Unhealthy living habits and obesity potentially speed up heart aging by 5 to 45 years.
Keeping up with your heart's health and detecting issues early can significantly improve treatment outcomes. A recent study, published in the European Heart Journal Open, has introduced a novel method to determine your heart's functional age through cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the aging of healthy vs. unhealthy hearts and the impact of factors like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation (AFib). Researchers gathered participants from five locations across three countries, comparing a healthy reference group to individuals with one or more comorbidities.
The centerpiece of this method lies in using cardiac MRI—a non-invasive, oftentimes quick test that evaluates the structure and function of the heart. Researchers looked at factors such as left atrial end-systolic volume and left atrial ejection fraction, both key elements in the assessment of the heart's upper chamber function.
The study revealed that healthy individuals usually had hearts that matched their chronological age, while unhealthy individuals often had heart ages higher than their actual age. Participants with conditions like obesity or AFib had a functional heart age that was up to 45 years older than their chronological age.
Obesity seemingly had the most profound effect on heart age, followed by AFib. Interestingly, high blood pressure increased functional heart age for participants between 30 and 69, but the opposite occurred in the elderly (70-85) group, where those with diabetes and high blood pressure actually had lower functional heart ages than healthy peers.
Researchers acknowledge that this study has limitations, such as the use of estimations and the absence of factors like exercise and diet. Yet, the findings pave the way for potentially more effective cardiac health monitoring and an early warning system for the onset of heart disease.
According to Dr. Pankaj Garg, one of the study's authors, "We have discovered an equation-a simple math formula-that uses movies from heart MRI scans to figure out how old your heart looks. For healthy folks, their heart age matches their real age. But if someone has [conditions] like high blood pressure, diabetes, a wonky heartbeat, or extra weight, their heart can look way older—about 4.6 years older on average. For people with a lot of extra weight, their hearts looked up to 45 years older!"
Doctors and patients can utilize this method to encourage healthier habits, implement preventive measures, and ensure timely treatment for any heart concerns.
- Seniors with diabetes and high blood pressure could have lower functional heart ages than healthy peers, contrary to expectations in the study.
- The non-invasive cardiac MRI test evaluates the structure and function of the heart, making it a valuable tool in the process of determining heart age.
- Among various conditions, obesity appears to have the most significant impact on a person's functional heart age, suggesting a need for effective weight management strategies.
- The findings of the study demonstrate that unhealthy individuals often have heart ages higher than their actual age, emphasizing the importance of maintaining cardiovascular health.
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) were found to have a functional heart age that was significantly older than their chronological age in the study.
- Through the use of cardiac MRI, researchers are able to study key elements of heart function, such as left atrial end-systolic volume and left atrial ejection fraction.
- This novel method of determining heart functional age can serve as an early warning system for the onset of heart disease and help establish more effective cardiac health monitoring for various age groups.
- Scientists and medical professionals must consider contraindications and factors like exercise and diet when interpreting the estimations derived from this method to ensure accurate results.
- By motivating individuals with heart age estimates, doctors and patients can work together to implement preventive measures, improve fitness and exercise habits, and prioritize heart-healthy lifestyle choices.
- This development in the field of health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and chronic diseases can facilitate timely treatment and help seniors maintain their cardiovascular health over time.
