The effects of aging on arteries

"Genetics Load the Gun-Environment Pulls the Trigger"

"Genetics Predetermines Your Life Span-Environment Determines the Probabilities"

Advancing age affects vascular structure and function. However, since the aging process varies between men and women, there must be other factors that influence aging. Extensive medical literature describes how vascular function differs in older and younger individuals. Certainly genetics have a major and defining influence on longevity. The question that begs an answer is, do environmental factors (eg, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle) affect the aging process and thus the genetically predicted age?

To help define the effects of genetics and environment on aging in the vascular system, a number of questions are presented with discussions of the answers.

QUESTIONS

1. Which factor(s) confers the greatest risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, and hypertension (HTN)?

a. hyperlipidemia

b. diabetes

c. sedentary lifestyle

d. smoking

e. genetic factors

f. advancing age

2. The effect of aging on cardiovascular (CV) disease is explained by which theories:

a. aging increases the exposure time to CV risk factors

b. aging alters the underlying CV substrate, as well as the threshold for the occurrence, severity, and prognosis of disease

c. aging increases homocysteine levels and other hormonal factors that lead to atherosclerosis

3. Which marker(s) of vascular aging may reflect subclinical arterial disease?

a. increased large vessel lumen

b. arterial wall thickness

c. reduced arterial elasticity

d. decrease in diastolic blood pressure (BP)

4. Which theory associates the increase in CV disease with aging?

a. aging effects CV structure and function which lower the threshold for CV disease

b. aging increases the vulnerability of the vascular system in hypertensives and hyperlipidemics

c. hyperlipidemia is associated with aging

d. a and b

5. A widened pulse pressure (PP), often found in the elderly, is considered to be:

a. a precursor to postural HTN

b. an independent predictor of risk of CAD

c. a risk factor for arterial vasospasm

6. Which arterial change(s) in the elderly support evidence that aging provides the environment that permits vascular disease to flourish?

a. large artery dilatation and intimal thickening

b. endothelial dysfunction (ED)

c. arterial stiffening

d. wide PP

e. all of the above

7. ED, which is associated with aging, also contributes to...