What are the effects of aging on heart? (Cardioascular)

Effects of Aging
The heart generally grows larger with age, primarily be­cause of fat deposition in the epicardium and my­ocardium. In many middle-aged people, the heart is covered by a layer of fat, and the number of collagenous fibers in the endocardium increases. With age, the valves, particularly the aortic semilunar valve, become thicker and more rigid.
As a person ages, the myocardium loses some of its contractile power and some of its ability to relax. The resting heart rate decreases throughout life, and the maximum possible rate during exercise also decreases. With age, the contractions become less forceful; the heart loses about 1 % of its reserve pumping capacity each year after age 30.
In the elderly, arterial walls tend to thicken with plaque and become inelastic, signaling that atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are present. The chances of coronary thrombosis and heart attack increase with age. Increased blood pressure was once believed to be inevitable with age, but now hypertension is known to be the result of other conditions, such as kidney disease and atherosclerosis.
The occurrence of varicose veins increases with age, particularly in people who are required to stand for long periods. Thromboembolism as a result of varicose veins can lead to death if a blood clot settles in a major branch of a pulmonary artery. (This disorder is called pulmonary embolism. )