Aging and the Heart

Question 1

Define Longevity

Answer 1

Duration of life - One’s lifespan

Question 2

Define Aging

Answer 2

Accumulation of physiological changes occurring over the life of an organism, which generally decrease the likelihood of survival

Question 3

Define Frailty

Answer 3

State of greater vulnerability to adverse health effects - this increases risk to CV mortality

Question 4

Define Physical activity

Answer 4

All movement including leisure time, transport and for work

Question 5

Define Sedentary behaviour

Answer 5

Time spent reclining or seated or lying - positions of low effort/ energy exposure

Question 6

Describe the current trend in life expectancy

Answer 6

Increasing at all ages

Question 7

Describe the difference between Life span and health span

Answer 7

Life span - How long you live
Health span - amount of years lived without chronic disease or significant disability

Question 8

What is the current difference in Health and Life Span

Answer 8

Increases in life span are not matching in health span - gap of 9 years

Question 9

What relation does Aging and chronic disease have

Answer 9

Aging is the biggest risk factor towards chronic and degenerative diseases

Question 10

State the thought process in trying to reduce disease related to aging

Answer 10

Either to deal with the illness itself or to try focus on the underlying mechanism of aging

Question 11

Define Atrial Fibrillation

Answer 11

Occurs when the atria go into electrical chaos - fibrillation
Causes irregular response in the ventricles

Question 12

Describe what happens with AF

Answer 12

Atria beat chaotically causing extra blood to lost from the ventricles and form blood clots

Question 13

Define Paroxysmal AF

Answer 13

AF that stops and starts by itself

Question 14

Define persistent AF

Answer 14

AF progressed to the point that episodes last a few days to weeks

Question 15

Define Permanent AF

Answer 15

Scar tissue has progressed to the point where it’s continuous

Question 16

Describe the relationship between AF and age

Answer 16

Rates of AF skyrocket with age - exponential curve

Question 17

Describe what the Framingham study revealed

Answer 17

AF increases total mortality

Question 18

State symptoms of AF

Answer 18

Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Slurred speech
Decreased blood pressure
Changes in pulse

Question 19

State a big danger of AF

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Describe how mortality increases with AF

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Describe how to detect AF

Answer 21

Mobile tools and watches - important since first symptoms can be stroke

Question 22

State a preventative of AF

Answer 22

Anticoagulant prevents stroke in AF

Question 23

State causes to AF

Answer 23

Obesity
Alcohol consumption when > 2 drinks per day
Combined presence of smoking and non regular exercise