HEART SMART AT EVERY AGE

Heart disease is the number one health risk for Aussie women. But don’t let that scare you – 90% of heart attacks and strokes can be prevented. Different age brackets call for different steps. Here is how to reduce your own risk factors

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IN YOUR 20s–30s

Now is the time to talk to your doctor about what your heart disease risk factors might be, take a look at your exercise, eating and lifestyle habits, and make any tweaks needed. The younger you are when you establish good habits, the easier it is to stick to them.

YOUR ADVANTAGES

• Lots of energy Make use of it and exercise regularly. Keeping active aids your heart by helping to keep cholesterol and blood pressure low. Aim for a combination of cardio and resistance training. The former strengthens your heart while the latter builds muscle, increasing your calorie burn (even at rest) and reducing weight gain, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.

• Hormones You have a good supply of oestrogen, which helps to increase your HDL (good cholesterol), reduce your LDL (bad cholesterol) and relax your blood vessels to maintain a strong blood flow.

KEEP AN EYE ON Your stats

Check your cholesterol every five years and your blood pressure and HbA1c (a test for pre-diabetes, and diabetes, which impacts heart health) every two years, so your doctor can monitor these risk factors.

Pregnancy

If you suffer from any complications, such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, your chances of future heart problems increase and your doctor should monitor you.

PART OF LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE IS BEING ACTIVE. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN DAILY MARATHONS – JUST FIND A PHYSICAL PURSUIT YOU ENJOY AND STICK WITH IT