Consuming tobacco can increase the cardiovascular age of a person, which can be much higher than the biological age. Cardiovascular aging in chronic smokers can be 10 years more than the biological age. This can be calculated by measuring the wall thickness of the carotid neck artery supplying blood to the brain.

Apart from that, one can also measure the endothelial functions of the brachial artery supplying blood to the hand. Cardiac age of a person is calculated by measuring the relaxation functions of the heart. With advancing age the heart fails to relax properly. This relaxation abnormality usually comes after the age of 60. If the same is seen at the age of 40, one knows what the biological age and cardiac age is.

The good news is that cardiovascular age of a person can be regressed by quitting smoking and tobacco along with adoption of a healthy lifestyle including diet and exercise. Graying of the hair may not be sufficient to know the age of a person. Today, it is the cardiovascular age which is important.