Gero ch. 22

Question 1

Changes in the cardiovascular system with aging

Answer 1

• Cardiac output decreases
• HR decreases
• Systolic BP increases
• Pulse pressure widens (large difference between systolic and diastolic)
• Dysrhythmias (a-fib, tachycardia, bradycardia) become more common
• Diastolic murmurs are common in the older adult
• Aortic valves thicken and are rigid
• Arterial walls lose elasticity

Question 2

Cardiovascular disease

Answer 2

• hypertension (htn)
• coronary heart disease (chd)
• acute myocardial infarction (STEMI or NSTEMI)
  angina
• heart failure (hf)