Media Contacts

Get in touch with our media contacts across the Heart Foundation.

December

18 December - Salty risk for heart disease
Cutting the nation’s salt intake by three grams a day would prevent an estimated 6,000 deaths a year from heart disease and stroke, the Heart Foundation said with the launch of a new added SaltSwitch feature to the popular FoodSwitch App today. Read article

17 December - More Victorian councils with smokefree policies, but State Government must take lead on smokefree outdoor dining
New data has revealed almost half of all Victorian councils are considering implementing smokefree policies in outdoor areas, but only five per cent are considering a ban on smoking in outdoor drinking and dining areas. Read article

14 December - High blood pressure is world’s largest health risk
High blood pressure contributes to more death and disability worldwide than any other risk factor, according to new research published today in The Lancet. Read article

12 December - Universal Ambulance Cover would assist heart attack patients – Heart Foundation
The National Heart Foundation of Australia wants all Australians to have access to universal ambulance cover, following research that identified cost as a barrier for calling Triple Zero (000) for up to 650,000 people. Read article

7 December - Amended - Food health claims regulation a win for Australians, says Heart Foundation
The National Heart Foundation of Australia has congratulated the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King on today’s announcement of a new food standard, in which food manufacturers will now have to provide scientific evidence of the heath claims of their product. Read article 

November

30 November - Heatwave heart attack warning
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is urging people with heart disease to take extra care as heatwave conditions affect large parts of the country. Read article

29 November - A battle for heart and mental health
Heart disease survivor Mr Richard Rolfe OAM will host the inaugural ‘Cross Your Heart’ event at the Australian War Memorial on Saturday December 1 to raise funds in support of the Heart Foundation ACT and the White Cloud Foundation. Read article

28 November - $500,000 for cardiovascular research in NSW
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner and the Heart Foundation have announced $500,000 for the Cardiovascular Research Network (CVRN) to fund treatment and research into the disease – the biggest killer in Australia. Read article

11 November - Calls for mandatory salt and saturated fat levels for food industry
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is today calling on the Australian Government to enforce mandatory nutrition targets for the food industry to make our processed foods healthier.
Download > Download 'food reformulation' report

October

29 October - Health data shows need for urgent action
The National Heart Foundation of Australia said today that data released by the ABS has confirmed the urgent need to improve our food supply to reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease.
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29 October - Heart Foundation applauds Government’s move to make us move
The National Heart Foundation of Australia has applauded the release of the Federal Government’s report into active travel, saying that helping us move more while engaging in everyday activities is one of the best ways to address our very low physical activity levels as a nation.
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26 October - Heart Foundation welcomes review of Future Fund tobacco investments
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is welcoming the announcement that the Future Fund is reviewing its investment of taxpayers’ funds in tobacco companies, but has called for the review to be transparent and open.
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25 October - Food a top priority for Victorian Metropolitan Planning Strategy
Heart Foundation (Victoria) and the Food Alliance are calling for food to be included alongside transport, housing and energy as part of the new Victorian Metropolitan Planning Strategy.
Download > Download 'Planning for Food' report

16 October - Call for urgent review of Future Fund’s ballooning $250m investment in tobacco
National health groups have called on the Chair of the Future Fund, Mr David Gonski AO, to seek an urgent review of the fund’s increasing investment of almost $250m in tobacco companies.
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08 October - Rise in amount of hidden salt deeply concerning
The amount of hidden salt in everyday Australian foods has risen by nearly ten per cent in three years, according to findings released today by The George Institute for Global Health.
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September

27 September - Grim future for Victorians as heart disease risk increases
Victorians are facing an unhealthy future with almost one in three aged 18-34 years with unhealthy cholesterol levels, increasing to more than 75% of 55-75 year old Victorians, according to a new landmark study.
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25 September - Creating streets for people, not just cars and trucks
Today the Active Living Coalition is holding a Professional Forum to promote the newly released Streets for People Compendium for South Australian Practice.
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20 September - New walking program for people with dementia a winner for the heart and brain
People with dementia and their carers will have the support of a new walking program to improve both heart and brain health, thanks to an initiative announced today by ACH Group and the Heart Foundation as part of National Dementia Awareness Week.
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13 September - Future Fund investment in tobacco industry must be stopped
The Heart Foundation, Action on Smoking and Health Australia and the Australian Lung Foundation have called on all parties to end investment of taxpayer’s funds in tobacco companies via the $77b Future Fund.
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11 September - Australia getting ‘Fs’ in latest health report card
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is concerned that heart disease rates could start to rise again after a new report  showed that Australians have become heavier, less active and are eating fewer vegetables over the last decade.
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06 September - Draft National Food Plan seriously undercooked
The Government’s draft National Food Plan puts business before health while millions of Australians risk eating themselves to an earlier death than past generations, according to leading public health organisations meeting in Canberra today [6 Sept.].
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04 September - Australian children eat as much salt as adults
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is alarmed at new research that says Australian children are eating as much salt as adults.
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01 September - 120,000 big-hearted volunteers start doorknocking today
More than 120,000 big-hearted volunteers will start hitting the streets today in support of the annual Heart Foundation Doorknock Appeal.
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August

27 August - Heart attack endorsed as national priority
The National Heart Foundation of Australia has applauded Australia’s health ministers for endorsing new national quality and safety goals that include heart attack as a priority.
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27 August - Language barriers tackled by Heart Foundation
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is releasing new multilingual resources to address delay in responding to the warning signs of heart attack among people from non-English speaking backgrounds.  
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27 August - Action needed to reduce acute heart attack deaths
The National Heart Foundation of Australia has today released new recommendations on how to reduce the number of deaths from severe heart attacks.
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22 August - Spouses of heart attack sufferers face higher depression risk
Spouses of people who have a sudden heart attack face a higher risk of depression or suicide, even if their partner survives, according to new research in the European Heart Journal.
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20 August - Governments urged to follow ACT and drop investment in tobacco
Health leaders have hailed the ACT government decision to exclude investment in tobacco companies, and have urged other Australian governments to follow suit. 
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15 August - High Court support for plain packaging welcome
The National Heart Foundation of Australia today welcomed the High Court’s decision to dismiss an appeal by four tobacco companies against plain packaging laws for tobacco products.
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14 August - Most heart attack patients not getting access to life saving rehabilitation programs
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is calling for urgent action to address the low participation rates of heart attack patients in cardiac rehabilitation, at a conference held in Brisbane today.
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10 August - Heart benefit of cholesterol drug outweighs diabetes risk
The benefits of taking cholesterol medication to reduce your risk of heart disease outweigh the increased diabetes risk faced by some people, according to research published today in The Lancet.
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06 August - Heart attack register needed to improve care
Australian hospitals treat 55,000 heart attack patients a year, but the Heart Foundation is warning that little is known about whether people are receiving the best quality of treatment and care.
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02 August - Salt reduction in food supply essential
Research reported in today’s Sydney Morning Herald confirms that the National Heart Foundation of Australia’s calls to improve Australia’s food supply are necessary to reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease, Australia’s number one cause of death.
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01 August - New cholesterol target for heart attack survivors
New blood cholesterol targets have been set for the estimated 300,000 Australians who have had a heart attack during their lifetime, to help prevent further heart attacks. 
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July

27 July - 3 x 10-minute workouts good for blood pressure
Three 10 minute sessions of brisk walking a day may not get you to peak Olympic fitness, but it is effective at maintaining healthy blood pressure levels according to new research.
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27 July - Shift workers face higher heart attack risk
Shift workers are significantly more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal today .
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26 July - Increasing waistlines of Australians concerning for Heart Foundation
The Heart Foundation said today that news that the average Australian was about three kilograms heavier now than they were a decade ago was deeply concerning.
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25 July - Work stress can cause increase risk of heart attack
Heart Foundation CEO – NSW, Tony Thirlwell, said today workplaces can contribute to a person’s risk of heart attack. The statement comes after the Harvard Medical School found that women with high job strain were 67 per cent more likely to have a heart attack.
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20 July - Australian food buyers face risk of deception if labelling unchecked
Australians face being misled by false claims about the health benefits of packaged foods, following a meeting of government ministers from all jurisdictions today.
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19 July - Unproven food claims a recipe for ‘public health disaster'
A meeting tomorrow [20 July] of Australian government ministers from all jurisdictions could determine whether consumers are at risk of being misled by packaged foods carrying unsubstantiated marketing claims of a health benefit.
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19 July - Heartfelt reminder to eat your 2&5
The Heart Foundation is reminding the people of NSW to eat their two serves of fruit each day as well as five serves of vegetables after new research revealed that Australian households are disposing over a billion dollars worth of fruit and vegetables every year.
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18 July - Inactivity to blame for 1 in 10 Australian deaths (Embargoed until 9am)
A lack of physical activity is responsible for one in ten premature deaths in Australia and worldwide, according to new research published in The Lancet today.
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17 July - Heart Foundation says National Food Plan must make our food healthier
The National Heart Foundation of Australia today welcomed the release of the Australian Government’s green paper for the National Food Plan, but said any such plan must include strategies to improve the health quality of Australian food.
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11 July - Benefits of quitting smoking outweigh extra kilograms
The health benefits of quitting smoking far outweigh the few kilograms some people gain after giving up, says the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
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10 July - Tick crosses out 21 tonnes of salt in bread
Australians shopping at ALDI have in total cut out 21 tonnes of salt in their diet from bread alone thanks to the Heart Foundation Tick program.
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09 July - HIV positive people at higher risk of heart attack
People living with HIV have more than four times the risk of heart attack than HIV-negative people, according to a new study  published in the Journal of Cardiology.
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06 July - Call to use fitness as better way to predict health
Poor fitness levels are a better predictor of mortality than weight or blood pressure and should be a higher priority for GPs, scientists writing today in The Lancet have argued.
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05 July - Half of heart patients make medication errors
One in two heart patients make medication related mistakes after leaving hospital with a quarter of those errors deemed to be serious and two percent judged to be life-threatening, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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04 July - Home visits for new mums lower children’s BMI
Home visits aimed at teaching new mums about healthy eating and active play could be an effective new way of reducing childhood obesity, according to a University of Sydney study published in the British Medical Journal.
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June

27 June - Coffee could reduce heart failure risk
Drinking coffee every day could reduce the risk of heart failure, according to a new study published in the journal Circulation Heart Failure.
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19 June - Heart patients who live alone die sooner
Middle-aged people at high risk of heart disease who live alone tend to die sooner than those sharing a home, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine
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15 June - Drinking tea could lower heart disease risk
New research suggests that drinking three cups of black tea a day, with no milk or sugar, could reduce several risk factors for heart disease.
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14 June - Majority of Victorians support smokefree alfresco areas, new research reveals
More than two-thirds of Victorians support a ban on smoking in alfresco dining areas, according to new research released today.
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05 June - Dangers of over-exercising exaggerated
Research suggesting that too much exercise can damage the heart does not apply to the vast majority of Australians and is not a reason to stop being active, says the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
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04 June - Health Minister joins 8,500 women starting Healthy Heart Challenge
Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, the Federal Member for Sydney, is among the 8,500 Australian women starting the Heart Foundation’s Healthy Heart Challenge today.
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01 June - Half a million women unknowingly at high risk of heart disease
The National Heart Foundation of Australia today released figures revealing that an estimated 500,000 Australian women have high blood pressure or cholesterol, but don’t know it.
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May

31 May - Heart Foundation calls for action to end tobacco company interference
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is calling for action to end the influence of the tobacco industry on health policy, in support of today’s World No Tobacco Day theme - ‘tobacco industry interference’.
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30 May - New power assist bicycles set to take off
The Cycling Promotion Fund and the National Heart Foundation of Australia have applauded a new national standard for power assisted bicycles – or e-bikes – announced by the Hon Catherine King, Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport and Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing.
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26 May - Heartfelt recognition of National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week
As a co-signatory to the national Close the Gap campaign, the National Heart Foundation of Australia is today joining thousands of other organisations in recognising National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week, which starts tomorrow.
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24 May - Call to end government investment in tobacco companies
The National Heart Foundation of Australia has renewed its call for the Australian Government to end all investment in the tobacco industry, after it was revealed yesterday that the Government’s Future Fund holds $225 million in tobacco stocks.
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22 May - New guidelines and treatment procedures for heart attack and stroke risk
Doctors will be encouraged to change their treatment procedures for people at risk of heart attack and stroke under new guidelines launched today by the National Vascular Disease Prevention Alliance (NVDPA).
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17 May - Cutting salt could save 6,000 lives a year
Cutting the nation’s salt intake by three grams a day would prevent an estimated 6,000 deaths a year from heart disease and stroke, the National Heart Foundation of Australia said today, World Hypertension Day.
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15 May - KFC’s change to canola oil welcomed
The National Heart Foundation of Australia today acknowledged fast food giant KFC’s announcement to replace palm oil with the healthier canola oil, saying it’s a step in the right direction.
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12 May - Is it time to say goodbye to BMI?
Keeping your waist circumference to less than half of your height will increase your life expectancy, according to research being presented today (Saturday 12 May) at the 19th European Congress on Obesity in Lyon.
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10 May - Educating receptionists to make life saving call
Reception staff at GP clinics will learn how to identify patients with suspected warning signs of heart attack and stroke, with the launch of a new patient triage strategy during Heart Week (6-12 May). 
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08 May - Heart Foundation applauds cut in duty-free tobacco allowance
The National Heart Foundation of Australia applauds tonight’s budget announcement to cut the duty-free tobacco allowance from 250 to 50 cigarettes for inbound passengers from 1 September.
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07 May - Under 1 in 10 aware of vial heart attack warning signs
Fewer than one in ten Australians recognise important heart attack warning signs
such as jaw, neck and back pain, according to new research released by the National Heart Foundation of Australia to mark Heart Week (6-12 May). 
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03 May -Ending duty-free cigarette sales would pay for broad heart agenda
The Heart Foundation and National Stroke Foundation today called for the Australian Government to abolish duty-free cigarette sales in the Federal Budget announcement, arguing the revenue could pay for a broad range of vital cardiovascular health initiatives.
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01 May - Fight women’s number one killer by joining the Healthy Heart Challenge
Heart disease is the number one killer of Australian women – join the Healthy Heart Challenge and learn how the simple changes you make can lower your risk of heart disease.
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April

26 April - Call to ban smoking in Victorian outdoor dining and drinking areas
Four of Victoria’s most respected health organisations have joined together to call on the Baillieu Government to ban smoking in outdoor dining and drinking areas.
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25 April - New licensing program strengthens advocacy for fish oil
The National Heart Foundation of Australia has strengthened its long-term support for the important role played by omega-3 fats in heart health with the introduction of a new ‘Heart Health’ logo licensing program for fish oil supplements.
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23 April - Being optimistic may halve heart disease risk
Having a positive outlook on life could halve your heart disease risk, according to a new study by the Harvard School of Public Health published online in Psychological Bulletin.
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20 April - Australians still not aware of smoking risk to heart – new report
A major international report on tobacco has revealed that nearly half of all smokers are still unaware that secondhand smoke can cause heart attack.
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20 April - PM steps out with Heart Foundation Walkers
Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined Heart Foundation Walkers for a stroll around Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra this morning, as part of a drive to encourage more people to join the program.
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05 April - Easter eggs: How will you walk off yours?
Australians are being urged to choose their Easter eggs carefully, with Heart Foundation data revealing the amount of exercise needed to work them off.
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March

29 March - Australians must move more to prevent heart disease – AIHW report
Calls by the National Heart Foundation of Australia to improve urban planning and get Australians moving were given a boost today with the release of a report which confirmed that physical activity is essential in the fight against heart disease.
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26 March - Clear food labelling key to a healthier Australia (joint release)
Australians are only likely to make informed, healthy choices about buying packaged foods if a clear and simple, interpretive front-of-pack labelling system is introduced, according to an alliance of leading health and consumer groups.
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21 March - Only 1 in 10 children ride to school
Only one in ten children ride to school, even though 80% of parents think it would improve their kids’ health, according to a new survey released today by the Cycling Promotion Fund and the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
Download  > Download Active Travel to School 2012 Survey Findings

20 March - Heart disease still Australia's number one killer
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is urging governments not to become complacent about heart disease after new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show heart disease deaths are falling.
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19 March - Asia-Pacific tobacco control and heart health experts call for urgent action on smoking in Asia
Forty delegates to a tobacco and cardiovascular health workshop in Singapore have today formed a new partnership to combat the carnage caused by tobacco across the Asia-Pacific region.
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08 March - Save the Date to Save your Heart
This International Women’s Day the National Heart Foundation of Australia is urging Australian women to join the fight against their number one killer – heart disease.
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07 March - Election vision to improve heart health in Queensland
The Heart Foundation election submission, released today, provides a vision for a healthier Queensland and a blueprint for the next Queensland Government to address Queensland’s costliest disease which leaves families devastated.
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05 March - Heart Foundation statement: concerns about charity fundraising
We understand the concern of donors and members of the community to the comments reported in News Ltd papers over the weekend about a charity fundraising conference.
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01 March - Keep taking cholesterol medication, Heart Foundation urges
The National Heart Foundation of Australia has urged those Australians who take statins to reduce their cholesterol to keep taking their medication until they can discuss any concerns with their doctor.
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01 March - Heart Foundation welcomes easier acess to cholesterol medication
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is welcoming news that people at high risk of heart disease will still be able to access cholesterol medication even if their prescription has run out.
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February

28 February - Fish oil benefits reportedly worth up to $4.2 billion
The Australian community could be saving a maximum of $4.2 billion if all heart attack survivors began taking fish oil supplements, a new report by Deloitte Access Economics claims.
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24 February - Women more likely to have a heart attack without chest pain
Women are more likely to have a heart attack without chest pain, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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21 February - The smoke haze is lifting for NSW residents
The NSW Government is to be applauded for finally lifting the cigarette smoke haze on residents in NSW with the introduction of a comprehensive smoke free policy that will see smoking banned in outdoor areas where food is sold.
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20 February - Australia’s school kids at great risk of chronic diseases
The latest results from Heart Foundation and Cancer Council funded research published in the 20 February issue of the Medical Journal of Australia show that lifestyle factors of Australia’s school kids are putting them at greater risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer in later life.
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13 February - Heart Foundation welcomes reported plans to end duty-free cigarette sales
The National Heart Foundation of Australia is welcoming reports that both the Federal Government and the Opposition are considering ending the sale of duty-free cigarettes.
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11 February - Give a truly heartfelt gift this Valentine’s Day
If you’re looking for a truly heartfelt gift this Valentine’s Day, the National Heart Foundation of Australia could have the answer.
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09 February - Less funding for Tasmanian roads, more for active transport
The Heart Foundation is calling on the Tasmanian Government to invest more in active living in the next Tasmanian Budget by transferring 5% of the infrastructure budget from roads to sustainable transport infrastructure.
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01 February - NSW menu labelling laws enforced from today
The Heart Foundation believes menu labelling, which has come into force today in NSW, will assist people to make a healthier choice for themselves and their families.
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January

29 January - Setting the record straight on Tick
Reports in today’s Sunday News Ltd papers that the National Heart Foundation of Australia is seeking to replace lost income from its previous arrangement with McDonalds are wrong.
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27 January - One in three uninsured won’t call 000 for heart attack
A third of people without some form of ambulance cover would not call Triple Zero (000) even if they thought they were having a heart attack, research released today by the National Heart Foundation of Australia reveals.
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06 January - Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring statement released
The National Heart Foundation of Australia , in partnership with the High Blood Pressure Council of Australia, has released a consensus position statement on the role of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) in Australia.
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05 January - Australian research on heart disease and depression
People with depression could be at greater risk of heart disease, according to an international research team led by a Charles Sturt University researcher.
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01 January - Heart Foundation New Year call: Don't go on a diet
The Heart Foundation is urging Australians not to go on a diet this New Year and is issuing a specific warning about low-carb diets such as the popular Dukan Diet.
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For older media releases visit our Media Releases 2011 page.