Aging and the Heart Flashcards
Define Longevity
Duration of life - One’s lifespan
Define Aging
Accumulation of physiological changes occurring over the life of an organism, which generally decrease the likelihood of survival
Define Frailty
State of greater vulnerability to adverse health effects - this increases risk to CV mortality
Define Physical activity
All movement including leisure time, transport and for work
Define Sedentary behaviour
Time spent reclining or seated or lying - positions of low effort/ energy exposure
Describe the current trend in life expectancy
Increasing at all ages
Describe the difference between Life span and health span
Life span - How long you live
Health span - amount of years lived without chronic disease or significant disability
What is the current difference in Health and Life Span
Increases in life span are not matching in health span - gap of 9 years
What relation does Aging and chronic disease have
Aging is the biggest risk factor towards chronic and degenerative diseases
State the thought process in trying to reduce disease related to aging
Either to deal with the illness itself or to try focus on the underlying mechanism of aging
Define Atrial Fibrillation
Occurs when the atria go into electrical chaos - fibrillation
Causes irregular response in the ventricles
Describe what happens with AF
Atria beat chaotically causing extra blood to lost from the ventricles and form blood clots
Define Paroxysmal AF
AF that stops and starts by itself
Define persistent AF
AF progressed to the point that episodes last a few days to weeks
Define Permanent AF
Scar tissue has progressed to the point where it’s continuous
Describe the relationship between AF and age
Rates of AF skyrocket with age - exponential curve
Describe what the Framingham study revealed
AF increases total mortality
State symptoms of AF
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Slurred speech
Decreased blood pressure
Changes in pulse
State a big danger of AF
Many symptoms but can be silent – since this is the case the first symptom can be a big stroke – arise from blood clots that break of and go to the brain
Describe how mortality increases with AF
4-5 times risk of stroke
5-10 risk of heart failure
60% of kidney disease
60% increased risk of dementia
2-3 risk of MI
40% increase risk of cancer
Describe how to detect AF
Mobile tools and watches - important since first symptoms can be stroke
State a preventative of AF
Anticoagulant prevents stroke in AF
State causes to AF
Obesity
Alcohol consumption when > 2 drinks per day
Combined presence of smoking and non regular exercise
