HEALTH

One in four of us currently have a “heart age” higher than our actual age.

Public Health England (PHE) is launching a free online heart age check so that we can recognise this and do something about it.

Each year, 84,100 Brits die from heart disease or stroke. The new Heart Age Test asks a number of simple physical and lifestyle questions and provides an immediate estimation of someone’s heart age. It also predicts the risk of having a heart attack or stroke by a certain age.

TV Doctor and GP, Dr Hilary Jones, who has joined the PHE campaign, said: “With 50 preventable deaths every day of people under the age of 75, this is serious.

“It’s vital that people know their heart health and take steps to reduce their risk of stroke and heart attack.”

Going for an eye test could see you referred direct to hospital for a scan for deadly brain tumours under a new NHS plan. It follows an 18-month pilot scheme involving 27 opticians which saw 32 patients given an urgent referral, with two cancers found. It has now been extended across 17 more practices in the North East. Consultant neurosurgeon Prof Phil Kane said: “Our optometrists can perform detailed eye examinations which are not always possible in a GP surgery.”

Erotic online chats and photo sharing could be contributing to the fall in teen pregnancies, experts have said.

A British Pregnancy Advisory Service report found social, romantic and sexual relationships are increasingly experienced online.

Figures show under-18 conceptions have hit record lows in a number of local authorities.

Katherine O’Brien, of the BPAS, said: “Societal shifts are also important factors. People now spend more time socialising online and less in person with their partners.”

MARTIN BAGOT is the Mirror’s Health Correspondent