Age Related Changes in the Cardiovascular System

Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood through to meet the body 's needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can 't keep up with its workload. American Heart Association Statistics (2016) reveals that heart failure accounts for 36% of cardiovascular disease deaths. Projections report a 46% increase in the prevalence of Heart Failure (HF) by 2030 by affecting over 8 million people above 18 years with the disease. Healthy People 2020 goals are focused on attaining high quality longer lives free of preventable diseases, promotion of quality of life, healthy development and healthy behaviors across all stages of life (Healthy People 2020, 2015).

Heart Failure is a progressive heart disease when the muscle of the heart is weakened so that it cannot pump blood as it should; the blood backs up into the blood vessels around the lungs and the other parts of the body (NHS Choice, 2015). In heart failure, the heart is not able to maintain a normal range cardiac output to meet the metabolic needs of the body (Kemp and Conte, 2012). Heart failure is a major worldwide public health problem, it is the end stage of heart disease and it could lead to high mortality. At present, heart failure is usually associated with old age, given the dramatic increase in the population of older people (ACCF/AHA, 2013). In the USA, there are about 5.7 million adults who have heart failure, about half of the people die within 5 years of diagnosis, and it costs the nation an estimated $30.7 billion each year (ACCF/AHA, 2013).

Another word used to describe a heart attack is myocardial infarction, cardiac infarction and coronary thrombosis. A heart attack is the death of a part of the heart caused by the loss of blood supply. The blood supply is usually gone due to a coronary artery being blocked by a blood clot. When a part of a heart artery breaks a blood clot forms around the piece. This blood clot can block the blood flow through the heart muscle. When the heart muscle needs oxygen it is called ischemia. When damage of a part of the heart muscle happens it’s called a heart attack. During a heart attack damage occurs depending on the size of the area blocked by the blood clot as well as the time between the actual heart attack and the treatment. Even though the heart may be hurt, the rest of the organs work with no problems. However, it will not pump as much blood as it used to in order to supply the same amount of blood to all of the parts of the body.

Thibodeau (2007). Anatomy and Physiology. 6th ed. China: John C Atherton & Helen L Atherton.

The cardiovascular system, however, would not be able to effectively complete these functions without help from what is sometimes referred to as the body’s hardest-working organ- the heart. Approximately the size of a fist, the heart is contains four chambers (the uppermost are called the atria and the lowermost are called the ventricles) and four valves. Additionally, the heart is surrounded by the pericardium, a structure that serves to protect the heart, keep the heart stabilized in the chest, and

An investigation will be conducted in to the cardiovascular system across the lifespan of individuals with and without learning disabilities from birth to later life. This essay will explain and describe the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system span from birth to later adulthood. Whilst also looking at specific conditions and disorders that can present across the lifespan of an individual the discussion examines these disorders and conditions, Examples of this include things such as coronary heart disease or Angina. The essay will explore the medications used to treat the conditions and disorders investigated within this essay, whilst looking at the effects of the medication. The physiological impacts of these changes on the individual’s cardiovascular system are explored with reference to relevant research. The investigation will at how conditions relate to the cardiovascular system across the lifespan of individuals will also focus on individual’s with learning disabilities such as Down’s syndrome because

Heart failure affects nearly 6 million Americans. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65. Roughly 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year (Emory Healthcare, 2014). Heart failure is a pathologic state where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the demand of the body’s metabolic needs or when the ventricle’s ability to fill is impaired. It is not a disease, but rather a complex clinical syndrome. The symptoms of heart failure come from pulmonary vascular congestion and inadequate perfusion of the systemic circulation. Individuals experience orthopnea,

Nevertheless, there is an understandable and noticeable link between circulatory related diseases and lifestyle diseases, such as Coronary Heart Disease. Coronary heart disease can occur when fatty acids, such as cholesterol in an inadequate diet, build up in the walls of the coronary artery. These fatty deposits collect minerals and harden to become a plaque. Eventually, this plaque grows and can swells up, forming an aneurism. In some cases, this aneurism may burst leading to instant death. As it continues to grow and swell up, it finally blocks the artery completely and forms blood clots. This is known as coronary thrombosis. A myocardial infarction, or in other words as heart attack, occurs when no oxygen is able to reach the coronary artery and thus it is unable to fulfil its role in providing the heart muscle with a sufficient supply of blood. Heart attacks are very common in the society nowadays, especially occurring in smokers or obesity related diseases (Millar, June 2014)

Oxygen and nutrients the body requires for function are pumped around this complex network of blood vessels by the heart. At roughly the size of a human fist, the heart is a four-chambered muscle and performs two functions of circulation simultaneously and continuously. Systemic and pulmonary circulation. The heart is made up from three separate layers of cardiac tissue; the outer layer called the pericardium, which is a double sac-like outer covering with serous fluid inside to keep the middle layer, the myocardium from adhering to the outer layer. This middle layer of the heart is the heart muscle which is thicker on the left side, to aid with the pressure needed to sustain systemic circulation. The inner layer of the heart is the endocardium. It’s lining is smooth to help prevent the blood which circulates around the inside of the heart from clotting. The heart is the human body’s in-built pacemaker, and the electrical signals sent through the it cause the heart to contract and relax. This process is triggered by the autonomic nervous system and the contraction and relaxing cycle is

The heart consists into three layers in which are endocardium, the myocardium, and the epicardium. The endocardium is the inner layer of the heart (chambers and valves). The myocardium is the middle muscular layer which is responsible for heart contraction. The epicardium is the outside layer of the heart

According to the American Heart Association (2015), heart failure is defined as “a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood through to meet the body 's needs for blood and oxygen. Basically, the heart can 't keep up with its workload”. Congestive heart failure is a progressive illness that effects millions of Americans every year. Many other illnesses can lead to the development of congestive heart failure. Examples of these diseases include: coronary artery disease, past heart attack, high blood pressure, abnormal heart valve, heart muscle disease such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy or inflammation such as myocarditis, congenital heart disease, severe lung disease, diabetes, obesity and asthma. (American Heart Association, 2015 (Centers for

Course description: Principles and mechanisms of physiological regulation in animals, with a focus on humans.

Nearly everyone knows something about heart disease. From high blood pressure & cholesterol to bypass surgery to heart attacks, heart disease is top-of-mind for most older adults and their loved ones. However, one lesser-known area of heart disease is congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure is a chronic disease that requires daily monitoring and life style management. Affecting the elderly, and their family the adjustment is a challenge. Daily life skills include the monitoring of daily weights, intake and output, and a low sodium diet. The person with congestive heart failure is generally admitted to the hospital for medication adjustments when their symptoms increase. The patient is often times short of breath, with a decrease in energy and an increase in their weight. The patients are generally elderly 60-65 years of age or older, and when comparing African Americans to Caucasians the African Americans have a 1.5 greater chance of developing heart failure ("Heart Failure," 2017). The

As the population ages heart failure is expected to increase exceptionally. About twenty-two percent of men and forty-four percent of women will develop heart failure within six years of having a heart attack. “Thirty years ago patients would have died from their heart attacks!” (Couzens)