The heart is a beating muscle that pumps blood continuously to the rest of the body via a network of vessels. The heart can beat up to 100,000 times a day, which equates to over three billion heartbeats during an average lifetime.
Heart disease is preventable. We can all do something to prevent ourselves getting heart disease. Steady and small changes to lifestyle can reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
These can include:
- Not smoking
- Being active
- Managing blood pressure
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Maintaining psychological and social health
- Taking medicines and prescriptions as advised by your GP
Genetics and family history also play a role in which case early detection through specialised tests can be useful.
There are many types of heart conditions:
- A heart attack happens when there is a sudden blockage to an artery that supplies blood to an area of your heart.
- Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of death in Australia. It is also a major cause of disability.
- High blood pressure (also known as Hypertension) is the pressure of your blood in your arteries as the heart pumps it around your body.
- Atrial Fibrillation is an uncoordinated beating of both the left and right atria which are the upper chambers of the heart. This condition increases the risk of blood clot formation within the heart which can lead to strokes.
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms or would like more information please contact us.
