Final answer:
Geriatrics involves understanding the biological, social, and psychological changes that occur in the elderly, with factors such as catecholamines, cardiac beta receptors, and vascular changes significantly influencing health and cardiac function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors Associated with Geriatrics
Geriatrics is a field that focuses on health care for elderly people. It addresses the complex needs of older adults by considering various biological, social, and psychological changes that occur during aging. Important factors associated with geriatrics and affecting the elderly include the balance of catecholamines like norepinephrine and epinephrine, the sensitivity and number of cardiac beta receptors, and vascular changes that influence cardiac output.
Catecholamines affect cardiovascular health by modulating the filtration fraction through vasoconstriction of arterioles, impacting blood flow and blood pressure. Changes in cardiac beta receptors are also significant, affecting heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV). These are influenced by autonomic innervation and endocrine control, including the activity of thyroid hormones like T3 and T4, as well as the presence of electrolytes and temperature in the environment. Lastly, vascular changes, such as increased arterial stiffness, contribute to the higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases seen in older populations. These changes complicate the cardiovascular response to various stressors, like physical exercise or emotional stress, and impact the overall health of the elderly.
The field of geriatrics also considers the importance of lifestyle choices in what is known as secondary aging, notably the role of physical exercise and diet, which together with primary aging (cellular and molecular changes), shape the process of growing older.