The "aging process" causes specific cardiovascular changes. This leads to reduced physical and mental ability. Aging is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Scientists a have learned great deal about the interaction of aging with cardiovascular disease related changes and have identified risk factors for both heart and vascular aging, and heart disease. This allows the development of strategies to prevent or to lessen the impact of both aging and disease. This series provides information which will enlighten you about how aging, disease, and their interaction impact on your heart and arteries. Initial articles will discuss how aging affects your heart and blood vessels. Subsequent articles will teach you about risk factors for cardiovascular disease, how aging interacts with risk factors and what you can try to do in an attempt to preserve your cardiovascular health.