How Health Calculators Work

Healthcare Calculators are clinical tools designed to support your wellbeing through personalized assessments and action plans. The service includes three key resources: Heart Age Calculator to assess cardiovascular risk, Personal Quit Plan for smoking cessation support, and Mind Plan for mental health management. Each calculator provides tailored insights and actionable guidance based on your individual information.

Yes. Healthcare Calculators are evidence-based clinical tools designed to provide health assessments and guidance. All calculators are developed using clinically validated methodologies and are intended to complement professional medical advice, not replace it.

You can access Healthcare Calculators by navigating to the ‘Healthcare Calculators’ section of the account homepage. Here you will see Service Cards for each available calculator:

• Calculate Your Heart Age
• Personal Quit Plan
• Your Mind Plan

The Heart Age Calculator assesses your cardiovascular health and compares your heart’s biological age to your actual age.

To use the calculator:

1. Navigate to the Calculate Your Heart Age Service Card which is located in the Healthcare Calculators section of the account homepage
2. Complete the health assessment questions including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking status, and medical history
3. Submit your responses
4. View your Heart Age result and personalized risk assessment

Understanding your results:

Your Heart Age result will show whether your heart is older, younger, or the same as your actual age. A heart age older than your actual age indicates increased cardiovascular risk.

If your Heart Age is higher than your actual age, it indicates increased cardiovascular risk. The calculator will provide personalized recommendations such as:

• Lifestyle modifications (diet, exercise, smoking cessation)
• Risk factors to discuss with your doctor
• Monitoring recommendations

It is important that you discuss your Heart Age results with your doctor at your next appointment, especially if your heart age is significantly higher than your actual age.

The Personal Quit Plan helps you create a tailored strategy for quitting smoking based on your individual smoking habits and circumstances.

To create your plan:

1. Navigate to the Personal Quit Plan Service Card which is located in the Healthcare Calculators section of the account homepage
2. Select ‘Create Quit Plan’
3. Answer questions about your smoking habits, triggers, previous quit attempts, and motivation level
4. Submit your responses
5. View your personalized quit plan with recommended strategies

Your Personal Quit Plan includes:

• Your personalized quit date recommendation
• Strategies to manage cravings and triggers
• Nicotine replacement therapy options
• Behavioral support techniques
• Resources and support services
• Progress tracking tools

You can update your Quit Plan at any time by returning to the Personal Quit Plan Service Card. We recommend updating your plan:

• If your quit attempt is unsuccessful and you want to try again
• When you’ve successfully quit and want to focus on maintenance strategies
• If your circumstances or triggers change
• After discussing options with your doctor or cessation specialist

The Mind Plan helps you assess your mental wellbeing and provides personalized strategies for managing stress, anxiety, mood, and overall mental health.

To create your plan:

1. Navigate to the Your Mind Plan Service Card which is located in the Healthcare Calculators section of the account homepage
2. Select ‘Create Mind Plan’
3. Complete the mental health assessment questions about your mood, stress levels, sleep, and daily functioning
4. Submit your responses
5. View your personalized mental health plan and recommendations

Your Mind Plan includes:

• Your current wellbeing assessment
• Personalized coping strategies
• Self-care recommendations
• Stress management techniques
• Resources for additional support
• When to seek professional help

The Mind Plan will provide guidance on when to seek professional support. You should contact your doctor or a mental health professional if you experience:

• Persistent low mood or anxiety lasting more than two weeks
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Inability to manage daily activities
• Significant changes in sleep, appetite, or behavior
• Symptoms that worsen despite self-management strategies

Emergency support: If you’re in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, contact emergency services immediately or call a crisis helpline.

We recommend the following update schedule:

Heart Age Calculator:

• Annually for routine monitoring
• Every 3-6 months if you’re implementing lifestyle changes
• When you have new blood pressure or cholesterol readings
• Before any NowPatient Service Consultations

Personal Quit Plan:

• When you’re ready to quit smoking
• After any unsuccessful quit attempt
• To refresh your strategies during maintenance
• When you need renewed motivation

Mind Plan:

• Monthly to track your mental wellbeing
• When experiencing changes in stress or mood
• Before any NowPatient Service Consultations
• When implementing new coping strategies

You may receive notifications if:

• Your Heart Age indicates significant cardiovascular risk
• Important updates or new features are added to calculators
• It’s time to reassess based on your chosen monitoring schedule

Yes. You can share your calculator results with your healthcare provider. Your results can be:

• Viewed on your device during appointments
• Exported or printed for your records
• Used to facilitate discussions about your health

We encourage you to discuss your Heart Age, Quit Plan progress, and Mind Plan assessments with your doctor, especially if results indicate health risks.

Yes. While Healthcare Calculators provide valuable health insights, they have limitations:

Heart Age Calculator:

• Requires accurate blood pressure and cholesterol readings
• May not account for all individual risk factors
• Should not replace comprehensive cardiovascular assessments by healthcare professionals

Personal Quit Plan:

• Success depends on individual commitment and circumstances
• May need adjustment based on your experience
• Should be used alongside professional cessation support when needed

Mind Plan:

• Not a substitute for professional mental health diagnosis or treatment
• Self-reported assessments may not capture all aspects of mental health
• Serious mental health conditions require professional intervention

All calculators are designed to complement, not replace, professional medical advice and care.

No. Healthcare Calculators are a free service available for all registered users of NowPatient.

Yes. You can access and use all available Healthcare Calculators. Each calculator is independent and addresses different aspects of your health. Using multiple calculators can provide a more comprehensive view of your overall wellbeing.