HESI Health Assessment Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The common normal physiological finding in older adults concerning blood vessels is that peripheral blood vessels grow more rigid. As individuals age, the elasticity of blood vessels tends to decrease due to a combination of factors, including the accumulation of collagen and other structural changes in the vessel walls. This rigidity can lead to an increased risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular issues, as the blood vessels cannot expand as easily with each heartbeat.

The aging process also involves changes in the composition and function of endothelial cells, further contributing to the stiffness of the blood vessels. Recognizing this change is crucial for understanding the overall cardiovascular health of older adults and how they may respond to various physiological stresses.

Other options detail alternate phenomena that may occur but are not considered normal physiological findings in aging. Hormonal changes affecting vasodilation can occur but aren't a typical result in older adults, while the atrophy of intramuscular veins and narrowing of the inferior vena cava are not standard observations attributed to the natural aging process in peripheral blood vessels.