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Risk Factors for Heart Disease
The major preventable risk factors for heart disease are tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, overweight, insufficient physical activity, high alcohol use and type 2 diabetes. Risk is higher for males than for females and strongly increases with age for both males and females.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare provides information on risk factors for heart disease in several publications including:
- Living dangerously: Australians with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease
- Physical activity patterns of Australian adults: results of the 1999 National Physical Activity Survey
For other related AIHW publications on heart disease see the AIHW's Cardiovascular health page.
Follow the links below to find information on risk factors for heart disease.
Reviewed April 2012
24 Resources Found
Results 1 to 20 displayed. 1 2
| Title: | Fats and oils |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Fat is an important part of a healthy diet. However, some fats are better than others. Saturated fats increase blood cholesterol. Mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats tend to lower blood cholesterol. Trans fatty acids (or trans fats) are potentially harmful and are used to make baked products, pies, cakes, biscuits and buns. Omega-6 and omega-3 fats can benefit your health. |
| Date: | Oct 2011 |
| Title: | Heart disease - enlarged heart |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | An enlarged heart is a symptom of an underlying disorder that is causing the heart to work harder than normal. Possible causes include coronary heart disease, cardiac ischaemia, high blood pressure, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, heart valve disease or a previous heart attack. Another name for an enlarged heart is cardiomegaly. An enlarged heart may be asympomatic (have no symptoms). Possible symptoms include breathing problems, shortness of breath, dizziness, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), heart palpitations or fluid retention. |
| Date: | Sep 2011 |
| Title: | Cardiovascular disease |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute |
| Description: | Cardiovascular disease refers to a class of diseases that involve the heart and/or blood vessels (e.g. arteries). It is commonly related to atherosclerosis, a process whereby fatty deposits (plaques) form in your arteries, causing them to narrow and possibly block completely. |
| Date: | Jun 2011 |
| Title: | Chest pain |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Chest pain may be a sign of a heart attack. However, there are other causes of chest pain, including indigestion and muscle strain. If in doubt, call an ambulance. |
| Date: | May 2011 |
| Title: | Heart disease when you're fit and healthy |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Some people are lean, active and healthy but still suffer from heart disease. Cholesterol levels that are normal for most people may be too high for others. While we can't change genetic factors, researchers are trying to understand why people react differently to the same situations. |
| Date: | Apr 2011 |
| Title: | Heart disease - risk factors explained |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Coronary heart disease is a condition that affects many people and may cause angina and heart attack. Risk factors are things that increase your risk of developing coronary heart disease. The good news is that by following a healthy lifestyle and taking medicines as prescribed by your doctor, you can reduce or remove risk factors and reduce your overall risk of developing coronary heart disease. |
| Date: | Apr 2012 |
| Title: | Birth defects - heart abnormalities |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | A congenital heart defect (CHD) is present at birth. Congenital heart defects include ventricular septal defect, transposition of the great vessels, coarctation of aorta, tetralogy of Fallot and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Some defects are serious and may require medication and surgery |
| Date: | Sep 2010 |
| Title: | Heart palpitations |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Virtual Medical Centre.com |
| Description: | A person is said to be having heart palpitations when they have a sudden awareness of their heart beating in their chest. |
| Date: | May 2010 |
| Title: | Smoking and heart disease |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Cigarette smoking is a major cause of heart attack, stroke and peripheral arterial disease. Nearly 40 per cent of all people who die from smoking tobacco do so due to heart and blood vessel disease. A smoker's risk of heart attack reduces rapidly after only one year of not smoking. |
| Date: | Apr 2012 |
| Title: | CT Calcium scoring |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Virtual Medical Centre.com |
| Description: | Computed tomography (CT) calcium scoring is a non-invasive method to detect the presence of calcium in the blood vessels that supply your heart (coronary arteries). |
| Date: | Feb 2010 |
| Title: | Heart health and anger - myDr.com.au |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | myDr |
| Description: | People who get angry easily are more likely to have a heart attack than their more placid counterparts, research suggests. |
| Date: | Jan 2010 |
| Title: | Cholesterol: what is your target? - myDr.com.au |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | myDr |
| Description: | Measuring the levels of good and bad cholesterol can give an indicator of your cardiovascular health. |
| Date: | Oct 2009 |
| Title: | Heart disease: reduce the risk - myDr.com.au |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | myDr |
| Description: | You can reduce your risk of heart disease by following a few sensible steps. Here's how. |
| Date: | Aug 2009 |
| Title: | Heart murmurs - myDr.com.au |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | myDr |
| Description: | Heart murmurs are heard between heartbeats if the blood flow through the heart becomes turbulent. |
| Date: | Feb 2009 |
| Title: | Medicinal mishap: Cabergoline-induced valvulopathy |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Australian Prescriber |
| Description: | Prescribers need to be aware of the risk of cardiac valvulopathy associated with the use of ergot-derived dopamine agonists. |
| Date: | Feb 2008 |
| Title: | Multiple risk factor interventions for coronary heart disease |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration |
| Description: | In many countries, there is enthusiasm for 'healthy heart programmes' that use counselling and educational methods to encourage people to reduce their risks for developing heart disease. These risk factors include high cholesterol, excessive salt intake... |
| Date: | Dec 2006 |
| Title: | Heart attack - Albie's story |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Better Health Channel |
| Description: | Albie has experienced two heart attacks. His first occurred in his 60s and led to his retirement from a stressful job. Tell me about your first heart attack. |
| Date: | Dec 2003 |
| Title: | High blood pressure - myDr.com.au |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | myDr |
| Description: | Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major factor in strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. |
| Date: | Mar 2003 |
| Title: | Heart attack prevention tips - myDr.com.au |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | myDr |
| Description: | Read about how you can help prevent heart attacks by making a few simple lifestyle changes. |
| Date: | Mar 2003 |
| Title: | Heart health - myDr.com.au |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | myDr |
| Description: | A healthy heart can help to ensure a long, full life. Learn how you can improve your heart health through dieting, exercising and giving up smoking. |
| Date: | Mar 2003 |
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