Cardiologist explains how to say if your heart is getting old too fast and 4 tips to keep young

• Healthy heart ages are very important for longevity, and most Americans are aging faster than expected.

• A cardiologist said understanding of your heart age can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

• Try a free online calculator to find the age of your heart. Improve this with simple habits such as daily walking.

Your heart may be older than you think by limiting your potential life expectancy for up to a decade. However, a cardiologist says that several simple lifestyle changes can help.

New research on the Northwest University School of Medicine shows that American heart health is four to seven years older than their calendar.

This is due to risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and sedentary routine, increasing the risk of heart disease, the main cause of death in the US.

You can check the age of your heart for free using the test prepared by Northwestern researchers.

If you do not like what you see by incorporating your daily habits such as regular exercise, you can improve your heart age, said dr. Sadiya Khan, a preventive cardiologist and a professor of cardiovascular epidemiology who led a team that created a spreadsheet.

“When we think of our growing, aging population, some people are aging faster than others, and the slowdown that a decrease can have a major health impact,” Khan told Business Insider.

How do you say if your heart is healthy

Usually doctors measure the percentage of heart health using your vital signs. For example, a patient with 7.5% of the risk of heart disease is considered as an intermediate risk.

But it is not suitable for the average person.

“This is complex information about communication and perception. What does it mean to have a 7.5%risk?” said Khan.

That’s why Khan’s team made age forecast. It is easier to come up with your heart health plan if you realize what it means to your life expectancy.

Researchers investigated 14,000 adults in the US between the ages of 30 and 79, without a previous heart medical history. They found that, on average, women’s heart health was approximately four years older than the chronological age, and that men’s heart ages were about seven years older than their chronological age.

The gap of people with lower income and level of education increased; The age of their heart was even 10 years older than the chronological age.

Khan has added a warning: It is important to note that the calculator is more accurately the forecast of the heart health risk, but it is not intended to use your health separately. Talk to your doctor about your risk.

“There is no exact number that means people should be worried or concerned, but give a certain context what it means to have a age of five or 10 years old,” she said.

Simple ways to increase heart health

Khan argued that knowing the age of his heart health can help find simple, effective steps to increase longevity.

“We wanted to be sure it was a means of motivating a healthy heart,” she said. “There are things we already know who can help the age of your heart and improve.”

Increase your heart health:

• Stop smoking: If you are a smoker, throw a challenge you can change, you can do to improve your heart health, Khan said. It is not just tobacco – marijuana was associated with worse heart health, even eaten.

• Optimize your workout: Regular physical activity, including low -intensity movement, such as walking, helps to strengthen your heart, and every minute added is important.

• Get the right macro: All foods rich in fiber and healthy fats, such as Omega-3, help keep your heart back. Avoid recycled food and added sugar.

• Manage your stress: Recreation and relaxation are very important to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol low and prevent your heart’s tension.

If you are already young, following the tips above, you can help you stay for the coming year for such a year.

“If your heart age is a good place, it has to keep it with strategies,” Khan said.

Read the original article about Business Insider