Your heart may be older than you think — and the number could predict disease risk

Your heart may be older than you think — and the number could predict disease risk

Men's hearts average 7 years older than chronological age, while women's hearts are 4 years older

A study from Northwestern Medicine found that most American adults have a "heart age" that is several years older than their chronological age. (iStock)

The PREVENT Risk Age Calculator determines a person’s heart disease risk based on several factors, including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking status, current medications and the presence of diabetes. (iStock)

The hope is that more information about heart health risk could increase preventive care, the lead researcher said, as heart disease has been the country’s leading cause of death for over 100 years. (iStock)

Future studies are needed to measure the impact of heart age on healthy lifestyle changes, preventive therapies and patient outcomes, the team concluded. (iStock)