Heart Disease in Older People - Report Example

Heart diseases in older people Heart diseases in older people Introduction Older individuals are prone to infections as opposed to the middle aged and the young. Among the major causes of infection that have resulted to high mortality rates among the older people is heart disease. Heart diseases mushroom from a wide range of lifestyle behaviours, medical issues and the biological make up of the individuals. In this case, therefore, the older persons are tagged as one of the major of groups of people that succumb to heart related infections. In the work complied by Dorner & Niedert (2004), regarding the heart health of older people, older persons lead lifestyles that may determine cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Other studies indicate that the older population in Australia is also faced with numerous cardiovascular diseases (CVD), an aspect that has been in the limelight for a long time, due to the number of lives lost to CVDs. Just like the adults, it is worth noting that a huge number of old adults lose their lives from CVDs. The growing number of the aged population suffering from heart diseases and other related infections is indeed alarming. Though these infections, according to many analysts and researchers, are preventable, the number of lives lost to the infection is still increasing. Prevention, however, is only possible if the aged engage in a healthy lifestyle, which is clearly not the case. In Australia, however, the same alarming rate of aged deaths is also equally increasing (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012). This paper shall endeavor to discuss the biological and cultural factors that lead to the high prevalence of heart diseases in the older people. The biological factors will entail the rising rates of obesity among the older populations, whilst the cultural factor will include a discussion of how smoking has escalated the rates of heart / cardiovascular infections among the aged. Obesity and heart diseases In a research conducted by Degno, Totaro & Argano (2005), obesity is one of the greatest determinants of heart infections in the older populations. Other studies also indicate that there is a huge relationship between obesity and the risks of CVDs. In these studies, it is evident that the issue of change in dietary habits has been emphasized if the number of deaths to heart infections has to record a downward trend. Older adult weight gain, especially with the distribution of fat in the older adults, according to Colditz et al., (2001) is the major determinant of heart disease risk factors. The population of Australia is indeed aging. The number of Australians over the age of 65 is increasing tremendously. In the normal societal view, the older the population gets, the higher the rates of infection. It would therefore, be absurd for the society to expect that the aged people remain healthy and productive, just as the youths are. With the aged claiming a considerable percentage of Australia, it is evident that a change in the dietary habits would save many lives in the future. Additionally, an early campaign for lifestyle change would create a habit of change and the myths that surround the aging population. Alternatively, the aged will also be well conversant with how to lead productive lives. In light to this argument, unrelenting research on the aging process in Australians is critical. Overweight and obesity has been linked with increased levels of cholesterol, high blood pressure, as well and augmented possibility of increased coronary artery infections (Kannel et al, 2002). Additionally, obesity has led to an increased rate of heart infections that increase blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes. On a medical point of view obesity has been measured in terms of the BMI (body mass index), which entails an analysis of one’s weight in relation to their height. Overweight has been rated as one with a BMI of over 25 while the obese are persons with a BMI of over 30. In the research by Gard (2010), on The End of the Obesity Epidemic, obese persons engage less in physical activities. In this case, therefore, they are at a greater risk of heart attacks than persons who are not obese. The aged who are obese have fewer chances of exercising and burning the extra calories; thus, it becomes impossible to control the cholesterol levels and diabetes in their bodies. Physical inactivity among the aging population also weakens the heart muscles as well as reduces the arteries to inflexibilities. In line to this argument, Korbonits (2008) indicates that such persons are not expected to live longer, as opposed to those who exercise more. This is also yet another aspect that proves that obesity is a major contribution to obesity among the aging population (Marks et al., 2001). Smoking and heart diseases among the aged In Australia, smoking has been a major cause of heart diseases among the aged. Studies indicate that smoking kills more than 40 persons in a day, which 40% of them are related cardiovascular infections. In the study conducted by Collins & Lapsley (2004), smoking damages the vessels of the blood, which the heart relies on for the supply of oxygen in the system. In regard to smoking, heart infections emanate from the fact that clogging and narrowing of the arteries is experienced by the same. In this case, therefore, there is a high probability that a heart attack may occur. This, according to MacKay, Mensah & Greenlund (2004), is from the fact that the arteries are blocked, which prevents smooth flow of blood to the heart. The heart muscles are also damaged through smoking, as smoke leads to atherosclerosis as well as damage of other blood vessels. On another point of view, smoking among the aging population in Australia contributes to CVDs since cigarettes have been indicate to have toxic products that circulate in the bloodstream; thus, obstruct the functioning of the cellular walls of the arteries (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, National Heart Foundation of Australia. Heart, stroke and vascular diseases— Australian facts, 2004). These institutes continue to emphasize that obstruction of the functioning of the cellular walls of the arteries leads to a development of the lesions in the walls of the arteries. In this case, blood flow in the arteries is strained; the arteries become less flexible and are bound to rapture at any moment. Studies indicate that atherosclerosis may be detected as early as teenage hood, so by the age of 60, the individual can simply be termed as a ‘dead’. Blood clots are also experienced in this case; thus, a greater risk of thrombosis. On another viewpoint, Collins & Lapsley (2008) argue that smoking cigarettes increases blood pressure, which strains the need for the heart to get oxygen. Cigarette smoke also has huge amounts of carbon monoxide; an indication of the imbalance of air supply in the heart. Yet again atherosclerosis, angina pectoris and poor functioning of the heart muscle is resultant of this smoke. Worse still, passive smokers among the aging population are also at a higher risk of cigarette smoking. The aged with CHDs are prone to risks of death (Collins & Lapsley, 2004). Mortality rates of aged smokers are also increasing at a higher rate, in fact three times as compared to the non-smokers. In the study compiled by National Heart Foundation of Australia (2003), heart failure is an issue that can simply no be assumed. In this light, cigarette smoking has been termed as a heath risk that causes an increase in heart attacks two times. As if not enough, stroke is increased three times as much (MacKay, Mensah & Greenlund, 2004). Arterial diseases that lead to gangrene are also increased five times. From these facts, it is clear that the effects of smoking can simply not be ignored, and that a lot of campaign has to be done if the aging population has to survive this menace. Refraining from smoking would automatically improve the health of the aging population in Australia. This is evidenced from the reduced heart rates and dropping of the pressure of the blood. Most importantly, carbon monoxide is wiped out of the blood, whilst the oxygen levels rise (MacKay, Mensah & Greenlund, 2004). In a couple of years, the reformed smokers are indicated to be at the same level with the nonsmokers; thus, a reduced risk of developing coronary heart infections. Conclusion Conclusively, heart infections among the aged in Australia major on lifestyle habits such as smoking, and at times, overeating. It is obvious that a change in the dietary habits of this population will reduce the heart infections that are caused by overweight and obese cases. On another point smoking ahs been highlighted as another killer of the aged in Australia. Though quitting smoking does not alleviate the entire situation at once, the move by the aged prevents major harms from cropping up on the existing ones. As indicated earlier, the aged population in Australia claims a huge percentage of the population. It is therefore, a collective responsibility to ensure that the mortality rates of this population reduces considerably. 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New York: Karger Publishers. MacKay, J., Mensah, G. & Greenlund, K. (2004). The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke. London: World Health Organization. Marks, J., Mokdad, A., Ford, E., Bowman, B., Dietz, W., Vinicor, F. &Bales V. (2001). Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, JAMA 289:76–79. National Heart Foundation of Australia. (2003). Let’s talk about heart failure. Canberra: National Heart Foundation of Australia. Available from: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/document/NHF/heartfailureinfosheet.pdf Read More