This calculator provides an estimate based on the American Heart Association's risk assessment. Consult your doctor for personalized advice.
Understanding Your Heart Age
Your "Heart Age" is a powerful concept developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) to help individuals understand their risk of cardiovascular disease in a way that's more relatable than traditional risk scores. It's essentially an estimate of how old your heart is in terms of its health and risk of heart attack or stroke, compared to your actual chronological age. If your Heart Age is higher than your real age, it means you have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than someone of your actual age, and it's a strong signal that you should make lifestyle changes to improve your heart health.
The AHA's Heart Age calculator uses several key risk factors to estimate this number. These factors are known to significantly influence cardiovascular health:
Blood Pressure: Both systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number) are critical indicators. High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder and can damage arteries over time.
Total Cholesterol: High levels of total cholesterol, especially when combined with low HDL cholesterol, contribute to plaque buildup in arteries (atherosclerosis).
HDL Cholesterol: Often called "good" cholesterol, HDL helps remove LDL ("bad") cholesterol from the arteries. Low levels are associated with increased heart disease risk.
Smoking Status: Smoking is a major risk factor that damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure, reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, and makes blood more likely to clot.
Diabetes: Diabetes significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease due to its effects on blood sugar levels and blood vessels.
Body Mass Index (BMI) or Waist Circumference: While not directly included in this simplified calculator for demonstration, excess weight is a major contributor to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Medication for Hypertension: Whether someone is taking medication for high blood pressure indicates a pre-existing condition that raises risk.
Actual Age: Age itself is a non-modifiable risk factor; risk generally increases with age.
How the Calculator Works (Simplified Concept)
The AHA's actual Heart Age tool uses complex algorithms based on large-scale epidemiological studies, like the Framingham Heart Study. These algorithms calculate your 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease based on your risk factors. This 10-year risk is then translated into an "age" equivalent. For example, if the calculator determines your risk of a cardiovascular event in the next 10 years is the same as that of a 65-year-old with no specific risk factors, your Heart Age would be estimated at 65, regardless of your actual age.
Note: This provided HTML calculator is a simplified representation for demonstration purposes. The actual AHA calculator on their website may use more nuanced scoring or different methodologies. For the most accurate and personalized assessment, please use the official American Heart Association Heart Age calculator or consult with a healthcare professional.
Why This Matters
Knowing your Heart Age can be a powerful motivator. It provides a clear, understandable target for lifestyle improvements. If your Heart Age is higher than your real age, it's a call to action. By addressing risk factors through diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, you can lower your cardiovascular risk and potentially reduce your Heart Age.
Making positive changes can lead to significant benefits:
Reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.
Improved overall health and energy levels.
Better management of chronic conditions.
A longer, healthier life.
This calculator is a tool to raise awareness. Always discuss your cardiovascular health and any concerns with your doctor.
function calculateHeartAge() {
var systolic = parseFloat(document.getElementById("systolicBloodPressure").value);
var diastolic = parseFloat(document.getElementById("diastolicBloodPressure").value);
var totalChol = parseFloat(document.getElementById("totalCholesterol").value);
var hdlChol = parseFloat(document.getElementById("hdlCholesterol").value);
var smoking = parseInt(document.getElementById("smokingStatus").value);
var diabetes = parseInt(document.getElementById("diabetes").value);
var hypertensionMeds = parseInt(document.getElementById("medicationForHypertension").value);
var realAge = parseFloat(document.getElementById("realAge").value);
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(systolic) || systolic <= 0 ||
isNaN(diastolic) || diastolic <= 0 ||
isNaN(totalChol) || totalChol <= 0 ||
isNaN(hdlChol) || hdlChol <= 0 ||
isNaN(realAge) || realAge = 30 && realAge = 40 && realAge = 50 && realAge = 60 && realAge = 70) riskScore += 9;
// Systolic Blood Pressure component (simplified)
if (systolic >= 140) riskScore += 3;
else if (systolic >= 130) riskScore += 2;
else if (systolic >= 120) riskScore += 1;
// If on hypertension meds, add points (simplified)
if (hypertensionMeds === 1) riskScore += 2;
// Total Cholesterol component (simplified thresholds)
if (totalChol >= 240) riskScore += 3;
else if (totalChol >= 200) riskScore += 1;
// HDL Cholesterol component (simplified thresholds)
// Lower HDL increases risk
if (hdlChol < 40 && smoking === 0) riskScore += 1; // Non-smoker
else if (hdlChol = 40 && hdlChol < 50) riskScore += 1; // Borderline low
// Smoking component
if (smoking === 2) riskScore += 4; // Current smoker
else if (smoking === 1) riskScore += 2; // Former smoker
// Diabetes component
if (diabetes === 1) riskScore += 3;
// — Translate Risk Score to Heart Age (Highly Simplified Mapping) —
// This mapping is purely illustrative. The real AHA tool uses precise lookup tables
// derived from statistical models to convert a 10-year risk percentage into a Heart Age.
var estimatedHeartAge;
// This is a placeholder mapping and does NOT reflect the actual AHA formula.
// A higher riskScore should result in a higher Heart Age, potentially above realAge.
if (riskScore <= 4) {
estimatedHeartAge = realAge; // Low risk, Heart Age similar to real age
} else if (riskScore <= 8) {
estimatedHeartAge = realAge + 5; // Moderate risk, slightly higher Heart Age
} else if (riskScore <= 12) {
estimatedHeartAge = realAge + 10; // Increased risk
} else if (riskScore 80) estimatedHeartAge = 80;
// Ensure Heart Age is at least the real age if risk is very low or inputs are borderline
if (estimatedHeartAge < realAge && riskScore <= 4) estimatedHeartAge = realAge;
document.getElementById("heartAgeResult").textContent = Math.round(estimatedHeartAge);
}