NHS heart age quiz

[Bloodybridget]

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.

Put my heart one year older than I am. Possibly based on me not knowing my exact blood pressure and cholesterol level. I know cholesterol levels are fine though and my blood pressure is very low, low enough to cause problems, so that would drop it down a few years I guess.

It's a very dumbed down basic test.

It gave me 10 years older because I didn't know my cholesterol and I'm slightly overweight.

Yep, same here. Got 2 years older than my actual age when I don't have any risk factors. Does anyone really know their cholesterol level and blood pressure at any moment in time?

I think at 64 you should absolutely know your cholesterol level, I would get it checked.

Totally unhelpful.
No questions about diet, alcohol or exercise.
I didn't know my cholesterol level but still came out with my age and heart age as one and the same, 61. It said it applied the average cholestrol level but if I had lower than average it would reduce it by one year.

I did my test and it came back my heart being 56, I'm 58. As it happens I got my cholesterol levels back only yesterday.
My DH did his and it said 81 where as he is only 60. He doesn't know his cholesterol. But there was no place to put that he is already on statins and blood pressure tablets.

I took it and it added 4 years on. I'm overweight bmi 31.5. I clicked the bit underneath about loosing weight to see what difference it made and it didn't make any! I thought surely it would? It did when I clicked cholesterol...but I don't know what it is? And how to reduce it? It just seems very vague!

I got 47 and I'm 43. I had my cholesterol numbers as I just got tested and they're fine. My BMI is huge though, and I have BP issues so I can't believe it's so low tbh.

40! I am 36.

I don't smoke (ex smoker though) and my last BP reading was 135/80 but I always have panic attacks when I see the GP. Therefore, I refuse to believe the results.

I am actually 37.

If everyone aged 40+ knew their heart age and took action to reduce it where needed,

They won't, though, ha! We all know the worried well are 90% of the ppl who take these quizzes. The people who most need an alarm bell won't take it.

I also didn't add my cholesterol levels. Last time I had it tested the total numbers were slightly high but my good cholesterol levels were great and the bad levels were what they should be (I forget the technical terms). I don't plan on getting it tested again after reading The Cholesterol Con as I wouldn't go on statins anyway.

I just know I am in no way going to do anything different to reduce my cholesterol. I'm maxed out on healthy lifestyle choices.

I am trying to minimise salt to keep BP down, but not ready to go hardcore no salt in anything.

My blood pressure was great before I started having panic attacks as soon as they put on the BP cuff. Developed a nice phobia when I was really struggling with health anxiety. I have no idea what it is when I am calm and I am not allowed to test at home.

I’m 40 and mine came out as 41. I didn’t know cholesterol and I am 4 stone overweight with moderate high blood pressure. And I don’t exercise

@u2hastheedge* just buy a home monitor. Or ask for 24 hour monitoring. That’s the normal management of white coat syndrome

I had 5 years added for cholesterol even though I don’t know the value. I have RA though and get my bloods done all the time. I think it would have been mentioned by now if it was an issue.

Because of my health anxiety and OCD the GP doesn't want me to get one for home. It would lead to bad things for me. My GP isn't concerned about my BP. Said they will check in a years time as my other risk factors aren't too bad. If it goes any higher than I would need a monitor I guess but it was always perfect until I got unwell so the higher number was put down to anxiety.

I bet changing the postcode has the biggest factor on heart age....

I’m almost 41. Heart age is 42. Big deal.

I live in a healthy area. My bmi is at the lower end of normal. Yet I still got an age higher than my biological age. This questionnaire is pointless unless you know your cholesterol and blood pressure.

Mine said I have two years to live!

There's no detail in it at all. I am choosing to discount my results!

Oh this annoyed me! I am 33 and got a heart age of 38. The only thing I didn't know was my cholesterol.

I am female, non-smoker, healthy BMI, know my blood pressure (pregnant) which is the lower end of normal, no to all the risk factors - and I even in a fit of pique changed my postcode to supposedly England's healthiest and still 38!

Ah yes, the postcode factor! I'll just move, then.

Your cholesterol is not known - GET TESTED. (In BIG RED LETTERS)

Calm down, dear. I'm a 33yo non-smoker with a BMI of 22.