Health
New Online Tool Reveals Your Heart’s True Age
Health Points
- A new heart age calculator translates heart disease risk into a relatable ‘heart age.’
- If your heart age is much higher than your actual age, it could be a warning sign.
- Experts highlight both the benefits and limits of using heart age to track health.
Researchers have launched an innovative online calculator that gives your heart a relative “age,” helping you understand your cardiovascular risk more clearly than traditional percentages.
This tool aims to make heart health feel more personal, which may inspire more people to take preventive steps.
Instead of a risk percentage, the calculator lets users see if their heart is older or younger than they are, making the information easier to use for important health decisions.
According to Dr. Sadiya Khan, professor at Northwestern University, “If your heart age is five or ten years older than your real age, that’s a reason to talk to your doctor.”
The calculator is based on the American Heart Association’s PREVENT framework and considers factors like cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and kidney health.
Researchers found most participants had a heart age higher than their chronological age, with differences seen among various racial, educational, and income groups.
Khan noted that a heart age just a couple of years older than your real age is generally not concerning, but larger gaps may indicate risks that can be improved through lifestyle changes or medications.
Experts such as Dr. Nour Makarem from Columbia University note that seeing your heart age side by side with your actual age can help highlight the importance of managing blood pressure and cholesterol.
Some specialists caution that while helpful, heart age calculators don’t replace standard medical advice or guarantee improved health outcomes.
Dr. Michael Miller from Penn Medicine explained, “Treating high blood pressure, high glucose, and high cholesterol remains crucial no matter what your heart age is.”
Although the tool’s integration into everyday care may take time, experts agree it offers a new, accessible way to start the conversation about heart health.
Want to discover your own heart age? Talk to your healthcare provider or explore the tool online to learn more about your heart health status.
