Aging-related atherosclerosis can lead to which cardiovascular consequence?

Aging-related atherosclerosis can lead to which cardiovascular consequence?

• A. Decreased venous return
• B. Increased afterload
• C. Decreased heart rate
• D. Decreased stroke volume

Answer: (B)

A key concept here is how arterial changes from aging—plaque buildup and reduced arterial elasticity—raise the resistance the heart must pump against. This increased resistance, called afterload, makes the left ventricle work harder to eject blood into the aorta. Over time, that higher afterload can lead to ventricular hypertrophy and can contribute to heart failure. So the cardiovascular consequence most directly tied to aging-related atherosclerosis is increased afterload. Decreased venous return isn’t a direct outcome of arterial plaque, and heart rate changes aren’t a primary consequence of atherosclerosis; decreased stroke volume can occur as a downstream effect of high afterload, but the central concept is the rise in afterload.

A key concept here is how arterial changes from aging—plaque buildup and reduced arterial elasticity—raise the resistance the heart must pump against. This increased resistance, called afterload, makes the left ventricle work harder to eject blood into the aorta. Over time, that higher afterload can lead to ventricular hypertrophy and can contribute to heart failure. So the cardiovascular consequence most directly tied to aging-related atherosclerosis is increased afterload. Decreased venous return isn’t a direct outcome of arterial plaque, and heart rate changes aren’t a primary consequence of atherosclerosis; decreased stroke volume can occur as a downstream effect of high afterload, but the central concept is the rise in afterload.