Poor Lifestyle Habits and Obesity Could Prematurely Age Heart by 5-45 Years
Heart health is essential, and early detection of problems can lead to effective interventions. A recent study focuses on calculating the functional age of a person's heart compared to their biological age using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
According to the research, unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, and atrial fibrillation (AFib) can speed up the heart's functional age. The study, published in the European Heart Journal Open, used a healthy reference group and examined a test group with at least one comorbidity, like high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity.
Researchers discovered that individuals with certain health issues or unhealthy lifestyles could have functional heart ages higher than their biological ages. Obesity, particularly when a person's body mass index (BMI) is 40 or more, significantly increased functional heart age, sometimes by over 45 years compared to their chronological age. Similarly, AFib also contributed to a higher functional heart age.
In contrast, healthy participants' heart ages generally matched their actual ages. Researchers found significant differences between the healthy and unhealthy groups, such as increases in left atrial end-systolic volume and left atrial ejection fraction in the unhealthy group.
Although this research holds promise for more effective heart health monitoring, there are limitations such as using estimations, survivor bias, and potential bias in calculations. Future long-term studies and studies evaluating factors like lifestyle and therapeutic interventions can further refine these measurements.
A cardiac MRI scan, a non-invasive test with minimal time requirements, could be useful for heart health assessments and identifying patients at risk for heart problems early on. By providing an estimate of a person's functional heart age, doctors can encourage lifestyle changes and effective treatment plans to prevent heart failure and other complications.
Interventional cardiologist Dr. Cheng-Han Chen highlighted the preventive benefits, stating, "an assessment of a 'functional heart age' can potentially motivate patients to improve their lifestyles and identify patients at risk for future clinical events." Despite its limitations, this study marks an exciting step towards understanding and monitoring heart health more effectively.
- Senior citizens are often at risk for various heart diseases due to unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, and chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
- The cardiovascular health of seniors can be affected by factors such as obesity, particularly when an individual's BMI is 40 or more, which can increase their functional heart age by over 45 years.
- Engaging in sports and fitness activities, along with proper nutrition and weight management, can help mitigate the impact of such risk factors on heart health.
- This study, published in the European Heart Journal Open, employed cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to calculate the functional age of a person's heart compared to their biological age.
- Researchers found that individuals with atrial fibrillation (AFib) also had higher functional heart ages,making it essential to monitor and manage this chronic medical condition.
- By identifying patients with an increased functional heart age, doctors can implement preventive measures such as lifestyle changes and medical interventions to reduce the risk of heart failure and other complications.
- A non-invasive cardiac MRI scan could become a valuable tool for assessing heart health and predicting the risk of heart problems among seniors, making it possible to intervene early.
- To further refine these measurements, future long-term studies should evaluate factors like lifestyle, therapeutic interventions, and the role of mental health in heart health and disease prevention.
- Advancements in heart health research, such as the use of functional heart age estimates, emphasize the importance of healthy living, regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and proper weight management in maintaining cardiovascular health and overall wellness.
