Age-related changes to heart valves include which of the following?

Prepare for the Holistic Caring for Older Adults Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Age-related changes to heart valves include which of the following?

Explanation:
Valves age by accumulating degenerative changes that make them thicker and stiffer, with calcium deposits contributing to reduced elasticity. As a result, the leaflets become less able to open fully, increasing resistance to blood flow and placing more work on the heart. This combination—thickening and becoming rigid—best captures how aging affects heart valves. Thickening with softening isn’t typical, becoming flexible is the opposite, and rapid deterioration isn’t the usual pattern of normal aging.

Valves age by accumulating degenerative changes that make them thicker and stiffer, with calcium deposits contributing to reduced elasticity. As a result, the leaflets become less able to open fully, increasing resistance to blood flow and placing more work on the heart. This combination—thickening and becoming rigid—best captures how aging affects heart valves. Thickening with softening isn’t typical, becoming flexible is the opposite, and rapid deterioration isn’t the usual pattern of normal aging.

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