What are best practices for heart-healthy aging?

As the heart ages, it’s important to remember that it is a muscle that never gets to rest. It beats about 80 times a minute every minute of your life. Over time, the heart muscle naturally becomes a little thicker and a little stiffer, much like any muscle that is used continuously.

The heart also has four valves that open and close with every heartbeat. As we age, these valves can become thicker and begin to wear over time.

In addition, plaque can gradually build up in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle: a process known as atherosclerosis.

These are all normal changes that can occur with aging. The goal is to prevent your heart from wearing out before the rest of your body. That is why maintaining good heart health is so important. We want you to age with a heart that remains as strong and healthy as possible.