The aging heart.

The heart of an elderly person functions well in ordinary circumstances but has lost much of its physiologic reserve. The effects of aging myocardium are difficult to spearate from those of coronary atherosclerosis. In addition to ischemic heart disease, a high index of suspicion must be maintained for the sick sinus syndrome, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, congenital lesions, corpulmonale and thyroid disease. Management requires the judicious use of drugs and the prescription of appropriate physical activity.