Heart age is an estimate designed to help people understand how their cardiovascular risk compares with their actual age.
Heart age is an estimate designed to help people understand how their cardiovascular risk compares with their actual age. While a person may be 45 years old, they could have a heart age that is older if factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking or diabetes increase their risk for cardiovascular disease.
"Heart age gives patients a simple way to understand their cardiovascular health and the factors that may be increasing their risk," says Ryan Norris, D.O., a cardiologist at the INTEGRIS Health Heart Hospital. "Knowing the information allows patients to have conversations with their doctor about what steps they can take today to improve their heart health and reduce future risk."
Heart age calculators typically use information associated with a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
The specific factors included may vary depending on the assessment being used, but commonly considered factors include:
Modern cardiovascular risk assessments may also consider kidney function and other metabolic health information. For example, the American Heart Association’s PREVENT™ calculator incorporates cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health factors and can translate a person’s estimated cardiovascular risk into a PREVENT-Age.
Heart age is not a diagnosis and does not mean the heart itself is actually aging faster. Instead, it serves as a tool to help people better understand how their current health and lifestyle may affect their future risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.
"Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can gradually change without causing any symptoms yet can have a significant impact on your risk of heart disease," states Norris. "When patients know their numbers, they can work with their doctor to set targeted goals, taking steps to protect their heart health for years to come."
High blood pressure and high cholesterol can develop without noticeable symptoms, making routine screenings important even for people who otherwise feel healthy.
Unlike a person’s actual age, an estimated heart age may change as modifiable cardiovascular risk factors improve.
Steps that can support better heart health include:
Small, consistent changes can make a meaningful difference over time. However, the right prevention plan will vary based on a person’s age, medical history, family history and existing health conditions.
Understanding cardiovascular risk begins with knowing important health measurements, including blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. A primary care physician or cardiologist can help determine how frequently these measurements should be checked and whether additional evaluation is appropriate.
Online heart age and cardiovascular risk calculators can be helpful educational tools, but they should not replace an evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.
People with symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, unexplained sweating, nausea, dizziness, weakness or pain that spreads to the arm, back, neck or jaw should seek immediate medical attention.
To learn more about cardiovascular care at INTEGRIS Health or to find a provider, visit here.
