HEART disease is the single biggest killer of women in Australia and today the Heart Foundation is asking people to talk about it.
Go Red for Women Day aims to increase awareness about women and heart disease, which kills one Australian woman each hour of each day.
Latrobe Community Health Service yesterday hosted a community forum at its Morwell centre, discussing risk factors, symptoms and advice for preventative measures.
LCHS community health nurse Corina Christie said about 20 women – aged from their late 20s to 70s – attended the inaugural seminar.
“LCHS is promoting Go Red for Women Day to make people aware that (thousands of) Australian women die of heart disease each year,” Ms Christie said.
“Through increased knowledge and education those deaths decrease.”
She said the Heart Foundation had listed the Latrobe Valley community in the high-risk category of heart disease, which was why LCHS hosted the forum.
“Basically all we want to do is get some information out there so people can make some really good decisions for themselves,” Ms Christie said.
“If we start making some good choices, then people can start to notice and hopefully it will benefit them as well.”
Ms Christie joined health promotion officer Claire Watts, dietitian Emily Orchard, exercise physiologist Phil Jamieson and continence nurse Eva Hawkett to speak about heart disease.
From diet advice, risk factors and the importance of physical activity, Ms Christie said the topics were well-received and hoped to hold a similar forum each year.
“LCHS wants to provide a welcoming, relaxed environment where people feel comfortable to ask questions,” Ms Christie said.
“And receive information they can then use in their daily lives to make informed choices.”
LCHS’ next confirmed seminar will be held in September with a specific focus on strokes.
For more information about heart disease visit www.heartfoundation.org.au, phone 1300 36 27 87 or talk to your doctor.
The Heart Foundation’s top 10 healthy heart tips
1 Quit Smoking
2 Get 30 minutes of physical activity daily
3 Choose healthy fats
4 Eat five veggies and two fruits each day
5 Check your cholesterol level, blood pressure and waist size regularly
6 Talk about it – discuss your heart disease risk with your doctor
7 Eat two to three serves of oily fish or seafood each week
8 Reduce your salt intake to less than six grams a day
9 Move more and sit less
10 Drink water and aim for at least three alcohol-free days a week
To support the Go Red for Women campaign, visit www.goredforwomen.org.au
