPHY Albert, Nancy M. Caring for Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension. Nursing: Springhouse Corporation, May 1999. Retrieved

Heart attack or myocardial infarction occurs when there is an interruption of regular flow of blood to the heart. The blockage, which leads to the interruption of blood flow, has to be long enough that part of heart muscle dies or becomes damaged. This blockage makes the regular and required oxygen supply in the heart. This lack of oxygen supply leads to the death of numerous cells and the chance

In fact, dietary lipids, serum cholesterol, and sodium are linked directly with heart disease. Diets high in sodium lead to hypertension, or high blood pressure, which is also linked with the malady. Thus, a decrease in the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol for all people, as well as limiting the amounts of total fat, processed sugars, and calories for those who are overweight, is recommended for preventing the