New York—For many Americans, turning 60 marks a milestone of wisdom, freedom, and a new chapter of life. But for medical professionals, it’s also a critical turning point for cardiovascular health, as the risk of a major cardiac event dramatically increases. A growing body of research suggests that for this demographic, a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular issue isn’t a distant possibility but a lurking threat that can strike at any moment.

Dr. Sarah Chen, a leading cardiologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, explains this phenomenon. “After age 60, the cumulative effects of decades of lifestyle choices, genetics, and natural biological changes really start to manifest,” she says. “It’s not a sudden cliff, but a point where the underlying issues become significant enough to trigger an acute event.”

The Key Factors at Play

Several interconnected factors contribute to this heightened risk, each with a clear scientific basis:

• Arterial Stiffening (Arteriosclerosis): With age, arteries naturally lose their elasticity and become more rigid. This process, known as arteriosclerosis, forces the heart to work harder to pump blood, leading to high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), approximately 70% of people over 65 have hypertension. Stiffened arteries are also more prone to plaque buildup, creating a dangerous cycle that significantly increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
• Plaque Buildup and Atherosclerosis: This is perhaps the most significant threat. Over a lifetime, cholesterol, fats, and other substances can build up on artery walls, forming plaques. This condition, called atherosclerosis, narrows blood vessels and can lead to a complete blockage. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that plaque rupture—where a piece of plaque breaks off and forms a blood clot—is the leading cause of heart attacks, and the prevalence of such plaques is notably higher in older adults.

• Chronic Inflammation: Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury, but chronic, low-grade inflammation is a silent enemy. Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that as people age, inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) often rise. This chronic inflammation contributes to plaque instability, making a rupture more likely. Poor diet, lack of exercise, and other lifestyle factors can fuel this inflammation.
• Genetics and Predisposition: While lifestyle is crucial, a person’s genetic makeup can’t be ignored. A family history of heart disease, particularly in parents or siblings who had a heart attack before age 55 (for men) or 65 (for women), is a significant risk factor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights that genetics can influence cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and a person’s susceptibility to inflammation.

The Warning Signs are Subtle

The danger for those over 60 is compounded by the fact that symptoms of cardiovascular problems are often atypical or easily mistaken for other age-related issues. A heart attack in an older person might not present as the classic “crushing chest pain” seen in movies. Instead, it could be a sudden shortness of breath, unexplained fatigue, or pain in the jaw or back. This can lead to a delayed response, which is a major factor in patient outcomes.

“We see this all the time,” says Dr. Chen. “A patient might attribute their fatigue to ‘just getting older’ or a stomach ache to indigestion, when in reality, it’s their heart sending a distress signal.”

What Can Be Done?

The good news is that the risk is manageable, and awareness is the first step. Medical professionals urge those over 60 to be proactive, not reactive, with their health.

• Regular Check-ups: An annual physical is non-negotiable. It allows doctors to monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar—the “big three” risk factors.
• Active Lifestyle: Even moderate exercise, like a 30-minute walk five days a week, can significantly improve heart health by strengthening the heart muscle and improving circulation.
• Healthy Diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Limiting sodium and processed foods is also critical.
• Know Your Numbers: The AHA strongly recommends everyone know their “four key numbers”: total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, and body mass index (BMI).

The message is clear: the post-60 years can be a time of great vitality, but they require a conscious and ongoing commitment to cardiovascular health. The heart may be resilient, but for those in this age group, it requires diligent care.

The Clock is Ticking: Being over 60 Does NOT Mean it’s Time to Slow Down

My favorite life experiences have involved camping – and I don’t want to give camping up.

My parents sent me away to Yokuts Club Camp in Yosemite when I was seven years old. Though that first camping escapade for me was actually my expulsion during their divorce, my love for the outdoors was established.

I saw the Milky Way for the first time. I smelled the scent of authentic cedar and experienced the awe of watching water tumble thousands of feet in Yosemite Falls. I found my way using a compass, discovered how to pace myself hiking on steep trails, which plants were edible, and what to do in the case of rattlesnake bite. I learned toothpaste was among the scented items that could not be left in the tent at night, but rather had to be safely put away in the bear box.  I was an expert camper by the time I was 10.

I continued to camp in the Sierras growing up, first with the Girl Scouts and later with friends. I even did a weekend with students in one of my college art courses in California when our instructor believed we needed to be survivalists to pass the class. That was the ‘60s.

Once married to a Norwegian, I continued my favorite activity with him (now a former husband) and with our two sons. My adult sons and I have camped together as recently as two summers ago.

Which brings me to this past summer (August 2018).

I wanted to go camping and couldn’t find anyone to go with me. My friends generally think camping is a double bed in a two-star motel, and have no interest in tents, or two-star motels. And, well, my sons, in their 40s, don’t have time in their present lives to camp with mom.

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So, it appeared that at 68 years of age, my love of camping had become problematic. And, what was worse, I felt the ticking of ‘the aging clock.’ If I don’t do it now, when am I going to do it? Will I be able to physically do it next year, or the year after that?? How long will my body work? What if I break something, like last year, or if dementia sets in?

I came to the painful realization that if I were to camp, I’d have to figure something out immediately, all by myself. The good news was that since I was planning to be in California anyway visiting my sons, I might be able to find an opportunity in California’s vast outdoors.

I googled “California,” “camping,” “August.”

I found a five-day camping trip in the coastal redwoods (no forest fires there) – upscale: with guides to set up camp and carry your gear and with chefs to prepare all your gourmet meals. Sounded too good to be true. It was so true. I called the company and found out I would even have my own four-man dome tent because I was traveling alone – at no extra charge. The trip included two afternoons of bicycling in the redwoods, one morning kayaking in a lagoon, and three days hiking through the most beautiful redwoods imaginable. I was in.

The trip was fantastic.

There ended up to be 17 campers – a family of five from Mexico (youngest child was 19), three men in their 30s from Indiana, a mother and daughter from North Carolina, three single people from different cities, and FOUR WOMEN OVER 60 – two from Texas, one from Arlington, and I. I was the oldest. The other three women came on the trip alone because their husbands don’t like to camp. The love of the outdoors, and I hate to admit our age, bonded us. While all of us (the campers and the guides) enjoyed meals and campfires together, we four hiked the six-mile trails and the 12-mile bicycle trips together. We did not participate in the extended hikes and bike rides. Instead, we visited the water holes and the Northern California beach (That beach required a separate hike up a very steep cliff). The great thing about that trip was that everyone could go their own speed. Ours was one of balance. We even did yoga one afternoon as the mother from Mexico was also a yoga instructor.

We had two highlights. One was experiencing a true spiritual place called Fern Canyon and the other was our visit to the wine-tasting place in Trinity. Fern Canyon represented the culmination of a 7-mile hike through indescribably magnificent redwoods. The canyon had ferns growing up its sides with waterfalls raining down. The wine-tasting was just plain old fun. We road our bicycles to Trinity. Several people went on to ride along the coast. We ‘girls’ opted to hang out in Trinity as it is a lovely little town on a precipice overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Then we found the little wine-tasting place. We didn’t tell our guides, however, and they didn’t realize there was a wine-tasting place. So, while we were laughing and enjoying wine with some locals, our guides were looking for us in the art galleries (where old ladies would surely be).

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Thanks to the fact that we all carried our cell phones, the guides found us in time for dinner and another campfire, where we laughed, made smores, and enjoyed each other before the journey home the next day.

My lesson learned was to enjoy every moment of every day, that it’s wonderful to make new friends, and not to be afraid to follow my heart.