Ageing

Question 1

what can the inner lining of blood vessels be damaged from

Answer 1

elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar, smking and ther normal processes

Question 2

how are microinsults repaired

Answer 2

inflammation

Question 3

what is the process of atherosclerosis

Answer 3

chronic inflammation causes the release of more free radicals, and changes fatty strakes into fibrous plaques - these plaques break off and become blood clots

Question 4

what else can plaques cause

Answer 4

they can narrow arteries until blood cant get through well, causing ischemia

Question 5

what happens to artery walls as you age

Answer 5

less elastic - dont bend well causing hypertension. areteries can adjust to lower blood volume causing orthostatic hypotension. hypertrophy of the heart resulting in decreased cardiac output.

Question 6

what happens ot heart rate as we age

Answer 6

the maximum heart rate older adults can achieve is lower.

Question 7

what happens to epidermis as we age (2)

Answer 7

1. decrease in melanocytes meaning the skin cant be repaired from UV light damage. resulting in cancer.
2. decrease in vitamin D- affecting bones, loss of epidermal cells. epidermis thins and seperates easily. more permeable

Question 8

what happens when there is a loss of epidermal cells

Answer 8

the epidermis thins and seperates easily, meaning its more permeable, more water loss, less ability to protect from infectious organsims, decreased sebaceous, drier skin, loss of hair follicles

Question 9

why is skin easier to shear

Answer 9

the epidermal and dermal junction flattens resulting in fragility

Question 10

what causes wrinkles

Answer 10

decrease of collagen and elastin

Question 11

what causes easy bruising

Answer 11

capillaries become fragile

Question 12

what happens to temperature as you age

Answer 12

• decrease of hot and cold receptors of nervous system
• decrease of subcutaneous fat - shivering and loss of epidermis to protect form cold
• decrease in sweat glands to protect from heat

Question 13

what conributes to skin water loss and dryness

Answer 13

there is a reduction in sweat glands and sebaceous glands, with overall decreased secretion and sebum secretion

Question 14

why is there a decreased cardiac capacity as you age

Answer 14

reduces myocytes, and increase in myocyte fibrosis. left ventricular hypertrophy as well as valvular degeneration

Question 15

why is there an increased risk of heart failure

Answer 15

reduced ability to increase cardiac output in response to increased tissue demands (e.g. exercise) and an overall increased risk of heart failure