The single greatest cause of death for Australian women is not cancer – as terrible as it is – but heart disease.
This evening, the Heart Foundation in Tasmania is launching its annual Go Red for Women campaign in Hobart.
Running for the month of June, the campaign aims to raise awareness about women and heart disease, particularly encouraging women to understand the risk factors and to make healthier lifestyle choices.
Heart disease risk factors include being overweight, being physically inactive, smoking and having a family history of heart disease.
Women are encouraged to have a heart health check with their GP to better understand their risk and what action they can take to live a longer, healthier life.
While more and more women are aware of heart disease, there is still a long way to go in raising awareness and addressing our single biggest killer of women.
Many people are surprised to learn that more than three times as many women die from heart disease than breast cancer, with an average of 25 Australian women dying every day.
Last year in Tasmania, 5500 women were living with heart disease.
To help do something about this hidden killer, the Heart Foundation is challenging women to Go Red in June – dress red, eat red, anything goes as long as it’s red.
For more information about the Go Red for Women campaign, go to www.heartfoundation.org.au
Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Women
