It seems the elderly, especially those living in rural areas, may be more likely NOT to seek out the medical care they need for heart problems (as well as other issues) due to their work ethic and unique set of values. Pride in being healthy and able to avoid medical treatment, an unwillingness to further "burden" an already strained health care system, and a general ethic of "stoicism" are all common themes. Sadly, many times by the time the elderly finally seek out the care they need much of the damage has already been done.

Back and forth, back and forth. The evidence behind the benefit/detriment of caffeine keeps springing up on both sides, leaving at least this blogger unsure which study(ies) to believe. In the latest pro caffeine development, it was just released that drinking caffeinated beverages on a regular basis may provide significant protection against the development of heart disease in elderly people who have normal blood pressure levels.

It turns out that drinking a caffeinated beverage may raise blood pressure to what researchers referred to as a healthy level after someone has consumed a meal. This rise can counteract the temporary drop in blood pressure that typically occurrs after a meal. This drop is most commonly known to occur in the elderly.

The researchers point to their findings that people who consumed four or more servings of caffeinated beverages daily had a 53 percent lower risk of death from heart disease than did those individuals who consumed less than half a serving a day. And, with respect to the people who only drank two or three servings of caffeinated beverages a day, they had a 32 percent lower risk than those who drank less than half a serving a day.

The verdict is in. For now, anyway. I'm sure I'll come across some information stating just the opposite about caffeine, but for now I'm going with this new study.

As people grow old, their mental acuity and cardiovascular health steadily declines. It's simply a very unfortunate, and almost unavoidable, part of our existence on this planet. But, what was not known until recently is that these two conditions may be linked, with the declination of heart health actually causing cognitive impairment.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society published the findings made by Dr. Dae Hyun Kim, who stated that "Advancing age and disease can lower the heart's ability to change its rate and rhythm, which can be associated with changes in mental function."

Dr. Kim went on to say that he was not sure exactly why or how this occurs. Well, frankly, I was interested to still find out how it does. And, I was also interested to learn if this heart health/mental sharpness connection has ever been made in younger people, too. With little effort, I found my answers in a study published in the journal Neurology.

According to the article, researchers gave 2,223 healthy adults a battery of tests to measure mental function. It turned out that people with a high body mass index scored lower than the people who were in better physical shape. The researchers surmised that people with added weight are more likely to have hardened arteries, which can delay the flow of blood/oxygen and nutrients to the brain.

So, by applying what I learned about heavy-set, younger people to the issue involving older adults, it seems as though the link between cardiovascular health and brain function may be due to circulation. Of course, this is just something that I am theorizing right here and right now. I do not have any scientific or medical knowledge to offer on the topic other than what was stated by the researchers referenced above. But given these facts, it still seems to make sense.

Not only does regular exercise help promote heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, it also keeps the mind toned and flexible as well. Regular exercise is qualified as a minimum of 30-minute cardiovascular workout routines three times a week -- not just the moderate activity level of going for a leisurely walk.

New studies reveal that exercise reduces the minds slow decline as we age. Exercise improves blood flow and at the same time improves certain mental activities simultaneously. Fitness training showed enhanced functioning in executive control aspects of the mind -- the brains happy little CEO was better able to plan, schedule, multi-task and remember things with a good physical workout.

Seniors with severe sleep apnea are more than twice as likely to have a stroke, according to a recent report. Characterized by frequent, intermittent breathing blockages and abrupt, loud snoring -- sleep apnea has been previously linked to increased stroke risk, however this study is the first to include elderly subjects.

Over the course of six years, researchers studied a group of seniors aged 70 to 100 years who had no previous incidence of stroke. Of the 394 participants, 20 experienced a stroke. After accounting for other known stroke risk factors, the occurrence of severe sleep apnea produced over double the risk of stroke in the elderly participants. Researchers call for a trial to investigate relieving the elderly of potential sleep apnea by providing continuous positive airway pressure, thereby reducing their risk of a debilitating stroke.

Diastolic heart disease is inconspicuous, fatal and becoming more prevalent in the U.S. The most commonly known form of heart failure, or systolic, results as the ability to pump blood is lost. With diastolic heart failure, the ability to pump blood appears normal. The heart muscle becomes thicker and unable to relax -- unable to accommodate and pump out blood, backing up the overflow into the lungs. This abnormality isn't detected by standard tests, known as ejection fraction -- a measurement of blood in the heart that pumps out per beat.

A recent study at Rochester, Minnesotas Mayo Clinic found the condition increased from 38 percent to 54 percent between 1987 and 2001. Researchers suspect the rise is due to the fact that diastolic heart failure is more common in the elderly. They also found it is more common in women. The symptoms of both types of heart failure are the same. Currently, the only way to detect diastolic heart failure is to have an echocardiogram.

Another positive report on the healthy heart effects of moderate drinking! A new study reveals that men and women over age 70 who drank one alcoholic beverage per day had 30 percent less risk of a cardiac calamity. The five-year study tracked heart healthy individuals aged 70 to 79 with blood tests. Those who drank moderately had less incidence of heart complications and death.

Though researchers are unsure of why alcohol acts in a protective way, there is evidence that consumption acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. The calming effect on the blood vessels helps prevent heart attacks. Alcohol may also contribute to improved health because of its stress-relieving attributes -- explaining the overall 26 percent reduced risk of mortality.

Record-high temperatures propelled European government agencies to protect its citizens this week. In 2003, a disastrous heat wave killed 15,000 French and 2,000 British people -- affecting many seniors, especially those who live alone. Many of these deaths could be attributed to the rise in heart risk as temperatures climb.

This year, an 85-year-old man taken to a hospital and an 81-year-old woman found in her home were the first of nine to have died from the heat in France. With temperatures higher than ever, government officials across the Union have come to realize the need for extra specialized attention necessary for the elderly during heat waves. As a preventative strategy, Britain began paying extra visits to this vulnerable segment of the population.

The belief held by many, including some doctors, that older stroke victims have less chance of recovery has been found to be a misconception by a recent Hong Kong study.

Patients 80 years and older should not be excluded from intensive rehabilitation, as these seniors recover as effectively as younger stroke victims.

The World Health Organization estimates five million stroke victims die a year, and another five million become permanently disabled.

According to researchers, the study sought to correct the misconception established by published medical literature claiming that old age prevents recovery for stroke patients.

The study found that age had no effect on how well a stroke patient recovered during the two-year rehabilitation program. Patients of every age were able to be discharged from the hospital with improved abilities -- such as independently getting in and out of a wheelchair and taking a shower, as well as communicating. It was also noted that those stroke patients who were employed before their illness and who lived with their families responded best to rehabilitation.

Steady high temperatures and humidity have an adverse effect on the cardiovascular system, often resulting in higher risk of heart attacks in the elderly. Researchers studying heart attack rates in Athens, Greece, found an increase of mortality in people over age 70-- linked directly to a consistent rise in temperature and humidity. The heat in 2001 may have been responsible for 3,126 deaths caused by heart attack. The body suffers much stress in high temperatures, which takes its toll on the circulatory system.

Death from heart attack is also high in the month of December, according to the researchers. The affect, known as the Merry Christmas Syndrome, is a result of the combination of holiday over-indulgences in food and alcohol combined with emotional stress.

Getting older and living alone can add up to a two-fold increase in heart disease and related death, says a new study published today. A Danish study of 138,000 people found that men and women over age 50 and 60 who lived alone were not only more prone to heart disease, but were also more likely to die within a month after being diagnosed or suffering a heart attack. Conversely, aging men and women who lived with a partner, and in some cases still working, had the lowest occurrence of heart disease.

Though the link between loneliness and heart disease was unclear, researchers theorize that the increased risk was connected to lifestyle habits associated with living alone. Primarily, lack of family support, an ambivalent attitude toward doctor visits, smoking, high cholesterol and obesity were the main attributes of single living. Those who live alone are encouraged to seek out more frequent heart disease screening, as they are in a much higher risk group.

It is important to exercise in all phases of life-- by that, I mean being active and on our feet as we get older. A new study shows that elderly people are likely to live longer, as well as prevent the occurrence of heart disease, if they engage in some kind of movement-- even doing laundry or climbing stairs.

In the six-year study, one-third of a small group of people, age 70 to 82, who were most active were 12 percent less likely to die than their inactive peers. The active elders were also more likely to still work for pay-- not just volunteer-- and also climbed an average of two stair flights a day. The third of the group who were least active-- those who spent a lot of time in front of the television-- were 25 percent more likely to die.

In another study promoting physical activity for seniors, this time in retirees over age 60, the risk of death and development of heart disease is reduced by regular volunteer work. Seniors serving as tutors in elementary schools became twice as active daily as they were prior to the study.

Seniors mentored elementary school children 15 hours a week, through a nation-wide program run by Experience Corps. Helping children read, solve problems and learn cooperation was not only mentally and socially stimulating for the seniors, it also helped them become more active in their daily lives. According to researchers, volunteering gave them even more energy, and these seniors spent more time being active at home as well-- burning 40 percent more calories a week.

For those seniors not motivated by the idea of spending time in schools, another national volunteer program called Senior Corps. offers a variety of other opportunities to help retirees stay active.

To live a long and healthy life, the answer can be simple. Eat less and exercise more. Not only does this help avoid weight issues such as obesity that can lead to heart disease, it also helps maintain muscle mass as the body ages. A new study found that a diet light in calories not only supports muscle function, it can also lengthen life span by 35 percent.

Researchers from the University of Calgary studied muscle mass, function and life span in elderly rats fed a diet 40 percent lower in calories from childhood. They found that these rats displayed muscle mass and function similar to 20-year-young rats, and only experienced a 20 percent drop in muscle mass as they aged, with no decline in function.

Note: The researchers DO NOT advise that we, as humans, cut our dietary intake by 40 percent-- which could possibly be dangerous to our muscle mass. They DO recommend eating a healthy diet without over-indulging, and exercising regularly to maintain muscle mass and function.

Getting laid off late in life can double the risk of heart attack or stroke, reports researchers at Yale School of Medicine. The report covered a ten year span, during which researchers found that workers over age 50 who lost their jobs were two times more likely to suffer from these cardiovascular incidences than those who continued to work or voluntarily retired. The primary reason cited for this occurrence is actually stress related and not due to the age of the unemployed. It is often harder for people over age 50 to find new employment comparable to their former standing or income because of workplace ageism, say the researchers.