One in ten fifty-year-olds has a heart "aged" sixty years, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Public Health England analyzed the responses of 1,2 million people who took their online test, which estimates the "age" of the heart based on age, height, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
About 33.000 respondents were men over the age of 50. The organization also predicts that 7.400 people will die from a heart attack or stroke this month.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and the second most common in women. Most of these deaths are preventable, and a quarter involve people under the age of 75.
"This problem should not be left until later, when we are older," says director of cardiovascular diseases Jamie Waterall.
How to improve your heart health:
Quit smoking Be more active Adjust your weight Get more fiber in your body Limit saturated fat intake Eat fruits and vegetables five days a week Limit salt intake in your body Eat fish Drink less alcohol Read the contents of the food and drinks you buy
It was also announced that about half of the respondents did not know how to state their blood pressure, and that 5,6 million people in England have high blood pressure and do not even know it.
"This is very worrying," said Dr. Mike Neptune.
"These silent conditions can lead to fatal outcomes," he added.
"Measuring blood pressure can be the first important step in prolonging life," said Dr. Katherine Jenner, reports B92.
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