How a free two minute test could save your life: an online questionnaire calculates the age and health of your heart

A new free two-minute test could save your life.

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

Launched on Sunday, the new online tool helps people understand their risk of heart attack or stroke by answering a few quick questions to compare their "heart age" to their actual age.

The Heart Age Calculator is a free two minute test that anyone can go online.

The online test asks questions about age, sex, smoking and diabetes status, body mass index, blood pressure and if they take medication, the rate of cholesterol and family history of heart attack / stroke.

Responses are then calculated to determine if your heart age is greater than, equal to or less than your actual age.

You can also ask to receive your full report on your heart age.

The online tool has been launched in the fight against heart disease, the most deadly in Australia.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2017, an average of 21 Australians die each day from a heart attack and 22 a day following a stroke.

"Alarmingly, one in five Australians aged 45 to 74 years old has a moderate to high risk of heart attack and stroke in the next five years," said the Heart Foundation's Chief Medical Advisor. , Professor Garry Jennings.

"The higher your heart age compared to your actual age, the higher your risk of heart attack or stroke. If your heart age is higher than your actual age, we advise you to make an appointment with your doctor for a cardiac checkup. & # 39;

According to Professor Jennings, nearly 40% of Australians aged 18 and over have at least three risk factors.

Hypertension and cholesterol are the main factors.

Overweight, diabetes, family history, smoking, lack of exercise and some medications are some of the other factors.

"These conditions often have no obvious symptoms, but they can be a time bomb for people's heart health," said Professor Jennings.

"Too few people understand the significant impact of these risks on the health of their hearts."

Australians aged 45 and over are advised to consult their GP for a regular cardiac checkup.

People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent are at higher risk and should have regular heart health screening at the age of 35.

People can reduce their risk of heart disease and their age for the heart by adopting a healthy and balanced diet, giving up smoking and doing at least two and a half hours of moderate physical activity a week.

"There is no single cause for heart disease, but the more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to get it, and these risks only increase with the risk." Age, "said Professor Jennings.

To test your heart health, click here.