As you get older, it becomes crucial to pay attention to your cardiovascular health. There’s a wide range of cardiovascular diseases that become more common as you age, and that’s why you should take further steps to protect yourself as soon as you can.
To give you an idea of a few common problems experienced in older age, we’ve picked out three to discuss today. These issues are pretty common in older people, but they can be managed or avoided with proper treatment. So read on and find out more about them.
1. Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis is a condition that involves the hardening of the arteries. It’s one of the most common cardiovascular diseases, particularly for older aged people. It’s caused by the deposition of fatty plaque in the blood vessels, which causes them to narrow, harden, and eventually become blocked.
As that build-up occurs, the arteries become stiffer, and that’s why arteriosclerosis is also often referred to as the hardening of the arteries. When blockages occur due to that hardening, the body can be deprived of blood and oxygen, leading to other cardiovascular complications throughout the body.
2. Hypertension and Hypotension
Specifically, both high blood pressure (hypertension) and low blood pressure (hypotension) become more common and more problematic in older age. These must be managed carefully with the proper medication as high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart attacks and many other cardiovascular problems. Alongside your cardiologist, you can find the right way forward.
Low blood pressure, either in the form of a condition such as orthostatic hypotension or low blood pressure caused by too much medication to treat hypertension, is also an issue. Hypotension can make older people more likely to fall, which is a problem that’s already more likely to occur when you’re older. Low blood pressure can be treated by diet or medication.
3. Aortic Stenosis
Many different types of heart valve diseases become more common in older age. They’re generally treatable when the problem is discovered, and one example of these conditions is aortic stenosis. Moreover, this condition refers to the narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart, and it’s a condition that needs to be treated, despite how common it is in older people.
The problem is generally caused by the build-up of calcium in the aortic valve. When that happens, the amount of blood that can reach the brain and other parts of the body can be limited, and that’s where the problem occurs. That decrease in the flow of blood is never a good thing.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, these three different cardiovascular diseases have become more common for older people. That’s why it’s so important to stay on top of your cardiovascular health. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist you can trust, get in touch with us here at Epic Heart and Vascular Center today. We have locations in Houston and Kingwood for your convenience.
