The common expression “young at heart” could appropriately be changed to “old at heart” for many Americans, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 1. 1t notes that 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, and about 3 in 4 heart attacks and strokes are due to risk factors that increase heart age. Furthermore, overall. American adults have hearts 7 years older than they should be.
The report cites examples: (1) a 53-year-old has a heart age of 75 years because she smokes and has uncontrolled high blood pressure; (2) a 45-year-old man who has a healthy weight has a heart age of 75 because he smokes, has high blood pressure, and is diabetic; (3) a 50-year-old woman is a non-smoker has a heart age of 85 years because she has high blood pressure, is diabetic, and is obese.
The report notes one way to understand your risk for a heart attack or stroke is to learn your “heart age.” Heart age is the age of your heart and blood vessels as a result of your risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Some factors that increase one’s risk for a heart attack or stroke are beyond his or her control. These include getting older or family history. However, there are many other risk factors that can be modified. If you smoke or have high blood pressure, your heart age will be much higher than your actual age. The most common reasons for a higher heart age that can be modified 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. Even if you have not suffered a heart attack or stroke, most adults in the United States have a heart age older than their actual age placing them at greater risk of having one.
The report cites the following risk factors and how to modify them:
High blood pressure: Seek medical help to get it under control
High cholesterol: Discuss a treatment plan with your doctor to bring it under control
Diabetes: If you have diabetes, bring it under control (most patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight)
Tobacco use: If you smoke, quit; also avoid secondhand smoke
Unhealthy diet: Eat a healthy diet, low in sodium and trans fats, and high in fresh fruits and vegetables
Physical activity: Get at least 150 minutes every week of moderate intensity exercise such as brisk walking
Obesity: Maintain a healthy weight—your body mass index should be in the normal range
The report noted geographic differences in average heart age measured by the percentage of adults whose heart age is 5 or more years older than their actual age. California, Utah, Colorado, Massachusetts scored the best; however, 36.1-39.6% is nothing to brag about. The five states with the highest percentage (48.0-56.5%) were Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Alabama.
