Participating and donating to causes such as RedFeb helps raise awareness and funding. It is as simple as wearing red and donating
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia. It kills one person every 28 minutes. Not only is it deadly, but people suffering from heart disease can report significantly decreased quality of life and level of function
“...this month is Heart Research Australia’s Red February (RedFeb), raising money for life-saving research, bringing awareness to heart disease and helping keep families together for longer.”
Everyone is at risk of having heart disease to some degree which is why this month is Heart Research Australia’s Red February (RedFeb), raising money for life-saving research, bringing awareness to heart disease and helping keep families together for longer.
Unfortunately, some things that impact our risk level we can’t control. As we age, the risk of heart disease increases. Males have a higher risk than females, but this can change as we age, with risk levels for women increasing. A family history of a heart condition may also place you at a higher risk.
However, it is critical to address the things we have control over. Not only can this positively impact your health, but it may also help improve the heart health of friends and family. Some common risk factors which we can change include the following;
Smoking, including second-hand smoke: smokers are almost twice as likely to have heart disease, and second-hand smoke has been proven to increase your risk
Physical inactivity: two in every three people over 18 years old are either sedentary or have low levels of activity
High blood pressure: high blood pressure is often unnoticed due to the lack of obvious symptoms, but long term, it can lead to serious complications and decreased heart function
High cholesterol: cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood produced by the body. It also comes from your food. Too much can create plaques that constrict or prevent normal blood flow.
Being overweight: In Australia, one in four children and two in three adults are overweight
We can all look at our health and see what can be done to care for our hearts. Some people have never had an issue with their heart, and others may have more experience with this than they’d ever want.
It’s never too early or too late to take better care of our hearts. Seeing a health professional with an understanding of Heart Disease to assist with any challenges you may have is a great start.
Participating and donating to causes such as RedFeb helps raise awareness and funding. It is as simple as wearing red and donating.
For more information, visit www.heartresearch.com.au/redfeb
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