Are you missing these health checks for silent killers?

More than a third of Australians aged 45 and over have not had up-to-date tests for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, two leading risk factors for coronary heart disease, which kills on average 50 Australians every day.

Data unveiled by the Heart Foundation reveals that more than 61,000 eligible Australians (36 per cent) in the at-risk age group of 45-74 failed to have both their blood pressure and cholesterol recorded within the recommended timeframes.

While 15 per cent of eligible Australians (25,315 people) missed having their blood pressure checked in the last two years, nearly double that number, 29 per cent (50,501 people), went more than five years without having their cholesterol recorded by their GP.

The Heart Foundation’s Natalie Raffoul said the results were a wake-up call and revealed too many Australians are missing out on the checks needed to protect their heart health.

“High blood pressure and cholesterol are often silent or symptom free, yet they are two of the biggest risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Too many times, we hear of people who think they’re fine but don’t realise they’re a ticking time bomb,” she said.

“It’s not uncommon that a heart attack or stroke is the first sign that something is wrong. It’s devastating because these conditions are largely preventable and can be treated if they’re picked up and managed.”

The Heart Foundation recommends all Australians aged 45 and over, and 30 and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, see their GP for a Heart Health Check covered by Medicare.

“A Heart Health Check can save your life – it takes 20 minutes including a blood test, and it’s your best opportunity to take control of your heart health and reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke,” Ms Raffoul said.

The data also found that nearly one in four eligible Australians, more than 26,000 people, are at high risk of a heart attack or stroke due to a combination of risk factors and or their age.

“This is important, because we know that the more risk factors you have, the greater your risk of heart attack and stroke,” Ms Raffoul said.

“Some people are automatically at high risk of developing heart disease because of their co-existing conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease. These people in particular should have regular heart health check-ups with their GP.”

A Heart Health Check is performed by your doctor to assess how likely you are to have a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. As part of a Heart Health Check, your doctor will take blood tests for blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels, measure your blood pressure, BMI (body mass index) and waist size, and talk to you about your family’s medical history and your lifestyle.

The results, drawn from an analysis of national general practice MedicineInsight data, looked at 172,366 deidentified patient records to assess the number of Australians whose necessary risk factors were recorded.

Have you had a Heart Health Check with your GP? Did you know about this service?

4 comments

Have not been to a doctor for 9 years, they could not help me then so cured myself. If you think you have high blood pressure lower fats (including animal protein) , lower salt and eat more fresh fruit and raw veggies.

Remeber the days when visiting your doc, the first thing he / she did was taking the bloodpressure.

This days you have to ask.

Gas, constipation, and diarrhea are caused after eating raw veggies

I don't have any issues, but you do need to introduce them slowly for your digestion to get used to it. What causes more problems is high fat and that includes protein.

This has been a health issue for me this year;  Blood Pressure.

It has confused the doctors in the hospital besides the GP,  I am not the only either, but the naturopath 

worked it out and I had to let the Cadiologist know!  It is a wheat allergy that sets some peoples BP up.

 

It is the gluten in the wheat, best if you cut out all gluten too, also lowering fats is a good idea. Best of health to you Celia.

 

Yes I do but it has taken 30 years of doctors with no idea!   As I said I ended up with the naturopath that told me, the tests apparently that they gave didn't show up the issue.   Talking to others it happened to them, various tests are not helping people.     I hate to think how much testings were done and colonoscopies!

But the major point is some of us have high blood pressure and the specialists stuff people with Blood Pressure tablets that are of no good.

 

Testing is a big money maker for the industry, I had the same when I was sick 9 years ago, could not find anything, yet I was really sick, so cured myself. Diet does play a big part but doctors never talk about it. Your illness ends up in the "mystery illness" basket.

It helps to clean out all the accumulation in your liver of toxins by having a whole lemon squeezed into 2 cups water drink slowly first thing in the morning and wait until you eat at least half an hour.

 

4 comments



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