This article is from the magazine Les Dossiers de Sciences et Avenir n°220 dated January/March 2025.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for seniors over 85. With age, the heart and blood vessels become stiffer, increasing the risk of dysfunction (heart failure and high blood pressure, for example). This is particularly true in the presence of certain risk factors, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and smoking (even passive smoking). This deterioration in cardiovascular health can cause heart rhythm disturbances, strokes, myocardial infarctions, and other diseases.
Physical activity is the best weapon to avoid them, because exercise improves circulation, strengthens the heart, and reduces body mass index and the risk of type 2 diabetes, which are risk factors. The European Society of Cardiology recommends a combination of aerobic exercise (long-term, constant-intensity activity that activates the heart) and muscle strengthening for at least 150 minutes per week (or 75 minutes for high-intensity exercise).
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Adapted physical activity is possible in case of health problems
The most important thing is not to smoke, because tobacco is the cause of 12% of deaths related to cardiovascular disease. Lack of sleep is another important risk factor. However, sleep is often disrupted in seniors, due to more frequent nighttime awakenings, but also due to certain age-related health conditions (Alzheimer's, sleep apnea, etc.).
Before resorting to sleeping pills, you can improve the quality of your sleep with a few simple rules: regular bedtimes, a suitable environment (quiet and dark bedroom), no screens before bed, and physical activity during the day, if possible outside to expose yourself to the sun.
Special attention is required for women over 50. Because the drop in estrogen production caused by menopause can lead to several bodily changes (weight gain, hypertension, diabetes, etc.) that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is therefore advisable to consult a cardiologist regularly.
People diagnosed with one of these conditions can continue to engage in physical activity appropriate to their health, with the guidance of their doctor. The goal is to combat a sedentary lifestyle while protecting the cardiovascular system from exercises that risk excessively increasing the heart rate.
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