To inquire about our other resources on cardiovascular disease prevention, call us on 1300 36 27 87 or email us.
New: Secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
The Heart Foundation's new report "Secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. A call to action to improve the health of Australians" is now available. You can access the report under 'Resources' below.
This paper makes recommendations and outlines key actions needed from governments, health system planners, policy makers and health professionals to achieve the best health outcomes for Australians with cardiovascular disease. These actions and recommendations were developed by the Heart Foundation in consultation with leading researchers and health professionals with experience in secondary prevention.
Based on the best available evidence, this paper will support advocacy for effective programs and services to prevent recurrent cardiovascular events (e.g. heart attack, heart failure and stroke) in people with cardiovascular disease.
For more information, call 1300 36 27 87 or email us.
Update: Aspirin and Primary Coronary Heart Disease Prevention
The Heart Foundation does not recommend that people with no known coronary heart disease (CHD) take low dose aspirin (75–150 mg) daily to reduce their risk of developing CHD.
Large international studies have repeatedly shown no or minimal cardiovascular benefits in people with no known CHD taking low dose aspirin daily. Benefits were also outweighed by bleeding complications (stomach ulcers and stroke).
Further research is underway to assess whether or not there are benefits of aspirin use in people with:
- diabetes, but no known CHD
- a family history of, or other risk factors for, CHD.
People over 45 years of age with no known CHD will benefit most from following a healthy lifestyle and regularly seeing their doctor for comprehensive risk assessments. These assessments should include having blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels checked and treated if necessary.
However, taking low dose aspirin daily is an essential* part of the treatment for people with known CHD, stroke or other forms of vascular disease (e.g. angina, heart attack, coronary stent or bypass surgery).
*There are alternative ‘anti-platelet’ medicines available for people who are not able to take aspirin.
New: Motivational Interviewing Kit
Motivational interviewing is a highly effective therapeutic approach used by health professionals to empower people to make healthy behavioural choices.
The Heart Foundation has developed a "Motivational interviewing professional development kit" to support health practitioners in adopting this technique. The kit contains two DVDs and a health professional reflection tool.
To order the kit, download the order form below. For more information, email us.
Order form 
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Resources
Secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. A call to action to improve the health of Australians (2010)
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Reducing Risk in Heart Disease - full guide (updated 2008) This version contains updated blood pressure information, consistent with our Guide to management of hypertension 2008.
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Reducing Risk in Heart Disease - summary (updated 2008) This version contains updated blood pressure information, consistent with our Guide to management of hypertension 2008.
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The Shifting Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Australia (2005)
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Consensus Statement for the Prevention of Vascular Disease (2004)
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Position Statement. Aspirin for cardiovascular disease prevention. This article will be downloaded from the Medical Journal of Australia's website and is copyright of the Medical Journal of Australia.
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Addendum. Editorial - Aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular disease in women. This article will be downloaded from the Medical Journal of Australia's website and is copyright by the Medical Journal of Australia.
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