What’s your heart’s GPA? The American Heart Association built a cardiovascular health score called Life’s Essential 8, and the average American adult is pulling a D+. In this episode of The Habit Healers Podcast, I walk you through the eight measures that determine your heart health, why a single composite score is more useful than any one lab value, and how to figure out which habit to change first.

The Life’s Essential 8 framework scores you from 0 to 100 across four health behaviors (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, and sleep) and four health factors (BMI, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure). I break down what each component measures, the exact scoring thresholds the AHA uses, and the research showing why people with high cardiovascular health live longer, age slower biologically, and lower their risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and diabetes. Then I give you the one-metric strategy I recommend to my patients instead of trying to overhaul everything at once.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

* How to calculate your own cardiovascular health score using Life’s Essential 8

* Why non-HDL cholesterol and sleep duration matter more than most people realize

* The connection between Life’s Essential 8 scores, biological age, and life expectancy

* How to use the AHA’s free My Life Check tool to assess your heart health

* Which single habit to change first if your score is lowCheck out the Habit Healers Community: https://www.skool.com/habithealers/aboutDr. Marbas Substack Article: https://drlauriemarbas.substack.com/p/whats-your-hearts-gpaA

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