According to a bulletin released by the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sept. 2, 2015, most of our hearts are older
than we are. Given the importance of the heart in maintaining life, this
conclusion is not good news. The key factors listed by the CDC in determining
heart age are our biological age, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure
treatment status, smoking status, diabetes, and body mass index. Key factors in
the heart age calculation did not include diet and exercise.
Source: HEALTH
AND WELLNESS BLOG INDIA
The title of the bulletin is Most Americans’ hearts are older than their age, with a byline Higher heart age means higher risk of heart
attacks and stroke. The difference between biological age and heart age
depends upon several factors. The discrepancies vary by gender, race, economic
status, and education.
The details of these differences are discussed in a CDC
publication Vital Signs. Men have
higher heart ages differences versus women, with 8 years for men versus 5 years
for women. Hispanics and African-Americans have heart ages than whites. High
blood pressure above 140 mm Hg increase the heart age by about 20 years in men
and 18 years in women.
The CDC based their major conclusions on the Framingham Heart Age Calculator factors.
A summary of the key conclusions of the CDC study is
published in Vital Signs.
“1 in 2 men have a heart age 5 or more years older than their actual age.
2 in 5 women have a
heart age 5 or more years older than their actual age.
About 3 in 4 heart
attacks and strokes are due to risk factors that increase heart age.”
The recommendations made from the study are simple to follow
and hard to do.
“The most common reasons
for a higher heart age that can be changed or managed are: high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and
diabetes. At any age, you can make your heart younger by making changes that
reduce your risk.”
You can calculate your own heart age using the Framingham Heart Age Calculator. The
body mass index (BMI) calculator is also included because the BMI is used in
the heart age calculation. Although the CDC recommendations mention control of
cholesterol, regular physical activity and a healthy diet, the Framingham
calculator does not include these factors.
The key to improving your heart age is to maintain a healthy
weight through diet and exercise, avoid smoking, avoid or control diabetes, and
keep your blood pressure down. The factors that improve your heart age also
reduce your cancer risk. Those that have genetic issues with heart disease and
cancer can still improve their ability to prevent heart attacks, strokes and
cancers by following the recommendations to reduce heart age. While it is true
that we all die of something, we can make these changes that will improve the
qualities of our lives and extend the period that we are healthy. Do it.
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