What is Heart Disease?
There are many different heart conditions. Ischaemic heart disease, or heart disease, is the most common form of cardiovascular disease and refers to conditions that involve a reduction of blood supply to the heart. This can lead to a heart attack, angina (chest pain) or stroke.
Heart disease is a broad, umbrella term that includes a range of heart-related conditions – blood vessel diseases, coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems and congenital heart defects.
In the last decade, the number of deaths from heart disease has fallen by more than a third from 99.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2007 to 62.4 deaths in 2016.3 Despite this, heart attack claims around 22 lives per day.2
Warning signs
Warning signs of a heart attack can include one or more of the following symptoms and may vary in intensity: pain or tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, breaking out in a cold sweat, dizziness, nausea, an aching jaw, discomfort in your neck, aching shoulder/shoulder blades/back and numb or tingling arms. In the event of warning signs, the Heart Foundation recommends calling 000 immediately.
Risk factors
A Heart Foundation study revealed that almost three-quarters (73%) of Australians, aged 30 to 65 years, have been told by their doctor they have at least one risk factor for heart disease.4 There is no single cause of heart disease but multiple contributing factors. Some risks are fixed and can’t be changed but the good news is that many can.
Fixed risks
The risk of heart disease increases with age. Men are at a higher risk – it is the leading cause of death for males. Women are also highly susceptible to heart disease. A women’s risk grows after menopause and it is the second leading cause of death for females. Ethnicity and genetics can also play a role.
Variable risks
There are no surprises here – smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, consuming too much alcohol, diabetes, being inactive, being overweight, having an unhealthy diet, stress and depression all contribute to heart disease.
Protect yourself: Minimise risk
The first step to protect yourself against heart disease is to understand your risk factors.
- Many risk factors come down to lifestyle choice so a change in behaviour is likely to reduce your level of risk.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If all Australians were in a normal weight range, the burden of heart disease would be reduced by 25%.
- A heart health check, conducted by a doctor or health practitioner, is recommended for people over 45 years old. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the recommended age is 35. It involves a blood test, blood pressure check and a discussion about your lifestyle and family history.
- Knowing your risk, consider whether you have adequate insurance (e.g. life, trauma, total & permanent disability, income protection) to protect what you value most in life.
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats
https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/about-us/heart-disease-in-australia/heart-attack-fact-sheet
https://www.heartresearch.com.au/heart-disease/what-is-heart-disease/
National Heart Foundation, 2017. HeartWatch Survey.
*This information is of a general nature only and has been provided without taking account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, you should consider whether the information is appropriate in light of your particular objectives, financial situation and needs.
