Health Longevity: Your Heart Matters More Than You Think
Why your heart matters for long life
Your heart is at the center of your health. In Singapore, heart disease is the top cause of death and disability. If your heart isn’t working well, you may not just live a shorter life, you may also spend your later years struggling with daily activities.
Taking care of your heart can add years to your life (lifespan) and improve your quality of life (healthspan). Research indicates that people with good heart health live almost 9 years longer than those with poor heart health.
What should you test to know your heart risk?
There isn’t one single test that tells the whole story. Doctors look at a mix of blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation markers, and more. Here are the key ones, explained simply:
1. Blood Pressure
What it is: The pressure of blood pushing against your artery walls.
Why it matters: High blood pressure (“hypertension”) damages blood vessels, raising your risk of heart attack and stroke.
What to look for:
Optimal: Around 120/80 mmHg
Risky: 140/90 mmHg or higher
Even “slightly high” blood pressure can shorten lifespan and reduce years of healthy living.
2. Cholesterol (HDL and LDL)
What it is: Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood, carried by proteins called lipoproteins.
HDL (“good” cholesterol): Removes extra cholesterol from your blood, which then protects the heart.
LDL (“bad” cholesterol): Leaves cholesterol in your arteries, which then clogs blood flow.
What to look for:
Higher HDL = better (protects heart)
Lower LDL = better (less clogging)
Recommended Reading:
Blood Cholesterol Test in Singapore
3. Apolipoproteins (Apo B & Apo A1)
What they are: Proteins attached to cholesterol particles.
Apo B: Found on LDL are bad for arteries.
Apo A1: Found on HDL are protective.
Apo B/A1 ratio: A high ratio have about double the risk of heart disease and early death risk compared to those with a low ratio. Think of this ratio as a “balance check” between bad and good cholesterol carriers.
Recommended Reading: What is Apolipoprotein B?
4. Lipoprotein(a)
What it is: A special type of LDL cholesterol, mostly inherited from your parents.
Why it matters: High levels can shorten lifespan by about 1.5 years.
What to look for: If your levels are high, you can’t change them directly but knowing helps you manage other risks (such as diet, exercise, blood pressure).
Recommended Reading: What is Lipoprotein(a)?
5. hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein)
What it is: A blood marker of inflammation in your body.
Why it matters: Inflammation damages blood vessels and raises clot risk, which can trigger heart attacks.
What to look for: Lower is better. High hs-CRP = higher risk of heart disease and shorter lifespan.
Normal vs. Optimal Results: What’s the difference?
Is there any difference? There is a distinction between “normal” and “optimal” results on any type of medical test. Simply put:
Normal = within range, not clearly showing disease.
Optimal = best level for long life and lowest risk.
Here’s an example: A blood pressure at 135/88 is “normal,” but not optimal. It still carries higher risk than 120/80.
Heart Health Cheat Sheet
| Biomarker / Test | What It Means (Plain English) | Good / Optimal | Risky / Suboptimal | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure | Pressure of blood pushing against artery walls | ~120/80 mmHg | 140/90+ = high (hypertension) | Exercise, eat less salt, manage stress, maintain healthy weight |
| HDL (“Good” Cholesterol) | Removes excess cholesterol from blood | Higher = better (protects arteries) | Low levels = less protection | Exercise, healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, fish) |
| LDL (“Bad” Cholesterol) | Leaves cholesterol deposits in arteries | Lower = better | High = artery clogging, heart attack risk | Eat less saturated fat, increase fiber, meds (statins) if needed |
| Apo B / Apo A1 Ratio | Balance between “bad” and “good” cholesterol carriers | Low ratio = healthier heart | High ratio = double heart disease risk, ↑ early death risk | Eat less saturated fat, increase fiber, meds (statins) if needed, doctor may order extra tests |
| Lipoprotein(a) | A genetic type of LDL cholesterol | Low = better | High = higher lifetime risk, ~1.5 years shorter lifespan | Can’t change directly; manage other risks (BP, LDL, lifestyle) |
| hs-CRP (Inflammation) | Measures body inflammation (affects arteries) | Low levels = better | High = ↑ risk of clots, heart disease, shorter lifespan | Anti-inflammatory lifestyle: exercise, quit smoking, healthy diet |
What to do if your results aren’t ideal
Lifestyle first:
Exercise regularly
Eat less saturated fat, more fiber, fruits, and vegetables
Maintain a healthy weight
Supplements (sometimes):
Plant sterols can lower LDL cholesterol. Always check with your doctor first.
Medications (if needed):
Doctors may prescribe drugs like statins if your cholesterol is very high.
Your heart health is one of the biggest factors for how long and how well you live. Regular testing helps you catch problems early, so you can make changes before serious disease develops. Think of it as an investment: the earlier you know your numbers, the more years of healthy life you can gain.
Prioritize Your Heart with NOVI Assessment Max
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Whether you’re healthy and want to stay that way, or you’re ready to make lasting changes, Assessment Max helps you set your baseline and track your progress over time so you can take confident control of your future health.