Why Heart Health Matters After 60

Cardiovascular disease is a serious concern for older adults. It can dramatically decrease mobility, making it harder to walk, climb stairs, or get around the home safely. Understanding symptoms and seeking help early can make a real difference.

This article explains how heart problems affect mobility, when to talk to your doctor, and offers everyday steps to protect your heart.

This content is for informational or educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your health provider regarding any medical concerns or questions.

Why Heart Health Affects Mobility

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and older adults have some of the highest rates of heart problems. When the heart and blood vessels are not working well, it becomes harder to walk, climb stairs, or move safely around the home.

Many people first learn they have heart disease during an emergency, such as a heart attack or sudden chest pain that sends them to the hospital. Older adults often live with more than one heart or blood vessel problem at the same time, which can further affect strength, balance, and energy.

How Your Heart Works and Helps You Move

Your heart is a strong pump that keeps blood moving through your body. It sends blood out through arteries and brings blood back through veins so that every organ, muscle, and tissue gets oxygen and nutrients.

Healthy blood flow helps you stay steady on your feet, think clearly, and have enough energy for daily tasks like walking to the bathroom, using a walker, or getting in and out of a chair. When blood flow is blocked or the heart pump becomes weak, problems such as chest pain, stroke, fatigue, or shortness of breath can occur.

Checking your heart rate and blood pressure is a helpful way to understand your heart health. Heart rate is how many times your heart beats in one minute. Your heart rate usually slows at rest and speeds up with activity or stress. When heart rate and blood pressure are in a healthy range, muscles and joints get the oxygen they need for everyday activities like walking to the bathroom, using a walker, or transferring in and out of a chair.

Heart-Healthy Habits to Stay Mobile Longer

Improving circulation and keeping your heart as strong as possible can help you or your loved one stay independent. Even small amounts of physical activity in older adults are linked to lower risk of cardiovascular death and better function.

If your doctor says it is safe, try to aim for at least 20 minutes of light to moderate movement on most days. Helpful options include:

• Walking indoors in short, frequent bouts
• Standing stretches while holding a steady surface
• Using a pedal exerciser
• Doing gentle chair exercises

Staying active can help improve blood pressure, strengthen leg muscles, and support balance, which makes daily tasks like getting to the bathroom or mailbox easier. If walking is difficult, talk with your doctor or a physical therapist about seated exercises, rollator use, or a supervised physical therapy program to help you stay as mobile as possible while protecting your heart.

Common Heart Problems in Older Adults

Common signs of heart problems in seniors include shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling that make walking, climbing stairs, or getting out of a chair more difficult. Keep reading to learn about typical signs of top heart conditions that affect older adults. Many people have more than one of these conditions at the same time. Regular checkups and monitoring any symptoms is important.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

High blood pressure happens when the force of blood pushing against artery walls stays too high over time. It often has no clear symptoms, which is why it is called a “silent” condition. Over many years, high blood pressure can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels. 

In the United States, more than 70% of adults age 60 and older have high blood pressure. When blood pressure remains uncontrolled, it can injure small blood vessels in the brain and legs, which may slow walking speed, worsen balance, and increase the risk of falls.

Most people with high blood pressure feel normal. When symptoms appear, usually with very high pressure, they may include:

• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Vision changes
• Nosebleeds

High blood pressure is usually detected with a blood pressure cuff during clinic visits or at home. If readings are often high, health care providers may order blood and urine tests to check how the heart, kidneys, and other organs are working and may also recommend heart tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) or echocardiogram (ECG).

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease caused by plaque building up inside the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Over time, these arteries can narrow or become blocked, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle. This is one of the most common forms of heart disease in older adults and a major cause of heart attacks. 

People with coronary artery disease often slow their walking pace or avoid activity because chest discomfort and shortness of breath make movement harder. The most common symptom is angina, which is chest pain or discomfort that may feel like pressure, squeezing, or fullness, especially with exertion.

Symptoms of a heart attack (a sudden blockage of blood flow to part of the heart) can include:

• Chest pain or pressure (angina) that may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, or back
• Weakness or unusual tiredness
• Feeling lightheaded or faint
• Nausea or breaking out in a cold sweat
• Shortness of breath

Risk factors for coronary artery disease include:

• Physical inactivity
• Unhealthy eating patterns
• Smoking or other tobacco use
• Obesity
• Family history of early heart disease (especially if a close relative was diagnosed at age 50 or younger)

Talk with your doctor if you have risk factors or symptoms that concern you.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm in which the upper chambers of the heart (atria) quiver instead of beating in a steady, coordinated way. This can lead to blood clots forming in the heart and raises the risk of stroke. AFib becomes more common with age; studies show that its prevalence grows from around 5% to 9% in adults aged 60–80 and is even higher in those older than 80.

Some people with AFib have no symptoms, while others notice:

• Chest discomfort or a feeling of pounding or fluttering in the chest
• An irregular or rapid heartbeat
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness or fatigue

Some people with AFib describe their heartbeat as “skipping,” “flipflopping,” or racing.

Because AFib increases the chance of blood clots traveling to the brain, it raises stroke risk. Strokes are a major cause of long-term disability and mobility loss in older adults.

A health care provider may first suspect AFib by feeling an irregular pulse or listening to the heart with a stethoscope during a routine exam. Blood tests can help look for triggers, such as thyroid problems or electrolyte imbalances. An EKG is a quick test that records the heart’s electrical activity and usually confirms AFib; sometimes a wearable monitor, such as a Holter monitor or patch, is used over 24 hours or longer to capture intermittent irregular beats.

Heart Failure

Heart failure means the heart is too weak or too stiff to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, legs, and other tissues and often leads to shortness of breath and swelling. Heart failure is very common in older adults and is a leading reason for hospital stays in people with cardiovascular disease.

When the heart cannot pump well, walking even short distances may cause fatigue or breathlessness. Climbing stairs or getting out of a chair can become much harder. Heart failure often occurs together with high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or heart valve problems.

Common heart failure symptoms in older adults include:

• Shortness of breath with activity or when lying flat
• Waking at night gasping for air
• A feeling of not getting enough air
• Swelling in ankles, legs, feet, or abdomen
• Sudden weight gain from fluid
• Tiredness or low energy
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Persistent cough or wheeze

Risk factors for heart failure include:

• Coronary artery disease and prior heart attacks
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Heart valve disease

Smoking, eating foods high in salt, saturated fat, or cholesterol, not getting enough physical activity, and drinking excessive alcohol, especially in people who already have one or more of the above health conditions

Heart failure is usually diagnosed with a physical exam, blood pressure check, and listening to the heart and lungs for extra sounds or crackles. Blood tests can look for signs of strain on the heart and check kidney, liver, and thyroid function, and tests such as chest X-ray, echocardiogram, EKG, stress testing, or other cardiac imaging are often used to measure how well the heart is pumping and to uncover the cause of heart failure.

High Cholesterol

High cholesterol, also called hyperlipidemia, is very common in the United States. It means there are extra fats (lipids) in the blood, often including higher levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Over time, these fats can build up in artery walls, forming plaque that narrows or blocks arteries and raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.

High cholesterol usually has no symptoms until serious problems like chest pain, heart attack, or stroke occur. Plaque can build up in the arteries of the heart, legs, and brain, which may cause pain with walking, poor balance, and lower endurance over time.

High cholesterol is typically found with a blood test called a lipid panel that measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL (“good” cholesterol), and triglycerides.

Risk factors for high cholesterol include:

• Diabetes or prediabetes
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Obesity
• Family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease
• Excessive alcohol use
• Smoking
• Not eating a nutritious diet

Certain medicines that treat other conditions and some long-term illnesses (such as liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and autoimmune conditions) can also affect cholesterol levels.

When to Talk to Your Doctor About Your Heart

Many heart conditions can be managed with a combination of lifestyle changes and medication, and taking heart medicines exactly as prescribed is important. Keep an up-to-date list of all medicines and doses and carry it to every appointment or when traveling.

Talk to your doctor if you:

• Notice new or worsening shortness of breath
• See new swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
• Feel your heart racing, pounding, or skipping beats
• Have repeated dizziness, near-fainting, or actual fainting
• Feel new chest discomfort, pressure, or pain

Swelling in the legs can make shoes feel tight and can make it harder to bend your knees or walk across a room. Keeping a simple symptom log with notes about what you felt, when it started, how long it lasted, and what you were doing at the time can help you and your doctor spot patterns and decide on next steps.

At medical visits, ask for explanations in plain language and repeat back what you heard to make sure it is clear. If possible, bring a loved one or caregiver to help take notes, ask questions, and remember what was said.

If you notice that you or your loved one is walking more slowly, getting short of breath with simple tasks, or needing more help to get around, ask your doctor whether heart health might be part of the cause. Early evaluation and treatment can support better mobility and quality of life.

When to Call 911 Right Away

Some symptoms are emergencies and need fast action. Quick treatment can reduce damage to the heart or brain and can save a life, especially in older adults.

Call 911 immediately if you or your loved one has:

• Sudden chest pain or pressure
• Trouble breathing or feeling like you cannot get enough air
• Sudden confusion, fainting, or passing out
• Sudden trouble speaking, weakness, or difficulty moving one side of the body

FAST: Stroke Signs

The FAST acronym can help you remember signs of a possible stroke:

• Face: One side of the face droops when the person smiles or the smile looks uneven.
• Arms: One arm drifts down when both arms are raised.
• Speech: Speech is slurred, hard to understand, or the person cannot find words.
• Time: Call 911 right away if you see any of these signs, even if they come and go.

Stroke and serious heart events can cause a sudden loss of mobility, making it hard or impossible to walk without help. Rapid treatment is critical to preserve independence and reduce long-term disability. Caregivers should treat any sudden change in walking, balance, or ability to stand as a possible emergency, especially when combined with chest pain, shortness of breath, or confusion.

If new symptoms are mild but worrying - for example, new chest discomfort that is not severe - contact your doctor right away for guidance.

Small Steps Matter

Small, consistent daily habit changes may make a positive impact on your heart health. Talk to your doctor about what they recommend for you or your loved one.