Aging - How Lifestyle Changes Could Prove to be an Effective Medicine for the Aging Cardiovascular System

Aging is a growing medical concern.Despite more people living longer, the economical impact is likely to be severe, and pressures on healthcare providers are constantly growing to treat aging-related conditions and disorders.It is estimated, that in the US, life expectancy will go from ~76 years of age in 2010 to 80 years in 2030 (1), a pattern that is similar to a host of industrialised countries.Indeed in the United Kingdom, recent analysis has shown that male life expectancy has increased from 69 years in 1970 to 78 years in 2010, and female life expectancy from 75 years to 82 years in the same time period (2).As a result, incidence of aging-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), dementia, and cancer are likely to increase substantially (3).It is no surprise, therefore, that research into medical advancements and lifestyle behaviours and the impact of these on aging populations has gathered a lot of interest in the academic community, as seen by the Physiological Society announcing a year of 'Understanding Ageing' in 2015.This has led to the growth of research in aging, and also specifically cardiovascular aging.Lifestyle choices can have significant influence on how our cardiovascular system ages.We see individuals who are fitter and regularly exercise live longer than unfit/sedentary individuals