How long we live is impacted by a myriad of factors, from genetics and illnesses to our diet and exercise habits.
Also some of these factors are beyond our control, others can be determined by our own actions.
Now a study has found that sticking to an eight point checklist for good cardiovascular health could actually extend your life expectancy.
As part of their research, a team from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in the US, tested the American Heart Association’s (AHA) “essential eight” checklist.
Put simply, the essential eight is: healthy sleep, not smoking, regular physical activity, healthy diet, healthy body weight, and blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure.
As part of the study, which is set to be presented at the AHA’s Scientific Sessions this year in Philadelphia, researchers analysed data on 6,500 adults from varying backgrounds.
Overall, participants who scored highest on the essential eight checklist were biologically six years younger than their actual age.
Study senior author Dr Nour Makarem explained: “We found that higher cardiovascular health is associated with decelerated biological ageing, as measured by phenotypic (biological) age.
“We also found a dose-dependent association – as heart health goes up, biological ageing goes down.
“Greater adherence to all life’s essential eight metrics and improving your cardiovascular health can slow down your body’s ageing process and have a lot of benefits down the line.
“Reduced biological ageing is not just associated with lower risk of chronic disease such as heart disease, it is also associated with longer life and lower risk of death.
“Phenotypic age is a practical tool to assess our body’s biological ageing process and a strong predictor of future risk of disease and death.”
The study also revealed that those with poor cardiovascular health aged faster.
The average actual age of those with high cardiovascular health was 41, yet their average biological age was 36.
While the average actual age of those who had low cardiovascular health was 53, though their average biological age was 57.
Former president of the AHA, Dr Donald Lloyd-Jones, commented: “These findings help us understand the link between chronological age and biological age and how following healthy lifestyle habits can help us live longer.
“Everyone wants to live longer, yet more importantly, we want to live healthier longer so we can really enjoy and have a good quality of life for as many years as possible.”