ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the ways in which prevention and treatment of the conditions can be optimized in older women, particularly by a multidisciplinary approach of the health care team. Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension have increased in the past decade in response to major public health campaigns and many new drug choices. Engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors offers the potential for preventing hypertension, has been shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure, and can reduce other cardiovascular risk factors at little cost and with minimum risk. Congestive heart failure is the only cardiac diagnosis which is continuing to increase in prevalence the United States, due to the prolonged survival of those with hypertension and ischemic heart disease, as well as improved average lifespan of the population. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease are common disease states among the elderly that are associated with increased risk for heart attack, congestive heart failure, and stroke.
