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NHS heart age quiz

97 replies

Bloodybridget · 04/09/2018 12:17

Has anyone done this online test? I did it last night, thought I would come through pretty well as I didn't seem to have any risk factors; BMI OK, good BP, etc. Was told my heart age was 69, I'm 64. I looked through and the only issue seemed to be that I don't know my cholesterol level, I don't think I've ever had it tested.

Then this morning on radio news they mentioned the quiz and said 4 out of 5 respondents got a heart age higher than chronological age - well if they're assuming raised cholesterol and adding five years for that, I'm not surprised! There weren't any questions about fitness, exercise, diet . .

I wouldn't mind knowing my cholesterol level but it seems a bit silly to make a GP/nurse appt just for that.

OP posts:
UselessTrees · 04/09/2018 14:57

I thought the same about the vagueness of what it asks you. But it did remind me that I should really go and get my cholesterol levels checked because my mum is now on massive doses of statins for hers and it's likely to be familial.

SwedishEdith · 04/09/2018 15:04

Did it whilst testing my BP. - bang on my age 1st time. Added a relative (who was diagnosed at 60, not before) and it added 5 years. I'm really unfit though so it's pretty vague.

Blobby10 · 04/09/2018 15:36

I knew it would give me a heart age on or about my correct age as I dont smoke, have normal blood pressure, dont know my cholesterol and oh yes - they asked for a date of birth! Its one of those quizzes designed to make people think but probably funded by one of the organisations which do a 'check your own blood pressure' or check your own cholesterol machine!!

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Chocchip88 · 04/09/2018 15:42

I just did it. My BMI is 42. My heart age matched my true age (39). If I lost weight then my heart age would still match me true age. Odd.

Chocchip88 · 04/09/2018 15:42

I just did it. My BMI is 42. My heart age matched my true age (39). If I lost weight then my heart age would still match me true age. Odd.

RandomlyChosenName · 04/09/2018 15:51

It annoyed me at the end saying I must get my cholesterol and blood pressure checked. Like you can just pop in the doctor's and ask them to check you...

SmartestGiant · 04/09/2018 16:19

@RandomlyChosenName You could certainly make an appointment with the nurse and ask them to check your blood pressure whatever age you are. They may even check your cholesterol if you ask. If you're 40 or over they will do it.

littlemissalwaystired · 04/09/2018 16:22

I can't take it either as I'm too young. Kinda gutted, I wanted to know my heart ageGrin

goose1964 · 04/09/2018 16:27

I'm 54 and it came up at 62 I'm type2 with high cholesterol, although both of these are controlled. I'm surprised how high low blood pressure is though as I regularly now come into that category whilst medics say it's fine

glamorousgrandmother · 04/09/2018 16:30

I thought the same. I came out as 3 years older although I have a BMI of 22, don't smoke and have no family history. If it only works if you know your cholesterol levels and BP they should say that upfront.

KipperTheFrog · 04/09/2018 16:32

Healthy BMI, low to normal BP, no history of heart disease in my family, never had cholesterol tested - got a heart age of 1 year older than I am.
It's a pointless test though as nothing about exercise!

Jolonglegs · 04/09/2018 16:38

Glitteryfrog - I don't know my BP or cholesterol. There is a history of heart problems in my family

In that case I suggest you see your GP asap for a blood pressure and cholesterol check.

Morred · 04/09/2018 16:44

How does sit with GP shortages and the pressure from 'worried well', etc? I wouldn't normally know my BP or cholesterol (I know BP at the moment because the midwife checks it). Before I got pregnant I hadn't been to the GP for anything other than smear tests or renewed prescription for contraception every couple of years.

I'm over 30. Should I be going to see my GP regularly (yearly?) to have my cholesterol and BP taken? What are the risk factors that this quiz is monitoring (from the questions, it appears to be gender/sex assigned/observed at birth, postcode, ethnicity, family history + BP/cholesterol) and how important is an accurate BP/cholesterol result to the 'heart health' analysis?

It gives me a result one year ahead of my actual age and says I could reduce it by lowering my cholesterol. It also says in big red letters I should "get tested" for my cholesterol. But then it also says "Because you're under 40, you won't necessarily be called in to have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. But understanding why they're important and 'knowing your numbers' are good habits to get into."

So how should I get into the habit of 'knowing my numbers'. How often am I meant to book with GP/practice nurse to have these tests? It seems pretty vague, and it doesn't even tell me what Hogwarts House I should be in!

TokyoSushi · 04/09/2018 16:51

I got 40 and I'm 38 but I don't know my cholesterol or blood pressure so a bit pointless really!

Jolonglegs · 04/09/2018 16:54

I think that anyone with a history of heart problems in the family should have their BP and cholesterol checked.

lostlemon · 04/09/2018 16:54

I did this as it popped up and I was interested to see the questions. Given the country is in the grip of austerity I actually can't believe that tax payers money is wasted on stuff like this. It is beyond basic, it looks like something a group of kids might put together. Seriously, a heart check quiz with no questions about exercise!

Additionally our over stretched GPs will now probably be inundated with people wanting their cholestral checked, their hearts checked etc.

toothtruth · 04/09/2018 16:58

I got 30 and I am 30! Im overweight so I dont reckon thats right is it? Doesnt it put more strain on your heart if you are overweight?

Fairylea · 04/09/2018 17:05

Mine came out 39 and I’m 37. I don’t smoke or drink. Healthly bmi, low blood pressure and normal cholesterol. I go to dance cardio classes 3 times a week and walk everywhere. Not sure what else I can do to be honest! Not sure how I ended up with a heart age older than I am. Confused No heart problems in family either.

Heart attacks scare me to death (excuse the sort of pun). It’s the one thing I’m really frightened of oddly enough. It just seems so random half the time.

AllAtHome · 04/09/2018 17:07

It’s too vague and not even accurate. It said my BMI was normal. That is certainly not true...

HIVpos · 04/09/2018 17:08

I get my cholesterol and BP checked regularly along with other stuff like cardio and bone fracture risk assessment. This is part of my care (I think in part to try to keep us as healthy as possible to show we have the same life expectancy as a everyone else).

I did this test and it said 3 yrs older. I then tweaked it and said systolic was 119 instead of 120, and also said I'd never smoked instead of I quit (I stopped over 15 yrs ago). It then gave me my age.

For anyone wondering about their bp, try asking at a pharmacist instead of GP. It's one of the services they offer.

Whatsthisbear · 04/09/2018 17:08

It gave me my exact age.

I’m a HCP, lots of chemists offer BP checks and some offer cholesterol checks (it’s a finger prick, gives total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and ratio) it would save a lot of unnecessary surgery appointments if everyone asked their local pharmacy if they offered these checks.

PurpleWithRed · 04/09/2018 17:13

The score has been used for years by the NHS, and has been used to predict your chances of cardiovascular problems in the next 10 years; it’s reputed to be pretty accurate if you know your BP, chlorestorol scores and medical history. I suspect the ‘4 out of 5’ figure includes an awful lot of people who are just a year or two out and who don’t know their BP and their chlorestorol balance.

I got 55, I’m 60, and my risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years is 5.8% (QRISK2).

The people who need to be doing this quiz are likely to be blokes in their late 50s who haven’t seen a doctor in 30 years.

User5trillion · 04/09/2018 17:14

I got a score 6 months above my age but I smoked for 20 years, rarely exercise and am 5 st overweight, so I struggle to see its accurate.

TheFuckfaceWhisperer · 04/09/2018 17:20

I'm 48 and mine said 50. I don't smoke and although I know my BP is fine, I don't actually know the number so had to put didn't know. Just said I'm overweight and need to exercise then assumed I might have high BP (I don't) and high cholesterol and told me to sort my life out

UniversalTruth · 04/09/2018 17:20

I'm an HCP. I think these questions are based on the evidence-based stroke/heart attack risk predictor score that the NHS uses. Exercise is good for the heart because it reduces blood pressure, affects BMI and might affect cholesterol, so it doesn't need to ask again about this. (obviously it's also good for lots of other things like muscles, bones etc that do not affect heart age)

For those saying it's a waste of resources, I disagree. If everyone aged 40+ knew their heart age and took action to reduce it where needed, we will save a huge amount of money in 10-20 years time.