Heart Exams
Aging can affect the normal function of the heart and blood vessels to some degree. Due to the age-related changes in the electrical conduction system, older hearts are unable to beat as fast as the younger hearts beat, especially during severe physical activity or during a period of a stressful time. A slow heart rate triggers a series of heart problems and makes old people more susceptible to heart attack or heart failure. Meanwhile, changes that happen with age can gradually lead large arteries to lose elasticity and become stiff, increasing the risks of developing cardiovascular diseases among the elder.
Some of the routine heart examination
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiogram
- Echocardiogram
- Life line screening
- Zio patch
- Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) scan [3]
