Heart disease a big, fat problem

Editorial

THE Border and Hume regions have an alarming number of smokers and obese people.

Heart Foundation statistics show the regions have some of the highest numbers in the country, with unhealthy lifestyles making us more prone to heart disease.

About a quarter of Albury and Upper and Lower Murray residents have cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

About 14 per cent are smokers and 38 per cent are classified as obese.

“It is alarming,” Heart Foundation NSW chief Kerry Doyle said.

In the Hume region, 34.7 per cent had high blood pressure, 34 per cent were obese and 29.5 per cent were smokers. Almost half don’t exercise enough.

Ms Doyle said they showed heart disease was a third higher in regional and remote areas.

“The risk factors of smoking, high blood pressure and minimal activity, you see them in one spot where cardiovascular disease clusters as well,” she said.

“The prevalence of chronic disease also tends to have a connection with lower socio-economic areas where general wealth is lower.”

Ms Doyle said it was important everybody had a heart check, especially those over 45 — 35 for indigenous people.

“All of us need to eat a more balanced diet and get more exercise,” she said.

“And if we’re smokers, we need to get help so we can stop.

“Take one or two of these things at a time and build up slowly — that’s how you change your life in the longer term.”