Australian hearts can be old beyond years

We all know the concept of an old soul, but some Australians might soon learn that they have an old heart.

Unfortunately, this is not a good thing, but it is hoped that this discovery will push some people to do more to protect themselves from the country's biggest killer.

The Heart Foundation has launched an online calculator to help Australians between the ages of 35 and 75 determine the extent to which their "heart age" compares to their actual age.

To do this, he compares their risk of having a heart attack or stroke to that of people of their age, taking into account their own risk factors.

These include hypertension, diabetes, family history, smoking, lack of exercise and some medications.

Heart Foundation's chief medical advisor, Garry Jennings, expects the online test to be an awakening, as many people are willing to see their heart is older than it should be be.

He said that people are generally aware that they have big risk factors, such as being overweight.

But often, they do not take into account the accumulation of many minor diseases, such as blood pressure within the limits of normal.

"What they do not realize, is that it's all of your lifestyle and your family history, your habits, your medications and other factors that determine your risk." , not just one thing, "said Professor Jennings at AAP.

He said that people should not be afraid to learn that they are at a higher risk of heart disease than their peers, which would be a good reason to go see a doctor, to do a heart check and make changes to reduce your risk.

"If you are not aware, you risk going on and increasing your chances of suffering from heart disease later in life," he said.

Heart disease remains the deadliest in Australia.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an average of 21 people die each day from a heart attack across the country, while 22 are killed by a stroke.