As much as many of us would like to believe ourselves immortal and impenetrable to any effects of aging, the truth is that no one is immune.

Aging can cause small changes in both the blood vessels as well as your heart. One of the most straight forward examples is in the gym. If you hold the monitor for bpm (beats per minute) for the heart as you get older you will notice that the scale goes down. Your heart can’t beat as fast, during exercise,  as it could when you were younger. The at rest BPM should, however, stay about the same.

The biggest issue with our hearts and age is the arteries become stiffer. This stiffness in the larger arteries is known as arteriosclerosis. This results in higher blood pressure.

High blood pressure (hypertension) and arteriolosclerosis are just two risk factors. Arteriosclerosis is a result of age but does not necessarily come with age. It depends on how you take care of yourself. This plaque that builds up hardens and narrows your arteries making the oxygen-rich flow of blood less readily available to organs and body parts.

This can lead to heart disease. Heart disease develops when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries. That reduces the blood flow to the heart. Over time this can damage and weaken the heart. If it becomes damaged or too weak the result is a heart attack or failure.

Heart issues like this can be genetic or may be spurred on by heavy alcohol consumption, poor dietary choices, diabetes, and ignored long-standing hypertension.

Check your blood pressure regularly, reduce salt intake, if you notice your heart feels off – a possible arrhythmia or palpitations make sure to consult with your cardiologist.

Other things that may weaken your heart are chemotherapy or thyroid disease. If you are undergoing Chemo or have thyroid disease keep an eye on your heart as well.

Aging doesn’t have to take its toll on you. Preventive care is the best protective measure we have in our arsenal. Make an appointment with Tampa Cardiovascular Associates today and keep your heart in tip-top shape.

Visit www.tampacardio.com or give us a call at the office by dialing 813-975-2800.