Cardiovascular Health is the leading cause of death in Australia. Find out what it involves and how you can keep this important body system healthy ~Lauren Simionato Keeping your heart healthy is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, and the main cause of hospitalisations. Keeping your heart healthy doesn’t just prevent heart attacks but also prevents strokes, peripheral vascular disease, arrhythimias and heart failure. In addition, most the things you can do to maintain your cardiovascular health will make you healthier in lots of other ways too.

style goes a long way to reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease, but is also likely to make you live longer, have more energy every day and feel happier, more relaxed and more confident.

A healthy diet and exercise go a long way to tackling our list of lifestyle factors, but one still remains: Smoking. Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death in Australia, and doesn’t just cause Even though we heart disease, but a think of heart attacks myriad of other conas a sudden event ditions including that can strike out of strokes, peripheral the blue, there are in vascular disease and fact signs that a heart cancer. One of the attack or other cardisingle greatest things ovascular condition you can do for your is likely. There are health in general is to many factors that reduce or quit smokcontribute to cardioing. Unfortunately, vascular disease. smoking does not just Some of them we involve yourself, but cannot control, such also those around as age, ethnicity and family history, but there are far you, and second-hand smoking (or passive smoking) more which we can. The most significant lifestyle also contributes to the health of those around you. factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease are: Smoking The good news is, you’re not alone in improving High blood cholesterol your cardiovascular health and there are many resources out there to help you stay healthy, such as the High blood pressure Australian Heart Foundation. Friends and family are invaluable, whether it be through motivating you Diabetes to stick to your goals, or making regular exercise Physical inactivity with friends a part of your lifestyle. Being overweight or obese Seeing your doctor regularly, even when you are Although that sounds like a tough list to beat, just a not sick, is an important part of staying healthy. few simple things can reduce our risk of cardiovascu- Some diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can have no signs or symplar disease dramatically. toms in the short term, and regular visits to your GP can ensure they are diagnosed earlier. In addition, Eating a healthy balanced diet and regular exer- your GP can help you achieve all your healthy lifecise will reduce your blood cholesterol, help maintain style goals, quit smoking, and supplement your a healthy body weight, reduce your blood pressure healthy lifestyle with medications if necessary. and reduce your risk of diabetes. This healthy lifeJune 2014