Half a million Australian women unknowingly at high risk of heart disease

The National Heart Foundation of Australia today released figures revealing that an estimated 500,000 Australian women have high blood pressure or cholesterol, but don’t know it.

“Having high blood pressure or cholesterol significantly increases your risk of heart disease, which is the number one killer of Australian women,” said Heart Foundation CEO Graeme Lynch

“The Heart Foundation estimates that there are half a million Australian women aged 30-65 who either have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, but don’t know it.

“The only way to find out if you’re one of them is to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked by a health professional as there are no obvious symptoms.

“Today marks the start of Go Red for Women month so we’re urging all women, especially those over 45, to ask their GP for a heart health check during June,” Mr Lynch said.

Go Red for Women is the Heart Foundation’s campaign to raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of Australian women.

As part of this year’s campaign, the Heart Foundation is again running its Healthy Heart Challenge, a free six-week program to help women improve their heart health.

The Challenge starts on Monday 4 June – register at goredforwomen.org.au and select one of four goals:

– Be active everyday – Improve everyday nutrition

– Lower high blood pressure – Lower high cholesterol levels

“Ninety percent of Australian women have at least one risk factor for heart disease and 50% have two or three – join the Healthy Heart Challenge and find out how simple changes you make can lower your risk of heart disease,” Mr Lynch said.

Each year Go Red for Women relies heavily on the generosity of corporate sponsors to help raise women’s awareness of heart disease.

This year our national sponsor family is made up of National Presenting Sponsor AMP Capital Shopping Centres; National Supporting Sponsors – UNCLE TOBYS, Curves and Flora pro-activ; National Providing Sponsors – V-ZUG, Tefal and QR National; and National Corporate Supporter – Napoleon Perdis.
Heart Foundation