Stepping in for heart health
Wimmera adults can get free heart-health checks in Horsham to safeguard against the nation’s biggest killer.
Horsham Priceline Pharmacy is providing the checks after supporting a recent study that showed 87 percent of the Australian population had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Horsham Priceline part-owner Cobie Mcqueen said cardiovascular disease was the single biggest killer in Australia.
“The problem is that there are often no symptoms until it is too late,” she said.
“When you turn 50, the health department sends you a bowel screening kit, but there is nothing like that for cardiovascular disease.
“People should really start having regular heart health checks from age 35.”
The Gippsland Healthy Hearts Study was a collaboration between SISU Health, Priceline, Latrobe Health Services and Novartis.
Professor Stephen Nicholls led the study from the new Victorian Heart Hospital.
Ms Mcqueen said nearly 60 percent of the people tested, who were at risk, did not think they would fall into this category.
“Of those tested, 31 percent had high blood pressure, which is generally an early sign of cardiovascular disease,” she said.
“We don’t want people to be alarmed, but we do want them to realise that no matter how fit or healthy you believe you are, you can still be at risk of heart attack, and getting checked regularly is the best safeguard.”
The tests take about 15 minutes and are available by appointment until Saturday, March 18.
People can make an appointment via priceline.com.au