As you get older, you need to pay a closer attention to your cardiovascular health. Compared with people from 45 to 54 years old, those who has more than 55 have more risk to develop cardiovascular diseases. CVD is the main cause of deaths before the age of 75 in Europe , accounting for over 1.88 million deaths each year.

After 55 years, the CVD incidence increases significantly, the annual rate of first heart attack rises substantially and the prevalence of stroke nearly doubles in men and triples in women. In the over 65 age group the most common cardiovascular disease is congestive heart failure and several different vascular disease. Other problems that occur quite often in elderly are hypertension and cardiomyopathy. The increased incidence of these disturbs is due mainly to progression of atherosclerotic process and accumulation of previous acute clinical events during lifetime, such as heart attack. A proper treatment should include lowering the risk factors and taking medications suited for aged people.

Congestive heart failure – This problem occurs when your heart become unable to pump enough blood to the tissues. Tissues that do not receive enough oxygen to meet their needs become weakened, cannot function properly, and may eventually die. A decrease in the heart's ability to pump properly may result from many different sources. For example, myocardial infarction (heart attack) or atherosclerosis can ultimately compromise the pumping ability of the heart.

Vascular disease – In this category is included any condition that affects your circulatory system. This ranges from dysfunction of your arteries, veins and lymph vessels to blood disorders that affect circulation. Illness such as stroke, pulmonary embolism and thrombosis are considered vascular disease.

In the past most research were focused on treatment for men because women were believed to be protected against CVD by oestrogens. However even if women tend to develop heart disease 10 years later than men, after menopause (usually after 50 years) their cardiovascular risk increases progressively to reach a level similar to that of men. Furthermore women, in comparison to men, are less likely to undergo tertiary care intervention (such as angioplasty and bypass surgery), to participate in cardiac rehabilitation and to return to work after myocardial infarction. This condition leads to have a percentage of deaths from CVD before the age of 75 of 44% in women and 38% in men*.

* Source “European cardiovascular disease statistic. 2005”. British heart foundation.

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