Rationale: Blood Pressure and Aging

With aging, several physiological changes occur in the body, which directly affect blood pressure.

It is generally observed that blood pressure tends to increase with age, especially systolic blood pressure.

The main reason for this is the decrease in the elasticity of the arteries.

In youth, arteries are elastic and flexible, allowing them to expand and contract according to blood flow. However, with age, the arterial walls become stiff.

When the elasticity of the arteries decreases, the heart has to exert more pressure to pump the blood, which leads to an increase in blood pressure.

Why not the other options?

A decrease in peripheral resistance should lower blood pressure, not increase it. Therefore, this reason is incorrect.

Decreased muscle mass can occur with age, but it is not directly related to an increase in blood pressure.

Changes in exercise and diet can affect blood pressure, but this is not considered the primary physiological cause of age-related blood pressure increase.

✅ Exam Point:
The main reason for increased blood pressure with age is
➤ Decreased elasticity of arterial walls.
This question is frequently asked in geriatric nursing, physiology, and community health exams.

📌 Disclaimer: This information is for nursing exam preparation and educational purposes only. For actual patient management, follow standard textbooks and clinical guidelines.

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