World Heart Day
World Heart Day is on 29 September. The day celebrates the heart, heart health and focuses our attention on what we can do to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) and encourages individuals to take control of their heart health and wellbeing.
You can prevent CVD by making small and achievable changes in your daily life, including what you eat and drink, engaging in exercise and intentional stress management.
What is cardiovascular disease (CVD)
CVD is the leading cause of death globally, with more than 20.5 million deaths each year. These conditions affect the heart or blood vessels (veins and arteries), and people may experience heart attacks, stroke and heart failure. World Heart Day brings to our attention the importance of heart checks as a key prevention strategy.
Your heart is the size of your fist and is the strongest muscle in your body. Although it is an impressive and strong muscle, it can become vulnerable from many risk factors including:
Read about the seven steps to a healthier heart.
Heart conditions
There are many heart conditions, and it is best to consult with your GP or heart specialist about your conditions. Some common CVD conditions are:
- Stroke – the blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off, such as a blood clot blocking an artery to the brain.
- Heart failure – the heart does not work as it should to pump blood and oxygen around the body.
- Heart attack – occurs when the heart is not getting enough oxygen due to a blocked artery.
- Acute coronary syndrome – the umbrella term for situations where blood supply to the heart is blocked.
CFA HealthWatch Program & Heart Health Checks
CFA has identified heart attack and stroke as part of our top 10 critical fatality hazards in our operations. There are several factors specific to field-based emergency work that either individually or collectively increase cardiac risks, including periods of high physical and emotional stress, strenuous activity, body heat, dehydration and exposure to a range of gases present at a fire.
CFA is helping you look after your heart health and reduce heart related diseases providing you with free, confidential heart health checks through the HealthWatch Program at your brigade.
The program is delivered by qualified health professionals from CFA’s Health Services team and includes on-the-spot assessments and results for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugars and other heart disease risk factors. The friendly team will take the time to explain your results to you and provide some advice around lifestyle changes you may wish to make to improve your overall health where necessary.
To book a session or to learn more, visit the HealthWatch page on Members Online.
The Member Assistance Program offers all CFA members and staff to engage with various services to improve their health and wellbeing. Members can access nutrition and lifestyle assistance receiving specialist advice about nutrition, sleep, resilience, planning and positive behaviours, retirement mindfulness and addictive lifestyle changes. You will be supported to make changes to your heart health and overall wellbeing.
Heart health checks with Medicare Rebates
If HealthWatch isn’t for you, you can access low-cost heart health checks with your GP.
Australians over age of 45 are eligible for Medicare-funded heart health checks. A 20-minute consultation will give you a full heart health assessment so you know your risk and can put a plan in place to protect your heart into the future.
| Submitted by |
Madalene Cursio |