Heart Disease

For the past ten years, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in Australia. According to a report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the leading cause of death in Australia in 2007 was Ischaemic heart disease, including angina (chest pain), blocked arteries of the heart and heart attacks. 22,729 people died because of heart disease, 16% of all deaths recorded that year.

On a positive note, the same report states that the rate of death caused by heart disease has actually fallen over the last ten years. 28,299 people died in 1998 because of heart disease, 22% of all deaths recorded that year. That means 5,570 people less died due to heart disease in 2007 than 1998.

There could be a number of possible reasons for this fall. Wider public awareness of heart disease and its causes may have led to beneficial health and lifestyle changes by Australians that have reduced the incidence of heart diseases leading to death. Advances in medical treatments of patients may have also reduced the number of deaths resulting from people suffering from heart disease.

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) occurs when the heart muscle and tissue are unable to receive an adequate supply of blood, which it needs for the oxygen and nutrients the blood contains. People who are suffering from IHD may experience shortness of breath, chest pains (mild or severe) and heart attacks.

The main cause of IHD is coronary heart disease (CHD). This disease refers to the inadequate circulation of blood to the heart due to the build up of plaque and fatty acids on the walls of the arteries leading to the heart.

The video below shows how CHD causes a heart attack.

A number of risk factors have been associated with heart disease. Some are difficult or impossible to avoid:

age – the older you are, the more build up of plaque and fatty acids you are likely to have in your arteries
genetics – a family history of heart disease, especially at a young age, may suggest genetic weaknesses in the structure of your heart or increased susceptibility to CHD
diabetes – people who have this disease are more likely to already have CHD or are more prone to CHD

You can control some however, so you should be looking at making changes in these areas:

smoking – the smoke that you inhale from cigarettes contributes to the build up of plaque and fatty acids on the arteries leading to the heart
high levels of LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol – too much of this fatty material in your blood may cause blockages in the arteries to your heart by forming plaque along the artery walls
high blood pressure – if the blood is flowing too quickly through your arteries, the walls lining the arteries may become damaged, which increases the chance for blockages to occur around the damaged areas
obesity – weighing too much increases LDL cholesterol and decreases HDL (‘good’) cholesterol in your blood, raises your blood pressure and increases the risk of diabetes
exercise – regular exercise helps to lower your cholesterol, weight and blood pressure
diet – too much food high in saturated and trans fats and not enough fruit, vegetables, fish and whole grain foods will increase the likelihood of having high blood pressure, high levels of LDL cholesterol and increased weight (see our Healthy Lifestyle Guide for advice)

The video below shows the relationship between cholesterol and heart disease.

Has heart disease affected you or someone you know? Do you need help, or are you able to provide advice? If so, please join the SeniorSpace community discussing heart disease on our forum here.

Useful Links

Health Insite, an Australian Government website, has an index of resources relating to heart health here.

The Heart Foundation of Australia provides funding for cardiovascular research and information for the public relating to cardiovascular issues.

Heart Disease

Useful Links

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