10 HEART HEALTH | 2019 | www.elitecme.com GERIATRICS | I t is a well-known fact that cardiovascu- lar disease is the most common cause of death in those over the age of 65 years old. Those who suffer with some type of cardio- vascular pathology – hypertension, cerebro- vascular disease, and heart diseases such as coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, and heart failure, increase along with age. We can exercise, eat healthy, remain stress- free, and take all our supplements as pre- scribed by our physicians. These will reduce our modifiable risk factors. However, there are non-modifiable risk factors – and perhaps the largest non-modifiable risk factor is the aging heart. HOW DOES THE HEART WORK? It is helpful to review how the heart works. Geriatric Heart Health It is a well-known fact that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in those over the age of 65 By Krystina Ostermeyer RN, BSN, CDE ISTOCK