Men’s Health Week – An important reminder of the impact of CVD on Australian men

Did you know that Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains Australia's biggest killer, particularly in men with 6.5% of Australian men suffering from the disease?

 This week is Men's Health Week (13 - 19 June) so it's a timely reminder for men to undergo any health checks and work towards a healthy, active lifestyle which is the best defense against heart disease.

Tips to help reduce the risk of CVD include:

• Smoking cessation and avoidance. Smoking damages the blood vessels to your heart, brain and other parts of your body.  Quitting smoking will have significantly positive and rapid impact on health of your heart.
• Reducing alcohol intake. Heavy drinking or binge drinking can increase your chances of developing heart disease.
• Adopting a heart-healthy diet which is low in unhealthy fats, salt and added sugar, and rich in wholegrains, fibre, vitamins, antioxidants and healthy fats.  Aim to increase fruit and vegetable intake to 5 servings a day (around 2 and a half cups).
• Staying active will not only reduce your risk, but increase energy, and reduce stress levels. Moderate-intensity physical activity (such as brisk walking) for 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week is the optimal goal.  Keeping active also helps to control risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and being overweight.

For those who have already experienced a devastating event such as a heart attack the chance of a recurrence is 5 - 7x greater than normal.  Evidence shows that participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) can have a huge impact on the chance of a recurrence, however up to 80% of those who should participate in CR do not.  If you or someone you know has been through a cardiac event, please reach out to your health professional for a referral into a Cardiovascular Rehabilitation program.

Cardihab can help facilitate Cardiac Rehabilitation programs anywhere, anytime using our SmartCR technology.  This means patients can focus on what's important and take control of their rehabilitation in ways that work for them.

Contact Cardihab for more information via info@cardihab.com.