Heart Health Month

February 2025

In the US, one person dies every 36 seconds from cardiovascular disease, equating to roughly 1 in every 4 deaths. People over the age of 65 need to be very aware of their heart health, especially since aging increases one’s risk of heart disease significantly. Older people are more likely than younger people to suffer a heart attack, to have a stroke, or to develop heart disease and heart failure. Heart disease is also a major cause of disability, limiting the activity and eroding the quality of life of millions of older people.

How Does Aging Influence Heart Health?

Aging can cause changes in the heart and blood vessels. For example, as you get older, your heart can't beat as fast during physical activity or times of stress as it did when you were younger. Older hearts rest at a lower heart rate than younger ones, meaning your heart rate does not increase as much during exercise, leading to thicker artery walls and less elastic tissue in them. As a result, your blood pressure does not stabilize as quickly.

Signs of Heart Disease

• Pain, numbness, and/or tingling in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back

• Shortness of breath when active, at rest, or while lying flat

• Chest pain during physical activity that gets better when you rest

• Lightheadedness

• Dizziness

• Confusion

• Headaches

• Cold sweats

• Nausea/vomiting

• Tiredness or fatigue

• Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, stomach, and/or neck

• Reduced ability to exercise or be physically active

Early heart disease often doesn't have symptoms or the symptoms may be barely noticeable. Please have regular check-ups with your doctor.

How Can I Prevent Heart Disease?

• Try to be more physically active – aim to get at least 150 mins of physical activity a week.

• Quit smoking

• Follow a heart-healthy diet – choose foods that are low in saturated fats, added sugars, and salt

• Maintain a healthy weight by being physically active and limiting portion sizes

• Keep your diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol under control

• Don’t drink a lot of alcohol

• Manage stress

Try to Be More Active! Get Those Steps In!

For older adults, every 500 additional steps taken daily is associated with 14% lower risk of heart disease, stroke, or heart failure.

Compared to adults who took less than 2,000 steps per day, adults who took 4,500 steps per day had a 77% lower observed risk.