The concept of heart age was created in order to help a person understand better what are the risks of dying from a heart attack or from a stroke, and what can be done to reduce that risk. Heart age is calculated based on the person’s cardiovascular system risk factor chart.
The main risks consist of high blood pressure, diabetes profile, smoking habits, and obesity factor.
According to a new report from CDC, if you are an American citizen, chances are that you have a heart that is older than you are. The predicted heart age of three out of four US adults is older than their human age, which means they have an increased risk of having heart attacks and stroke. Tom Frieden – CDC Director, said that the number of US adults with a heart age older than their actual age is concerning, and he believes no other nation in the world comes close to this percentage.
This study is currently the first to determine the heart age of a nationwide population. The report provides exciting statistics that show heart age varies by gender, race, and – surprisingly, religion.
Researchers at CDC looked into the risk factor data that was collected from the Framingham Heart Study from 1948, in which almost 70 million adults between the ages of 28 and 75 from every US state were analyzed.
The report found that the average heart age 8-9 years older than their actual age. The heart age of African-American population is about 11 years older than their chronological age. It came as no surprise when the researchers found that the heart age is more reduced in adults with education and domestic income.
It was found that the heart age also varies according to the geographic location across the country. Adults in the southern US are more prone to higher heart ages. The highest percentage of people with an older heart age dwell in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Louisiana. While at the other end of the spectrum are the states of Colorado, Utah and California.
Frieden warns US citizens that if they take cardiovascular diseases for granted they won’t be able of acting in time to prevent potential heart attacks and strokes. Lowering the risks is not that difficult, quitting smoking, exercising and eating healthier would prove more than enough to bring heart problems to a close. The CDC Director advices health departments nationwide to help on improving the situation by promoting more access to healthy food.
Photo credits: wikipedia
