Heart Disease - it's not just a bloke thing!

World Heart Day 2003, Sunday 28 September alerts Women about Heart Disease.

What's the biggest health issue for women in Australia? Heart disease...... surprised? So are 9 out of 10 women2. Heart disease kills 12,5001 women in Australia every year, which is five times greater than the death rate from breast cancer - yet most women still think heart disease is a 'bloke's thing'.

World Heart Day 2003 on Sunday 28 September will address this deadly gap in knowledge by focusing on Women and Heart Disease. The National Heart Foundation of Australia and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand will mark World Heart Day by encouraging women to find out how to take control of their own heart health.

For the first time ever, cardiologists will join the regular team of heart health information staff on the Heart Foundation's national information service Heartline on World Heart Day to field heart health questions from concerned women in an effort to fight the tragic impact of heart disease. Cardiologists and nutritionist will be available on Heartline on World Heart Day from 1pm to 5pm (Eastern Standard Time) and can be reached on 1300 36 27 87 for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia.

The Heart Foundation has also updated its Women and Heart Disease booklet especially for World Heart Day 2003 to provide women with the latest information. You can obtain your own free copy of this handy booklet by contacting Heartline on World Heart Day or Monday to Friday from 9am - 7pm (Eastern Standard Time).

Heart Foundation National Deputy President Dr Lynne Pressley says: "Three out of four Australian women have at least one of the five major risk factors of heart disease, including cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and being overweight.

"This year, World Heart Day is all about alerting women to the risks they face and providing women with practical information that could ultimately save their life."

Heart Foundation
www.heartfoundation.com.au

References
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2002. Australia's Health 2002. Canberra: AIHW.
2. Giardina, E. Call to Action: Cardiovascular Disease in Women, Journal of Women's Health, vol 7, no.1 1998.