Cardiovascular Considerations in the Older Patient
Original Editor - Wendy Walker
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Changes in Heart Rate[edit | edit source]
As we age, one of the most notable changes in the cardiac system is the decline in maximal heart rate.
- One of the common means of establishing a guideline for change in maximal heart rate is the following formula[1]:
220 - age = max heart rate
Therefore whereas a young adult of 20 can be expected to have a maximal heart rate of 200 bpm (beats per minute), in a 70 year old this will be only 150 bpm, in an 80 year old 140bpm and in a 90 year old 130 bpm.
Causes of changes in heart rate[edit | edit source]
The reduction in maximal heart rate is thought to be due to changes in the autonomic nervous system[2][3]
Consequences of reduction in maximum heart rate[edit | edit source]
- Smaller aerobic workload possible - ie. reduction in the extent of cardiac exertion that can be tolerated for a period of time
- Slower aerobic performance - eg. 90 year olds completing the New York City marathon typically do so in 7-8 hours
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Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
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- ↑ Ehrman JK, Gordon PM, Visich PS, Keteyian SJ: Clinical exercise physiology, Champaign, IL, 2009, Human Kinetics
- ↑ Heckman GA, McKelvie RS: Cardiovascular aging and exercise in healthy older adults. Clin J Sport Med 18:479-485, 2008
- ↑ Brown SP, Miller WC, Eason JM: Exercise physiology: basis of human movement and disease, Baltimore, MD, 2006, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
