What effect does aging have on the peripheral blood vessels? What effect does this have on the older patient's ability to compensate for volume loss? What effect does this have on the older patient's ability to tolerate hot or cold environments?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Peripheral vessel walls become sclerotic and less able to vary the diameter of the vessel. Older patients cannot vasoconstrict as efficiently in response to volume loss. Because the elderly cannot vary the diameter of their peripheral blood vessels effectively, they cannot thermoregulate as well as younger patients.