Heart health

Here you will find the tools to provide you with the knowledge to improve your heart health, and avoid or reduce your risk of further heart problems.

Heart health is important for everyone, but people who already have heart disease may need to have medical procedures including surgery, take medication, make lifestyle changes, and be given education, information and resources to achieve a healthy heart.

There are a number of risk factors associated with maintaining a healthy heart. Some of these risk factors we cannot change. These non-modifiable risk factors include:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Family history of heart disease
  • Race – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at higher risk of developing heart disease

Other risk factors we can change. These are called modifiable risk factors and include:

  • Nutrition
  • Diabetes
  • Cholesterol
  • Weight
  • Physical activity
  • Hypertension
  • Depression and stress                                                                  
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol intake

To improve your heart health, you need to control as many of the heart disease risk factors as possible. You can do this by:

  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Be physically active
  • Control stress
  • Control diabetes
  • Know your numbers. Follow up via your GP your blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, and make sure your medications are monitored and reviewed
  • Stop smoking
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • Understanding heart disease and knowing the warning signs
  • Know where to find local support

Acknowledgements to Morguefile for images