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

It is the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for 31.7% of all deaths in Australia in 2010.

Heart Disease now affects 1 in every 6 Australians and 2 out of 3 families.

Affecting a total of  3.7 million Australians.


1 Australian  dies from heart disease every 12 minutes.

 

Australian Women are four times more likely to die from heart disease than breast cancer.

 


RISK FACTORS
High Blood Pressure, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake, alchol and smoking. 


90% of Australian adults have at least one modifiable risk factor for heart disease and 25% of Australians have three or more risk factors.


The proportion of Australian adults with risk factors is high: 

  • 60% are overweight - 7.42 million adults
  • 51% have high blood cholesterol - 6.40 million adults
  • 30% have high blood pressure - 3.69 million adults
  • 20 % smoke daily - 3.06 million adults
  • 10% drink at levels considered harmful to health - 1.54 million adults
  • 8% have diabetes - 945,600 adults.

 The prevalence of heart, stroke and vascular conditions increased by 18.2% over the last decade.

 

 

 

 * Statistics taken from HeartFoundation.org.au