By Dr. Daniel H. LaMont,
Contributing writer
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adults.
And for older adults, there is an even greater cause for concern, since about 21.7% of American adults who art at least 65 reported having coronary heart disease, a stroke or both, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Older adults are statistically more likely to have heart disease for many reasons. Plaque rupture, atrial fibrillation, loss of vascular compliance, obesity, hypertension and diabetes all contribute to this increased incidence of cardiovascular disease.
The National Council on Aging notes that heart disease is a broad term that includes a variety of conditions, such as coronary artery disease, irregular heartbeat, problems with the heart valves, problems with the heart muscle and hereditary (congenital) defects.
Approximately 80% of heart disease deaths occur in people who are aged 65 or older, according to the American Heart Association. Dying from cardiovascular disease is 10 times more common than any other cause of death in seniors. No matter how old you get, knowing the risk factors of heart disease is the first step in preventing — or taking steps to reverse — heart disease, helping you live longer.
Know your risk for heart disease
There are many behavioral factors that can contribute to an older adult being at risk for heart disease. But it’s important to know even as you age, you can still work to minimize risk factors. So don’t give up on yourself! Major risk factors for heart diseases include:
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- Smoking.
- Obesity.
- Diabetes.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Poor eating habits.
Another factor that adds to older adults’ risk of heart disease is genetics. It is important to understand and know your family history of heart disease. Genetic factors sometimes play a role when it comes to high blood pressure, heart disease and other related conditions. And when genetic…
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