Later Development, Develop. Physiol., Dr. D. Penney

Table 3.21 - Change in the Heart with Age - as seen during Exercise.

• Predisposition to arrhythmias and failure under stress.

• Decrease in max. VO₂, eg. (3.53 l/min. at 25 yrs to 1.17 l/min. at 75 yrs).

• Increased pulmonary wedge & LV end-diastolic pressures.

• Decreased max. heart rate, stroke volume & cardiac output.

• Increase in calculated peripheral vascular resistance at rest and at increased work-loads, compared to young individuals at same workload.
  (VO₂ max. = A-V O₂ difference x cardiac output)

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