What is heart disease?
Heart disease is a major cause of health problems and death in Australia, but it’s often preventable Heart disease is the broad term for conditions that affect the structure and function of the heart muscle. It includes:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD)
- Heart failure
- Valve disease
- Arrhythmias (rhythm disorders)
Heart disease can have many causes. It occurs earlier and more frequently in men than women, and within certain ethnic groups. You may be born with heart disease, or have an increased risk of developing it due to your genetics.
How can you prevent heart disease?
In many cases, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease by improving your lifestyle choices. Here are a few things you can do to help reduce your risk:
- Eat well. See the Heart Foundation’s healthy eating tips, recipes and information to help protect your heart
- Exercise regularly. Learn more about how much exercise you need, how to build more activity into your day-to-day life and more
- Stop smoking. Find out more about smoking and your heart
- See your doctor regularly. This is particularly important if you have conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol, which can increase your risk of heart disease.
If you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, it can still be managed. With the right support, lifestyle changes and treatment, you can go on to live a full and active life.
Can you cure heart disease?
While many cases of heart disease can be prevented, most can’t be cured. In many cases, you can manage heart disease and live well.Â
Some heart conditions, such as arrhythmias and valve disorders, can be responsive to treatment and not require further management. However, you still need to have regular check-ups to monitor your condition.
On the other hand, coronary artery disease and heart failure are chronic diseases that you’ll need to manage for the rest of your life.
Over 120,000 Australians saw their GP for a Heart Health Check in the last 12 months to reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke. Please call us to book an appointment for Heart Health Check with our doctor on 02-96983060.
