NHS urges Brits to check now for condition that kills 750 early in UK every week

The NHS is encouraging people to take one simple step to assess their risk of a potentially fatal heart attack or stroke. A swift online tool can calculate your "heart age" and, consequently, your likelihood of experiencing a related health issue.

In a post on social media platform X, the health organisation said: "If your heart age is older than your actual age, you could be at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke." On its website, the NHS further explained: "Your heart age gives you an idea of how healthy your heart is."

The NHS's calculator willcompare your actual age to your heart age by posing questions about your health. Following this, it offers advice on how to enhance your heart age through adopting healthier lifestyle habits.

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This calculator is appropriate for you if you:

• Are between 30 and 95 years old
• Do not suffer from a condition that affects your heart or blood vessels (a cardiovascular disease)
• Live in the UK

Information the calculator will request includes your:

• Weight
• Height
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels

The NHS also noted: "You can still use this calculator if you do not have your blood pressure or cholesterol details but the results may be less accurate." Cardiovascular health, including heart attacks and strokes, is a significant concern in the UK - with cardiovascular disease accounting for approximately a quarter of all deaths annually.

Last year the British Heart Foundation (BHF) revealed that premature cardiovascular disease fatalities had reached a 14-year peak across England. During 2022, more than 39,000 people lost their lives early due to cardiovascular ailments such as heart attacks, coronary heart disease and strokes.

This represented approximately 750 deaths weekly and marked the highest yearly figure recorded since 2008. The charity cautioned that this surge was partially attributed to increasing associated risk factors.

It stated: "Millions of people are living with undiagnosed risk factors, such as high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, and diabetes, and nearly two thirds of adults in England have a weight classed as overweight or obese. This is storing up huge problems for the future."

The NHS identifies risk factors for heart attacks and strokes as:

• Smoking
• A high-fat diet
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Being overweight or obese
• Irregular and fast heartbeats (atrial fibrillation)

To determine your heart age, access the online calculator here. Should you have concerns regarding your cardiac health or risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke, you should consult your GP.