COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – On this Valentine’s weekend, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency says your heart may be older than you are – and that’s not good. According to a new CDC report, 3 out of 4 U.S. adults have a predicted heart age that is older than their actual age. This means they are at higher risk for heart attacks and stroke.
“Heart age” is the calculated age of a person’s cardiovascular system based on his or her risk factor profile. The risks include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, diabetes status, and body mass index as an indicator for obesity. The Health Department wants you to be young at heart and has some recommended tips to improve your heart age:
1. Maintain a healthy diet
2. Engage in regular exercise
3. Get an annual physical examination
4. Avoid all tobacco use and exposure
While these practices sound simple, in reality, only 4.6% of all Michigan residents engage in all four healthy behaviors.
