RURAL HEALTH MATTERS Healthy Heart

By Dr Paul Lunney

This week is Heart Week, Australia’s national heart health awareness campaign. It is aimed at starting a conversation between people and their health practitioners, in the hope that individuals will take positive steps towards healthier lifestyles, reducing the burden of heart disease.

Heart disease refers to any condition that affects the structure or function of the heart muscle, such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, valve disease or arrythmias (rhythm disorders). Coronary heart disease (CHD) – when there is a narrowing or blockage in the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle (think heart attacks, stents and bypass surgeries) –effects around 3% of all adults, 11% of those 75 years and over, and is the most common cause of death in all Australians.

Who is at risk?

Men are at greater risk than women, and advancing age also increases the risk of heart disease. Smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and weight are all risk factors for developing CHD.

Prevention is key

What can we do to reduce risk our risk of heart disease?

•Eat a healthy balanced diet

•Exercise regularly

•Stop smoking

• See your doctor regularly, especially if you have medical conditions that put you at risk

Know the signs

Heart disease is often a silent process – you may not have any symptoms until you become very unwell. It is important for this reason to have regular check-ups with your GP.

YOU SHOULD CALL 000 IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING:

•Chest pain

•Breathlessness

• Palpitations (an awareness of your heart beating fast or irregularly)

Book a heart health check

If you are over 45 years of age and have not had a check-up in the past two years, you should strongly consider doing so!

When the White Tie Ball was first held in 2017, the aim was to raise money to build a dedicated safe haven for women and children escaping domestic violence in Orange. That refuge, The Orchard, has been operating now for two years and provided emergency accommodation to scores of women and children in need.

But women often arrive at The Orchard with nothing, and fundraisers like the White Tie Ball help Housing Plus provide clothing, food and other everyday items needed to start again.

Tickets for the White Tie Ball are $140 and can be purchased by visiting www.oesc. com.au/whatson and following the links.

If you are unable to attend and would like to o er your support Housing Plus have introduced a Virtual Seats Campaign where you can purchase a Virtual Seat from $30, or simply make an online donation at https://chu ed.org/ project/2023wtbvirtualseats

Heart health checks can be performed by your GP and typically include:

•Discussing your medical history

• Physical examination including blood pressure and weight

• Arranging tests such as blood sugar and cholesterol, and an ECG (electrocardiogram – a quick heart monitor print out of the electrical activity of the heart)

This check-up can help you and your GP identify and reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

If you have any concerns or questions about your heart health, reach out to your GP.

Three deserving locals have been recognised for the exceptional work they do day in, day out to make life a little easier for those in our community who live with Parkinson’s.

Each April, during Parkinson’s Awareness month the “Community Hero Program,” run across by Parkinson’s NSW, invites community support groups to nominate their local heroes.

Nominations have varied widely from Members of Parliament to healthcare, and allied and aged care workers.

But on Thursday, April 27 the Orange Parkinson’s Support Group announced their three chosen heroes: Bloom’s pharmacist, Melanie Moses; community services receptionist at Orange’s Giyalang Ganya Centre, Rennie Johns; and carer Julie Doulis who actually looks after Orange Parkinson’s Support Group Member, Rosie Frecklington.