New test predicts WHEN you’ll suffer a heart attack – as it emerges 4 in 5 Brits’ tickers are older than they are
An NHS online test has revealed almost 80 per cent of over-30s in the UK have hearts which are older than they are
FOUR in five Brits are at greater risk of suffering heart disease because their lifestyles mean their ticker is “older” than they are.
The warning comes as the NHS relaunches a tool that predicts when you will have a heart attack or stroke.
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It asks for your date of birth, smoking status and gender before estimating your “heart age”.
And those whose heart is older than their actual age will now be given lifestyle advice on how to reverse the ageing.
Nearly one million Brits used the old version of the tool on the NHS Choices website.
And 79.2 per cent of over-30s found their tickers were older than they were, increasing their risk of heart attack or stroke.
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The findings were revealed in a study of 575,000 people in the journal BMJ Open.
Nearly nine in ten men under 40 had a heart older than them, compared with 41 per cent of women of the same age.
Researchers from University College London found many did not know their own risk factors such as cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Cardiovascular disease causes more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK, equivalent to around 155,000 people each year.
High blood pressure and cholesterol, smoking, diet and a lack of exercise can increase the risk of the disease.
Dr Mike Knapton, of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Knowing your heart age is vital to taking control of your health.
"Armed with this knowledge you can start to make changes to help protect yourself against cruel and life-changing events such as heart attack and stroke.
The younger you start making small but significant changes, the greater the return on your investment in your health
Dr Mike Knapton, of the British Heart Foundation
"Research has shown that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, poor diet and a lack of exercise, as well as a lack of investing in your future health and fitness all contribute to increasing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
“The younger you start making small but significant changes, the greater the return on your investment in your health.”
John Deanfield, BHF professor of cardiology, who helped design the heart calculator said it is designed to empower people to take control of their heart health.
"Our research shows that helping people to clearly understand their risk of heart disease, and the lifestyle and medication options for lowering it, can empower them to make significant improvements to their heart health with the potential to last a lifetime."
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MED DIET UK BOOST
EATING a Mediterranean diet really can cut Brits’ risk of heart disease, a major study shows.
The survey of 24,000 UK residents, the first of its kind, revealed heart health was boosted by up to 16 per cent.
Cambridge University experts say 20,000 deaths a year could be prevented if we all switched to the diet.
It involves eating plenty of fruit, veg, grains, nuts and olive oil while reducing red meat and dairy.