How often have your heard someone say: “I want to improve my fitness and health when the weather gets warmer, and the days get longer!”
Well, as we head into Spring, we say there has never been a better time to commit to leading a more active lifestyle.
Heart disease kills two Tasmanians every day. Our state has the highest incidence of people living with heart disease in Australia. In fact, Tasmania’s prevalence of heart disease (9.5%) is 2.9 percentage points higher than the national average of 6.6 per cent.
We can and must do better!
Throughout September, as part of the Clifford Craig Foundation’s annual heart health awareness campaign, we are urging you, our community, to commit to leading a healthier lifestyle.
Your heart health is in YOUR hands, and there are steps we can all take to reduce our risks.
This month we challenge you to:
GET MOVING
Regular physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your heart health. Increasing your physical activity from as little as 10 minutes a day to the recommended 30 to 45 minutes a day, five or more days of the week, can help reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
EAT A HEALTHY DIET
Diet is an important risk factor in coronary heart disease. A healthy diet can help protect the heart, improve blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. How much you eat is also just as important as what you eat. This includes avoiding takeaway and processed foods.
GET A CHECKUP
If you’ve been putting off a health check, make this the month you speak to your doctor. Some risk factors are connected, including cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Regular health checks can help to identify early warning signs of disease.
CHECK IN WITH A MATE
Is there someone in your life who might need some support to take any of the above steps? This month we encourage you to check in with a loved one and encourage them to take the next step in improving their health. Plus, exercise is way more fun when we do it together!
