Why Poverty Ages Your Heart: The Hidden Link Between Social Class and Heart Health
Why Poverty Ages Your Heart: The Hidden Link Between Social Class and Heart Health When you hear the phrase “heart age,” it sounds almost abstract — like something you’d see in a fitness app rather than a doctor’s office. But recent research from the University of Illinois shows that this concept is far from trivial. In fact, it may reveal one of the clearest links between social conditions and physical health. According to the study, most Americans have hearts that are older than their actual age. On average, men’s hearts are about seven years older, and women’s hearts are about four years older. More strikingly, this “heart age gap” isn’t evenly distributed — Black and Hispanic populations, especially men, tend to have even older heart ages than white or Asian populations. This finding raises a critical question: is it really about race, or something deeper — like poverty and social inequality? 📌 What Exactly Is “Heart Age”? “Heart age” is a way to translate your cardiov...
