According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of adult men and 20% of adult women in this country have a heart that is five years older than their chronological age. In Black people, the gap is a whopping 11 years.
Why does this matter? Because the “older” your heart, the higher your risk for heart attack, stroke (“brain attack”), and other related problems. Aging hearts are more likely to have stiffer and calcified arteries, thickened and stiffer muscle tissue, abnormalities in the conduction system, and dysfunctional valves.
What Makes a Heart ‘Old’?
Although genes may contribute, it is the risk factors for heart disease that cause a heart to age prematurely. The more risk factors you have, and the more severe they are, the older your heart is. While some of these cannot be modified, the majority are under your control. These risk factors include:
Chronological age. The risk of heart disease begins to rise after age 55 as blood vessels begin to stiffen and a lifelong buildup of plaque in the arteries starts interfering with blood flow. Gender. Men get heart disease about 10 years earlier in life than women. Women are generally protected by estrogen until after menopause—when their heart risk mirrors that of men. Family history. Your risk of heart disease increases if your father or brother was diagnosed with it before age 55, or your mother or sister before age 65. Blood pressure. Your heart ages as your blood pressure rises above 120/80 mm Hg. Cholesterol. The higher your cholesterol level, the older your heart. Smoking. Any amount of smoking raises the risk of a heart attack. Exposure to secondhand smoke can be damaging also. Weight. Extra weight can cause heart muscle injury. Diabetes. Having diabetes or prediabetes puts you at greater risk for heart problems.
Turn Back the Clock on Your Heart
Getting older doesn’t mean your heart can’t remain healthy. You’re never too old to reduce your risk factors—and your heart’s age. Here are seven things you can do to give your heart a youthful lift:
- Take control over chronic diseases or conditions. Many problems older people have with their heart and blood vessels are caused by other diseases associated with aging, rather than aging itself. For example, it’s not uncommon to develop high blood pressure as you age—and this is a known risk factor for heart disease.
Keeping your blood pressure in the normal range can minimize your risk. The same goes for diabetes and high cholesterol control. Other diseases, such as thyroid disease, and some medications may weaken the heart. Have regular checkups, follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan, and take your medications as prescribed.
- Maintain a normal weight. Instead of exploring fad diets, try eating more foods that are good for you—such as salmon, berries, nuts, and olive oil—and less of those that are bad for you. Also, increase your daily intake of fruits and vegetables, eat plenty of fiber, and trade red meat for fish, chicken, and legumes.
You don’t have to eliminate your favorite foods completely, but you should avoid trans fats and eat saturated fats, salt, and refined sugar sparingly. If you need to lose weight, cut back on between-meal snacking and reduce your portion sizes.
- Be active. The heart is a muscle, so it needs exercise to keep it in shape. Exercise increases your heart’s pumping power and helps deliver oxygen throughout your body. Regular exercise also helps keep weight and blood pressure under control and reduces stress.
It’s never too late to begin an exercise program. Look for a program geared specifically toward older adults. Even a simple walking program can go a long way toward improving your heart health. Avoid spending hours a day sitting and make a plan to exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes five times per week, even if in divided sessions.
If you have a health condition that makes exercise difficult, look for a modified exercise program that’s more suited to your abilities. Then talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you are healthy enough to start the program you are considering.
- Stop smoking. This is not negotiable! It is absolutely necessary to protect your heart. Smoking is a major cause of atherosclerosis—a disease that causes plaque to build up in your arteries. The plaque restricts blood flow to your heart and other organs and can rupture, causing a clot that blocks blood flow completely. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.
Cigarettes are very addictive and quitting is hard. The average person tries 7 times before succeeding. Your chances of success increase if you use three different stop-smoking aids simultaneously. Tell your healthcare provider you’d like to quit and ask for a plan.
Don’t overdo alcohol. Try not to exceed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations of one drink or less a day for women, or two drinks or less a day for men.
Get regular checkups. Regular exams that include blood tests can help identify heart problems before they cause a heart attack or stroke. These exams should begin early in life. Make sure you understand how often you should take your medications and have certain blood tests, especially if you have a chronic condition.
Don’t ignore unusual symptoms. Listen to your body. If you develop any of the symptoms listed below, contact your healthcare provider immediately. These are not ordinary signs of aging and could be signs of something else:
Shortness of breathSwelling in the legsPain, pressure, tightness, or discomfort in the chest, shoulders, arms, neck, back, upper abdomen, or jawFeelings of doomUnexplained fatigue or weaknessSudden changes in exercise toleranceHeart palpitationsConfusionDizziness
Keeping your heart healthy increases the likelihood that you won’t have to sit out your golden years, but rather enjoy them to the fullest.
Dr. Rocco is a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic’s Tomsich Family Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, serving as Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Stress Testing.
