BIOLOGY Volume 2 - A Guide to General Biology - 2004

15. HEALTH AND DISEASE

15.7. Ageing

15.7.3. Changes in the cardiovascular system

Fig. 15.22 illustrates the age-related decline in Cardiac Output, defined as the volume of Blood pumped by The Heart per minute. Between the ages of 30 and 80, this resting value drops by approximately 30%, with an even more pronounced difference during physical exertion. This impacts the function of all body systems.

The most common cause of this reduction is atherosclerosis (Section 15.5.1). Strictly speaking, atherosclerosis is not an inevitable consequence of ageing, although, having developed over many years, it is very prevalent among the elderly. With age, arterial walls stiffen due to thickening, loss of elasticity, and related factors. As a result of these processes, older adults typically experience elevated blood pressure (Hypertension), increased vascular fragility (which heightens the risk of internal haemorrhage), and a greater susceptibility to thrombosis (Section 15.5.1). Consequently, patients in this age group are particularly prone to strokes.



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