The NHS has a free and easy tool people can use to determine how “old” their heart is in under 10 minutes. A score that is higher than your actual age can indicate a greater risk of a stroke or heart attack.
The easy-to-use calculator compares a person’s real age to their heart age by asking questions about their health. It is said to take less than 10 minutes to use, and also offers some healthy lifestyle changes for those wanting to improve their heart age.
People aged between 30 and 95 can use the calculator, provided they do not have a condition affecting their heart or blood vessels. The tool asks about weight, height, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
Even without knowledge of your blood pressure or cholesterol details, you can still use the calculator, but the results may be less precise. The heart age calculator also requires your age and postcode, which the NHS assures is neither stored nor used to identify an individual.
The NHS explains that the inclusion of age and postcode enables a “more accurate heart age calculation”, as the postcode is matched against a deprivation index. However, entering your postcode is optional.
The results provide an “about” heart age and estimate the likelihood of a person suffering a heart attack or stroke in the next decade. Individuals receive a detailed analysis of their results, along with NHS advice on maintaining cardiac health.
The guidance includes the assertion: “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 highlights the importance for those with a family history of heart issues, stating: “This is especially important if there is a history of heart problems in your family.”
You can find out your heart age by using the online calculator here