Heart disease guidelines could save your life
Updated information that replaces a decades-old system will help doctors predict cardiovascular disease.
New health guidelines will help better identify Australians’ risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stop it before it strikes.
The guidelines include an improved CVD Risk Calculator. That’s not before time, since the previous calculator was based on data from the United States more than 60 years ago.
The Heart Foundation of Australia, which developed the guidelines on behalf of Diabetes Australia, Kidney Health Australia, and the National Stroke Foundation, says the new calculator will help clinicians to predict cardiovascular disease with greater accuracy.
Risk categories have also been updated, and improvements have been made to guidance communicating CVD risks to patients. The guidelines also include specific considerations for Indigenous peoples and female-specific risk factors.
The guideline and calculator will equip GPs, nurses and healthcare practitioners with tools for preventing cardiovascular disease in the 8 million Australians who do not have a CVD diagnosis.
Who should have their heart health checked?
Anyone aged 45–79 years who has not already been diagnosed with heart disease.
If you have diabetes, you should start heart health checks from 35.
If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, you should start getting your heart health checked (as part of a broader health check) from 30.
Having your heart health checked helps you understand your risk of developing heart disease and what you can do to manage your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
CVD risk calculator
The calculator is an online tool that will be used by your doctor to estimate your risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. It is based on heart health data from hundreds of thousands of people.
The calculator combines information about you – age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol test results, history of medical conditions, postcode, current medicines, and if you smoke – to calculate your risk of developing heart disease.
Your calculator risk score
Your doctor or nurse will share with you whether you have a high (10% or more), intermediate (at least 5% but less than 10%) or low (less than 5%) chance of having a heart attack or stroke over the next five years.
Your doctor or nurse might also ask you about the following to help work out your risk category:
Your ethnicity.
Any family history of premature heart disease.
If you have chronic kidney disease.
If you have a severe mental illness.
Whether you have a coronary artery calcium score.
For women: If you have a history of pregnancy-related hypertension or gestational diabetes, your doctor will talk to you about regularly checking your risk of heart disease.
The guideline recommends a heart-healthy lifestyle even if you have a low risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Choose foods that are naturally low in saturated and trans fats, rich in unsaturated fats, and rich in whole grains, fibre, and antioxidants. Avoid added salt and sugar.
Be physically active every day.
Maintain a healthy weight, which can help reduce your blood pressure and improve your heart health.
If you smoke, quit smoking. You can get help from your healthcare team and from Quitline on 13 78 48.
If you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink. This could also help to lower your blood pressure.
If prescribed medicine by your doctor, take it regularly as directed to help lower your blood pressure or cholesterol.
Speak to your doctor if you have any questions about your heart health.
Additional useful information about stopping heart disease can be found here.
Further reading: CVD Check, Heart Foundation
