Some of the things that can increase heart workload include illness, infections, emotional stress , injuries, extreme physical exertion, and certain medications. Common disorders include high blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension. Arteriosclerosis , or hardening of the arteries , is very common. Fatty plaque deposits inside the blood vessels cause it to narrow and can totally block blood vessels. Coronary artery disease is fairly common.
Heart failure is very common in the elderly.
In people over 75 years old, heart failure occurs ten times more often than in younger adults. Valve diseases are fairly common. Aortic stenosis is the most common valve disease in the elderly. Anemia may occur, possibly related to malnutrition , chronic infections, or as a complication of other diseases or medications. Heart disease risk factors that you have some control over include high blood pressure, cholesterol levels , diabetes , obesity , and smoking .