Report: Most Hearts in US Adults Older Than Real Age

FILE - A man sits on an ergometer during an electrocardiogram in a doctor's surgical office.

According to the old saying, you're only as young as you feel. But U.S. health experts say the familiar cliche may be deceiving.

A new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about three out of four Americans have hearts that are actually older than the rest of their bodies because of poor health and bad diets.

The heart age of the average U.S. male is almost eight years older than his real age. For women, it is more than five years.

The CDC says the most common reasons for an older heart include smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol, eating poorly and little exercise. It says an older heart could lead to heart attack or stroke.

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans.