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Every year, he kills more people than cancer. Yet for many Australians, heart disease does not seem to be a major cause for concern.
In fact, the YouGov Galaxy heart health study – commissioned by News Corp Australia in partnership with the Heart Foundation – reveals that 51% of Australians would not be too worried about being diagnosed with this disease – and a million would risk a heart attack rather than taking medicine.
These are hard truths to swallow, but not surprising, according to cardiologist Garry Jennings. "I feel a kind of complacency in our community regarding heart disease," he says.
"People do not think it can affect them or understand how common it is. A 45-year-old woman has a one in three chance of developing a heart problem once in her life, while a man of the same age has a one in two chance. He is currently the deadliest murderer in Australia and unless something changes, it will stay that way for a while. "
In addition to increasing your risk of premature death, heart disease can leave you with up to $ 70,000 in debt due to lost income and medical expenses, and can have a devastating impact on your family and friends. "Not everyone survives a heart problem and it's such a heartbreaking time for loved ones to stay," says Dr. Nikki Stamp.
"The only drawback is that sometimes, the illness of a family member makes all the others are controlled," she adds.
Professor Jennings agrees: "A heart problem can be a good thing in that it offers a real wake-up call to the rest of the family, but it's still a devastating event. Most people do not find their full professional status, people around them are worried about what will happen and there is also a disruption of family life due to the need for medical care. "
Despite the fact that 94% of Australians have at least one risk factor for heart disease, only 3% of adults have had a complete health check in the past year. "Heart disease is often perceived as something that happens to the elderly, but the process of deterioration actually starts in your twenties. So you have to think about your heart from the beginning, "says Dr. Stamp. "In addition, many risks – such as high blood pressure and diabetes – may be asymptomatic, so you would not necessarily know that something is wrong."
In addition to its silent symptoms, heart disease can also be signaled by increased fatigue or shortness of breath, making it difficult to adopt heart-healthy habits such as physical activity, quality sleep and a healthy diet. It's a vicious circle, but according to Dr. Stamp, it's not obligatory.
"Even if you have a genetic predisposition to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension or cholesterol, all you do to be in better health is beneficial," she says. "Research suggests that being active, quitting smoking and eating well can significantly reduce your risk."
Through a Heart Foundation campaign and News Corp Australia (the publisher of this paper), a new Medicare Heart Health Check was introduced on April 1 of this year, making it easier than ever before for charge your risks.
The discount system gives Australians considered to be at high risk of heart disease (people aged 45 and over, or 30 years and older for Aboriginal Australians) access to further badessment with their GP. If more people seize this opportunity, this could lead to an increase in early detection rates and a decrease in the number of preventable hospitalizations.
"Heart disease is preventable, but you can only prevent something you are aware of," says Professor Jennings. "You need a complete heart check to fully understand your risks. Then you have to do something about the results. You can not do anything about your genes, but you can change your lifestyle and take life-saving medications. "
Ready to prevent yourself and your family from becoming another statistic?
Quick Facts (YouGov Galaxy Heart Health Study)
1. 94% of Australians have at least one risk factor for heart disease
2. Two out of three Australians believe that Medicare should bear the cost of a complete medical examination by a doctor.
3. Only 3% of Australians had a complete badessment of their heart health in the past year
4. 71% have several risk factors:
- Being overweight – 68%
- Inactive lifestyle – 51%
- Unhealthy diet – 30%
- Family history – 21%
5. 1 million Australians prefer a heart attack than prescription drugs
6. 41% of millennials are afraid of being diagnosed with heart disease, compared to only 25% of baby boomers
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