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 more likely, according to reports "to have coronary heart disease, commonly known as a heart attack or chest pain, which is more debilitating than other types of heart disease." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000) Many types of heart disease are largely, preventable through controlling high blood pressure and diabetes and engaging in a lifestyle that is healthy. While some individuals with heart disease do not have trouble on a daily basis the majority of those with heart disease are limited in normal activities and this includes in the area of work. The leading cause of premature permanent disability in the U.S. workforce is coronary heart disease. (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000) The variations in the activity levels for those who do and those who do not have heart disease are reported as "substantial." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000) Adults with heart disease are reported as having more difficulties "with the activities of daily living, or ADLs, such as bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, walking, and getting into and out of bed." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000) These difficulties are reported to be more common among those in older age groups. Reports state that adults in the age range of 51 to 61 with coronary heart disease are about 1/3 of the group while adults older than 70 experience coronary heart disease at a rate of 50%. In fact, "the elderly have a higher rate of heart disease than any other group." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000) Furthermore, in older age groups "heart disease strikes more men than women." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000)
I. Heart Disease
Heart disease is "a type of cardiovascular disease." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000) Coronary heart disease is reported to be caused by "…a narrowing of the coronary arteries, which results in a decreased supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD includes myocardial infarction, commonly referred to as a heart attack, and angina pectoris, or chest pain." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000) A heart attack results from the "sudden blockage of a coronary artery, usually by a blood clot. And chest pain occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough blood." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000) Congestive heart failure is described as "the end-stage of heart disease." (National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000)
II. Heart Disease in the Elderly
Young (nd) reports that the elderly "represent the fastest-growing segment of the American population. By the year 2000, it is estimated that people over age 60 will account for more than 15% of U.S. citizens, those over 80 will constitute about 4%, or some 10 million Americans." (Young, nd) As a person becomes older the heart undergoes "subtle physiologic changes, even in the absence of disease. The muscles of the aged heart may relax less completely between beats; as a result, the pumping chambers (ventricles) become stiffer and may work less efficiently, especially if specific cardiac diseases are present. In old age, the heart also may not pump as vigorously or as effectively as it once did. The older heart also becomes less responsive to adrenaline and cannot increase the strength or rate of its contractions during exercise to the same extent it could in youth." (Young, nd) There is reported to be a great deal of variation in the rate of change or decline in cardiovascular function among individuals and it is stated for the healthy individual "the decline is not likely to be of great importance." (Young, nd) However, when another condition such as a valve disorder or coronary heart disease affects the heart the age-related changes may make the problem worse. The vascular system also undergoes changes with aging and the walls of the arteries are reported to have a tendency to "lose their elasticity and stiffen, even without internal blockage from fatty deposits." (Young, nd) This leads to a type of blood pressure that is common among older people or that of "isolated systolic hypertension." (Young, nd) As the individual age advances cardiovascular disease becomes more likely including coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart valve disease, and rhythm disorders." (Young, nd)
II. Types of Cardiovascular Disease More Common in the Elderly
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