Do You Know Your "Heart Age"?

Aging is inevitable. The process may feel slow to some and too fast to others. Whatever stage in the marathon of life in which you find yourself, you are always going to have a number associated with years of life. How you live those years is up to you.

Everyone knows their life age. Do you know your “heart age”? You know, the age your heart actually is when compared to your actual age? According to new findings in a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) titled “Vital Signs”, almost 70 million American adults have a “heart age” that is, on average, 7 years older than their chronological age.

But how did they get this heart age? CDC researchers collected data from each state in America along with useful tidbits from the Framingham Heart Study. This data included certain risk factors like Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure levels, and how active a person is, or is not, to determine the strength of their cardiovascular system.

By the numbers it’s no surprise that, as a whole, America’s heart age is much older than its chronological age. This is the first study of its kind, and there are currently apps out there for you to figure out your general heart age, but it doesn’t take a special formula to discover that your heart is lagging behind and possibly getting lapped by your actual chronological age. You know how much attention you are paying to your cardiovascular system on a daily basis.

“Use of heart age might simplify risk communication and motivate more persons, especially younger persons, to adopt healthier lifestyles and better comply with recommended therapeutic interventions to prevent heart disease and stroke,” authors write in the study used by the CDC. “Moreover, its use might support public health efforts in geographic areas most at risk for poor CVD outcomes and support the implementation of programs and policies that increase the availability of heart-healthy lifestyle options within communities.” (apta.org)

We could talk until we are blue in the face about the importance of a strong cardiovascular system and the importance of the heart in general to overall health and well-being. It seems the vast majority of people know this, but somehow our heart age is still lagging behind.

Maybe the new study, as the CDC authors described above, can be another form of motivation to keep your heart healthy and young, so that you can continue to feel healthy and young, even if your “real age” is high.

We are committed to your health at The Smith Clinic. This is why we offer fitness memberships and continually offer Transformation Challenges. Our physical therapists and certified personal trainers are here to help you find the best version of yourself through motivation and hard work. Don’t let the word “hard” throw you off! Often, the most rewarding things in life come from the things that challenges us the most!

So take control of your life and your heart age. Don’t get left behind by your aging heart and declining health. The time is now to push forward and do the things you’ve always wanted to do and accomplish in life.

Give us a call or email us today to talk about our fitness program, transformation challenges, and physical therapy to get started on your journey.