5 ways to reduce your risk of heart disease

Nine in 10 Australians have at least one risk factor for heart disease, but there are ways to reduce your risk and keep your heart healthy.

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Should I be tested for heart disease?

Understanding your risk of heart disease can help you take steps to reduce your risk and protect your heart. Find out more about heart disease risks and how heart disease tests are carried out.

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Heart disease surgery

Links to our information partners' articles about heart disease surgery and cardiovascular disease.

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Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease is a birth defect, occurring when a baby is born with a heart that hasn’t formed properly. Some forms of the condition are uncomplicated; others can be very serious. Learn about the differences here.

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Rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition that develops when the body’s heart valves are damaged by rheumatic fever. It is serious, but it’s also entirely preventable.

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Find out your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease with this quick test

Healthdirect, with the George Institute, has developed a free online risk calculator to help prevent heart disease, kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.

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Heart attack symptoms: men vs women

Heart disease often goes undiagnosed in women, partly because symptoms can develop later. Learn more about why heart disease differs in men and women.

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Heart and cardiovascular conditions

Learn more about the conditions that affect your heart and cardiovascular system, such as high blood pressure, angina and heart disease.

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Risk Checker

Find out if you're at risk of heart disease, kidney disease or type 2 diabetes in just a few minutes using the healthdirect Risk Checker.

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5 heart health myths, busted

Heart disease is the leading underlying cause of death in Australia. Knowing how to look after your heart is essential, but there's a lot of misinformation out there.

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UpBeat app

UpBeat is an app for teenagers with heart conditions (15 to 19 years) who are starting to manage their lives and health care more independently. It is a tool that helps young people with childhood heart disease (CHD) to engage with the health care transition process (moving from paediatric to adult care) and the self-management of their condition.

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Heart murmur

Heart murmurs are sounds that can be heard when listening to the heart. Some heart murmurs are a sign of a heart condition, but others are not. Here's what you need to know.

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Coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis

Coronary heart disease (CHD), also known as ‘ischaemic heart disease’, is the most common form of heart disease. Learn how to reduce your risk.

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15 minutes of walking could reduce your risk of disease

Walking 15 minutes a day could reduce your risk of heart disease, dementia and some cancers, says the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

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Metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that raise the risk of stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Find out its symptoms and treatments.

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Coronary angiogram

A coronary angiogram is an x-ray procedure used to see whether a person has a certain type of heart disease. See here how the procedure is carried out.

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How to lower your cholesterol

High cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, but lifestyle changes and sometimes medicines can lower your levels of bad LDL cholesterol.

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Salt and sodium

Excess salt can raise your blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Here's how to reduce your salt (sodium) intake.

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Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance made by your body and also found in food. It is needed for good health, but too much can increase your risk of heart disease.

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Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy affects your heart muscle so it can’t pump properly. It can be inherited (hereditary) or caused by viruses, drugs or other heart diseases. Discover how to prevent and manage it.

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Angina

Angina is chest pain or discomfort that usually comes on during physical activity. Here’s how to recognise angina and what to do about it.

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Long QT syndrome

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of the heart's electrical system that can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats, called arrhythmias.

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Percutaneous coronary intervention

Coronary artery disease can cause pain, shortness of breath and heart attacks. A PCI is usually a safe and effective way to relieve your pain.

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Water safety isn't just swimming between the flags

When you think of water safety, you might think of young children. But adults with pre-existing medical conditions and those 'under the influence' are also at risk.

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Rural men face greater risk of health problems, including suicide

Men who live in rural and remote Australia are more at risk of many health issues, such as obesity and suicide. Even in the outback, help is available.

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Staying healthy when you have a heart condition

It's important to stay healthy if you have a heart condition and you can look after your heart by having a healthy lifestyle.

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Full-fat dairy is OK, says the Heart Foundation, but watch your meat intake

The Heart Foundation has softened its advice on full-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese for healthy Australians, but warns against eating too much red meat.

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Dietary fats

The body needs some fats and oils as part of a balanced diet. But some fats (unsaturated fats) are healthier than others (saturated and trans fats).

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Cholesterol and lipid tests

Read about cholesterol (or lipid profile) blood tests, which look at cholesterol and other fats in your blood, and what the results mean.

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How to talk to someone about diabetes

Almost 300 Australians are diagnosed with diabetes every day. But type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed, if you know the risk factors.

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