Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among older Americans—yet research into CVD treatments typically is conducted on younger people. Problem: Treatments that are safe for younger patients are not always safe for older ones. Here are more issues and findings that can affect the diagnosis of CVD in older patients…
Some CVD symptoms are difficult to identify in older patients. Fatigue and shortness of breath are symptoms of cardiovascular problems…or may reflect advancing age. Such symptoms shouldn’t be dismissed as just part of getting older—especially if there are other potential CVD symptoms, such as chest pain, pressure or tightness…pain, numbness or tingling in the shoulders, arms, neck, back or jaw…swelling in the feet, ankles or legs…and/or lightheadedness or dizziness.
Statins might offer benefits beyond reduced CVD risk. Doctors have hesitated to prescribe cholesterol-lowering statins to older patients who have no history of heart attack or stroke. But statins or other means to lower cholesterol could significantly reduce older patients’ risk for dementia, according to a study at University of California, San Francisco.
Certain medications used by older people increase risk for CVD. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, can increase risk for heart failure and high blood pressure. Patients who take NSAIDs daily should speak with their doctors about different painkillers…and whether any other drugs they take pose cardiovascular risks.
Age is just a number when it comes to many CVD treatments. Fit older patients who are told that a particular CVD treatment isn’t appropriate because of their age should ask whether that guideline is based on patients who are much less healthy.
Even modest amounts of exercise reduce CVD risk among older people. Exercise, even starting later in life, can provide cardiovascular benefit—a 2022 study by Italian researchers found that 70-year-olds who are physically active for as little as 20 minutes per day are at 52% lower risk for CVD than those who aren’t.
