A new study suggests that many Americans’ hearts may be aging faster than their actual age, revealing a significant gap between heart health and chronological age. The concept of “heart age” was developed by Dr. Sadiya Khan and her team to provide a more relatable way to understand the risk of heart disease.
The heart age calculator uses data from the American Heart Association’s Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events (PREVENT) tool, which assesses factors such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, BMI, medications, smoking habits, and diabetes status. By translating these risk percentages into “heart ages,” researchers found that many people had a heart age that was significantly older than their chronological age.
On average, men’s hearts were seven years older than their actual age, while women’s hearts were four years older. The gap between heart age and chronological age was particularly significant for certain groups, including those with a high school education or less and Black and Hispanic populations.
The study’s findings have implications for understanding the disparities in life expectancy among different racial and ethnic groups. Researchers found that almost a third of men with a high school education or less had an age discrepancy of 10 years between their heart age and actual age, highlighting the need to address these disparities.
While knowing one’s “heart age” is not a direct measure of risk, it can serve as a reminder to maintain good habits and make healthy changes. By understanding our individual risks and taking control of modifiable factors such as diet, exercise, and smoking, we can work towards a healthier heart age.
According to Dr. Natalie Azar, “heart disease is the No. 1 killer in this country,” making it essential to have tools like the heart age calculator to empower individuals and healthcare providers to make informed decisions about their health.
Source: https://www.today.com/health/disease/heart-age-study-calculator-rcna222001