At what age are you considered “old”? 60? 70? Or 80? Perhaps you are as old (or as young) as your “heart age” since your heart determines your vitality and energy level. How heart-healthy are you? Try this easy self-assessment to find out where your heart health stands:
Personal Assessment for Heart Health
1. Weight*
a) Underweight or Normal – BMI <25
b) Overweight – BMI 25-29.9
c) Obese – BMI 30 or higher
2. Blood Pressure
a) ≤120/80 mmHg
b) 121/81-139/89 mmHg
c) ≥140/90 mmHg
3. Cholesterol Level
a) <200mg/dl (5.2mmol/L)
b) 200-239mg/dl (5.2-6.2 mmol/L)
c) ≥240mg/dl (6.2 mmol/L)
4. Diabetes
a) No diabetes & no family history of diabetes
b) No diabetes but family has history of diabetes
c) Diabetic
5. Exercise (includes brisk walking, swimming, aerobic activities)
a) At least 20-30 minutes 3 times a week
b) At least 20-30 minutes once or twice a week
c) No regular exercise programme
6. Cigarette Smoking
a) Non-smoker
b) ≤15 sticks daily
c) >15 sticks daily
7. Family History
a) No family history of heart disease
b) Family members aged 55 or above have heart disease
c) Family members develop heart disease before age 55
8. Behaviour Type & Stress
a) Easygoing, content, rarely tense
b) Anxious, tense or easily annoyed
c) Hurried, competitive, aggressive or depressed
a = 0 point b = 1 point c = 2 points
*BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m) E.g. If you weight 60kg and your height is 1.6m, your BMI is 60kg / 1.6 x 1.6 = 23.4 kg/m2, which falls in the normal weight category
Total Score
| 0-2 Points • Lower Risk Keep up your healthy lifestyle and monitor your health by going for regular check-ups | 3-5 Points • Moderate Risk Take steps to improve your heart health | >6 Points • Higher risk Please seek help (consult your doctor, etc.) to improve your heart health now |
This assessment is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a medical advice. The results of the assessment should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease nor is it a substitute for professional care.
Did you know that the questions in the personal assessment earlier can greatly affect the age of your heart?
| Actual Age | Risk Factor | Heart Age |
| 45 Years Old Male | – Smoker – High blood pressure (systolic blood pressure of 150 mm Hg) – Diabetic – Healthy weight (Body mass index (BMI) of 23) | 75 years |
| 50 Years Old Female | – Non-Smoker – High blood pressure (systolic blood pressure of 148 mm Hg) – Diabetic – Obese (BMI of 32) | 75 years |
Staying Young At Heart
Taking ‘heart’ nutrients and maintaining well-balanced emotions can also have a big impact on heart health. Nutrients such as Nitric Oxide and Omega 3 fish oil can keep our heart healthy and young by helping to smoothen blood circulation and keep blood vessels flexible.
NO (Nitric Oxide)
NO is a signalling molecule that relaxes the blood vessels to keep them flexible. NO can also help to dissolve existing plaque, slow down the formation of plaque in our blood vessels and expanding the blood vessels. However, seniors may experience lower production of NO as they age due to increasing free radical damage, a sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet.
Seniors can now increase the amount of NO in their body with Elken LX Yang. Elken LX Yang is a tri-action blood flow solution for cardio-cerebrovascular health that improves blood flow based on the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of Nitric Oxide. This holistic formulation contains L-Arginine that is easily converted into NO in our body, as well as a synergistic combination of vitamins and Tomato Aqueous Extract (T.A.E.) to support a healthy circulatory system. T.A.E. helps to maintain normal platelet aggregation which contributes to healthy blood flow. When platelet aggregation is abnormal, the platelets become too spiky and result in blood clots that obstruct normal blood circulation. T.A.E. also possesses natural anti-inflammatory effects that help to protect the lining of the blood vessels to maintain healthy blood flow. The additional patented ingredient of curcumin contains powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that helps to enhance the bioavailability of Arginine and increases the production of Nitric Oxide.
Positive Actions that Keep Hearts Young
Laughter makes blood flow more freely
Hugs release oxytocin and remove stress from the body
Spending time with loved ones lowers blood pressure
Holding hands calms nerves
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Research has shown that taking Omega-3 fish oil supplements with EPA and DHA daily can improve cardiovascular health in healthy older adults as they help regulate cholesterol levels and slow down the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque, thus lowering blood pressure. Sourced from the Norwegian Sea in Norway, EPA DHA is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids for seniors as it contains superior fish oil that has undergone the double molecular distillation process to remove all impurities, environmental toxins and pollutants to ensure pure Omega-3.