New analysis from PHE’s Heart Age Test shows many have a heightened risk of a potentially fatal heart attack or stroke.
Analysis of 1.2 million test results shows the majority of people (64%) with a heart 10 years older than their actual age are male. Every month, 7,400 people die from heart disease or stroke. A quarter of deaths are of people under 75 and most of these can be prevented.
Public Health England’s (PHE) campaign is leading the way in addressing how people think about their heart health, encouraging them to be as familiar with their heart age as they are with their weight or height. To help people find out their risk and get an immediate idea of their heart health, PHE is encouraging adults to take 3 minutes out of their day to take the Heart Age Test - this is the only known way of measuring our heart age, which shows how many years we can expect to live healthily without a heart attack or stroke. The higher our heart age, the higher our risk.
A new version of the test forms part of PHE’s One You campaign, which supports adults in making simple changes towards a longer, happier life. People who take the test will be referred to apps, advice and resources to help them eat and drink better, get active, and quit smoking to improve their heart health.
The campaign runs throughout September in partnership with cardiovascular charities British Heart Foundation, Stroke Association and Blood Pressure UK. For the first time, the test will direct users to their nearest blood pressure station if they do not know theirs, as those with high blood pressure are more at risk of heart disease or stroke.
The Heart Age Test is an online assessment for anyone over 30 which allows a person to input basic physical and lifestyle-related information, and provides an immediate estimation of their ‘heart age’. The test is designed to prompt people who may look outwardly healthy to think about the health of their inner organs as well. A new version of the tool was launched on the One You website yesterday on 4 September 2017) and will also be available for the first time on mobile phones.
The healthy range for blood pressure is if the first number (systolic number) is between 120 and 90 and the second number (diastolic number) is between 80 and 60. Blood Pressure UK have a guide explaining high, low and normal blood pressure readings.
The Heart Age Test is available from the One You and BHF websites.
