Unhealthy lifestyles are dramatically accelerating the ageing of the heart, contributing to a global rise in several cardiovascular diseases, finds a study, led by Indian-origin researchers in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using a new Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging technique, also known as cardiovascular MRI scan, researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) uncovered the \u201ctrue age\u201d of a heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The MRI scan revealed how unhealthy lifestyles can dramatically accelerate the heart\u2019s functional age. While among healthy people, the heart\u2019s age was found to be similar to the chronological age, for patients with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and atrial fibrillation, the functional heart age was significantly higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor example, a 50-year-old with high blood pressure might have a heart that works like it\u2019s 55,\u201d said lead researcher Dr Pankaj Garg, from UEA\u2019s Norwich Medical School and a consultant cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople with health issues like diabetes or obesity often have hearts that are ageing faster than they should – sometimes by decades. So, this could help doctors step in early to stop heart disease in its tracks,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The findings could transform how heart disease is diagnosed — offering a lifeline to millions by catching problems before they become deadly, said the researchers who called their cutting-edge technique a \u201cgame changer for keeping hearts healthier, longer\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt could also be the wake-up call that people need to take better care of themselves – whether that\u2019s eating healthier, exercising more, or following their doctor\u2019s advice. It\u2019s about giving people a fighting chance against heart disease,\u201d Garg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The team collaborated with hospitals in the UK, Spain, and Singapore and studied MRI scans from 557 people, of which 191 were healthy individuals, while 366 had conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using advanced imaging, they measured things like the size and strength of the heart\u2019s chambers. Then, they built a formula to calculate the heart\u2019s \u2018functional age\u2019 and checked it against healthy hearts to make sure it was accurate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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