HEART HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS - IMPORT OF HEART-DISEASE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAINTAINING CARDIAC HEALTH

Coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mort ality in older adults,despite improved survival and declining mortalit y. This article describes the prevalence and impact of heart disease o n people's lives, singly and in combination with other diseases. It th en reviews current findings as to the risk factors for CHD in older ad ults and the underlying physiologic changes of aging plus pathophysiol ogic changes of hypertension and CHD in impairing the ability of older adults to respond to exercise and other stressors, and the effects of exercise training in attenuating the adverse cardiovascular changes o f aging. This information provides a basis for considering opportuniti es for prevention of heart disease and maximizing heart function. The article concludes by describing the known contribution of preventive m easures to declines in heart disease in older adults.