Cardiovascular disease in elders: Is it inevitable?

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death and disability in Americ a. The burden of cardiovascular disease is higher in elders than in younger populations, presumably because of life-long exposure to risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, abnormal blood lipids, lack of exercise, and/or obesity. Many assume that it is too late to attempt to modify risk factors in elders because behavior is so difficult to change. The purpose of this a rticle is to argue that cardiovascular risk factor modification is effectiv e in elders and should be vigorously pursued for the good of individuals, f amilies, communities, and societies.