News

Heart Health Checks

March 18, 2022

Heart disease is Australia’s leading cause of death with 17,500 deaths attributed to heart disease in 2018. It is often seen as a disease which mostly affects men and can be overlooked in women, but almost every hour of every day an Australian woman dies of heart disease.

For more information about the risk factors and how heart disease is managed, please read the recent blog post by Dr Amy Harkness.

Heart health checks

People aged 45 years and over (or 30 years and over for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples) are eligible to receive bulk-billed heart health checks. To book a heart health check, book online via our website and select Heart Health Check, then select the GP of your choice.

Prevent heart disease

You can minimise your risk of heart disease by ensuring you lead a healthy lifestyle including:

  • eating a low-fat, low-salt and low-sugar diet, with increased plant-based foods and lean protein,
  • exercising for at least 30 minutes every day, and
  • minimising stress.

Visit your GP to keep track of your heart health indicators including cholesterol levels, blood pressure, weight, sugar levels and waist circumference.

For more information, visit the Heart Foundation.