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The NHS has introduced a tool that lets you determine your heart’s “age” conveniently from home. This heart age can offer a glimpse into your overall well-being, and if your heart age exceeds your actual age, it might indicate a heightened risk of heart attack or stroke.
This accessible calculator evaluates your current age against your heart age by asking you a series of health-related questions. It takes under 10 minutes to complete and provides guidance on healthy lifestyle changes for those aiming to improve their heart age.
The tool is designed for individuals aged between 30 and 95 who do not have existing heart or vascular conditions. It requests information such as weight, height, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
You can still use the calculator even if you’re unaware of your blood pressure or cholesterol figures, although the accuracy might be compromised. The calculator also requires your age and postcode, which the NHS ensures are not stored or used to personally identify users.
The NHS indicates that including age and postcode leads to a “more precise heart age calculation” because the postcode correlates with a deprivation index. However, entering your postcode is optional, according to the Daily Record.
The results reveal an “estimated” heart age and predict the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke within the next decade. Participants receive a detailed explanation of their results, along with NHS-recommended advice on maintaining heart health.
The guidance includes the message: “Evidence suggests that taking care of your heart health when you’re younger can make a significant difference to your heart health in later years.”
It also emphasises: “This is especially important if there is a history of heart problems in your family.”
To find out your heart age, you can use the online calculator here.
