This Valentines Day why don’t you give your heart the TLC it deserves and book in a heart health check.
Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood to all parts of your body. The blood gives your body the oxygen and nourishment it needs to work properly.
Heart disease is the single biggest killer of Australians, but it can mostly be prevented.
There’s no one cause for heart disease, but there are risk factors that increase your chance of developing it. The more risk factors you have, the bigger your risk is of a heart attack or stroke.
The best thing you can do to find out about your risk of heart disease is to see your doctor for a heart health check.
Why should I get a heart health check?
You may not be aware you have risk factors of heart disease early enough. Often there are no symptoms. So, it is important to get your doctor to check your risks frequently, to ensure your heart is healthy.
Who should have a heart health check?
The Heart Foundation and our GPs strongly recommend having a heart health check if you’re over 45 years old, and over 35 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
What happens at a heart health check?
A heart health check can be done as part of a normal check up with your doctor or health practitioner.
Your doctor will take blood tests, check your blood pressure and ask you about your lifestyle and your family (your grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters).
It is important to provide your doctor with as much information about your lifestyle and family history as possible.
Once your doctor or health practitioner has your blood test results, ask them for your report which will state if you have high (more than15%); moderate (10-15%) or low risk (less than 10%) of a heart attack or stroke.
Our team is here to help keep you and your heart healthy so book a heart health check today!
Resources:
https://www.heartfoundation.org.au