India, Aug. 1 -- Your heart may be ageing faster than your birth certificate suggests, and for many Americans, especially those with lower income or education, that age gap is alarmingly wide. According to a study published in JAMA Cardiology on July 30, 2025, the average American's cardiovascular system functions years older than their actual age, about four years older for women and seven years older for men. (Also read: Cardiologist explains how a simple blood test can predict heart attack risk years in advance: 'Before symptoms appear.' )

The study, based on data from over 14,000 adults, introduces a new concept called "risk age", a way of communicating heart disease risk not through percentages, but by comparing a person's heart to ...