""When I was 80 I won in Denmark," she says. She also won a medal in Ibiza in 2023. "It feels good," she says with a girlish laugh. "There's not much competition in my age category," she acknowledges, so it's a bit easier to come in first, but it's just as thrilling. "You still get on the podium and everybody claps," she says."
"Like most Americans over the age of 60, Easton has chronic health conditions including some issues with her heart that require treatment and monitoring. But she's tackled them proactively. Want the latest stories on the science of healthy living? Subscribe to NPR's Health newsletter. And her story shows the payoff of focusing on early diagnosis and treatment, combined with smart choices, and an awareness of evidence-backed lifestyle habits that can slow down or prevent chronic heart conditions. These steps can help improve your health at any age. A wake-up call Easton has always been active. In high school she attended a school that stood up girls basketball and field hockey. But five years ago, she feared her athletic days were behind her when she started feeling short of breath during workouts. She made an appointment with a sports cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. "They did all kinds of tests and found out that my heart isn't as strong as it's supposed to be," Easton says. Doctors measured her ejection fraction, or EF, which is an estimate of the amount of blood a person's heart pumps out with each heartbeat."
Luise Easton, 87, competes in triathlons and continues to win medals in her age category, including events in Denmark and Ibiza. She finds racing thrilling despite limited competition because podium recognition remains rewarding. Easton faces chronic health conditions common in Americans over 60, including heart issues that require monitoring and treatment, but she pursued proactive care. A bout of shortness of breath led her to a sports cardiologist who performed tests and measured her ejection fraction. Early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and evidence-backed lifestyle choices can slow or prevent chronic heart disease and improve health at any age.
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