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The cardiovascular system: The effects of aging
To fully understand the effects of aging on the human cardiovascular system, the fundamental structure of the heart must also be comprehended The heart has two sides: the right which enables the body to excrete carbon dioxide by sending blood to the lungs so they can receive oxygen and the left which "pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of body" (Dugdale 2010). Usually, the heart is efficient at regulating itself. But the heart is a muscle, and just as the visible muscles of the body lose their integrity with aging, so does the heart. The heart muscles degenerate and the heart valves stiffen, which can cause a heart murmur or other complications. "The heart has a natural pacemaker system that controls the heartbeat. Some of the pathways of this system may develop fibrous tissue and fat deposits. The natural pacemaker (the SA node) loses some of its cells. These changes may result in a slightly slower heart rate" even for healthy patients (Dugdale 2010).
The heart may enlarge with age, and the left ventricle is particularly prone to such an increase in size. Increased heart wall size can be dangerous because this reduces the amount of blood the chamber can hold and cause the heart to fill more slowly with blood, affecting overall metabolism. There are also changes "in the activities of nodal and conductive fibers, a reduction in the elasticity of the heart's fibrous tissues," reducing blood flow" ("Cardiovascular system," AAHF, 2012). Abnormal rhythms on EKGs are more common in older people. Blood clots are more common due to the "constriction or blockage of peripheral veins by a blood clot" with thickened walls ("Cardiovascular system," AAHF, 2012). "There might be pooling of blood in the veins in the legs because valves are not working effectively" ("Cardiovascular system," AAHF, 2012).
While people of any age can suffer from high cholesterol, it is more common in older rather than younger adults. Atherosclerosis is a progressive, chronic disease and older people have more time for the buildup to occur and constrict the heart walls. The stiffening and thickening occurring throughout the body can also cause changes in blood pressure. "Receptors called baroreceptors monitor the blood pressure and make changes to help maintain a fairly constant blood pressure when a person changes positions or activities. The baroreceptors become less sensitive with aging" (Dugdale 2010). Some older people experience low blood pressure on standing, due to an imbalance with their baroreceptors. Conversely, some older patients experience hypertension or high blood pressure because of the thickening and stiffening of the heart walls and other components of the cardiovascular system. The heart must work harder due to aging and other arteries will also thicken and stiffen.
The nature of the blood also changes with age. The aging body contains less body water than a younger body, causing a decrease in overall blood volume. When red blood cells decrease (measured as a decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels), the individual may feel fatigued more easily. White blood cells which play a role in immune resistance "decrease in their number and ability to fight off bacteria. This reduces the ability to resist infection" (Dugdale 2010).
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