Your healthy heart

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the term used for heart, stroke and blood vessel diseases.

CVD is very common. A healthy diet, exercise and avoiding smoking can all improve heart health, and in some instances help to prevent CVD.

Risk factors

We know that a combination of risk factors are important. Risk factors work together to increase or decrease overall chances of CVD

You are more at risk of developing CVD if you:

• Have a family history of cardiovascular disease
• Have high cholesterol
• Have high blood pressure
• Are a smoker
• Have diabetes
• Are overweight
• Are physically inactive.

It can be difficult to know whether you are at risk, because often you can’t feel any symptoms

Gender and age

Men are more likely to develop heart disease in middle age.

The risk for women is less, until after menopause. Then hormonal changes, combined with higher blood pressure, cholesterol and weight gain can increase the risk of CVD for women.

Yet despite your gender and age, you can reduce your risk by following a healthy lifestyle.

The Absolute Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment

You would have received an Absolute Cardiovascular Disease Risk score during your WorkHealth check if you are:

• aged 45-74 years (without an existing CVD diagnosis), or
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander aged 35 years or older (without existing CVD).

Your CVD Risk Score is calculated by combining information collected during your WorkHealth check such as age, blood pressure, cholesterol and tobacco use.

What do your results mean?

Low risk:             A less than 10% risk of CVD within the next 5 years.

Medium risk:     A 10–15% risk of CVD within the next 5 years.

High risk:         A greater than 15% risk of CVD within the next 5 years.

If you're at medium to high risk of CVD, you can participate in the free, confidential WorkHealth Coach program. This is a telephone-based program here to help you make some positive lifestyle changes and reduce your risk of CVD. 

Over a six-month period, you'll receive regular calls from your own personal WorkHealth Coach, who is a trained health professional such as a nurse. They will help you set goals for better health and support you in achieving them.

You can enrol at any time by calling 1800 002 685.

Further information and advice

For further information and advice, you can contact:

• The WorkHealth Coach program on 1800 002 685
• The Heart Foundation on 1300 36 27 87 or www.heartfoundation.org.au
• The Stroke Foundation on 1800 78 76 53 or www.strokefoundation.com.au

You can also download the Healthy Heart Fact Sheet for more information.