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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Lower your risk of heart disease
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: Lower your risk of heart disease

Support and resources to help you stay healthy and reduce risk of heart disease.

Key takeaways

  • Learn more about a healthy lifestyle to lower risk of heart disease. 
  • Get support for health conditions that increase  risk of heart disease. 
  • Call the Heart Foundation Helpline for support or information about  heart health. 
  • To know your risk of heart disease, it's important to get a regular health check with your doctor or health service. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have higher rates of heart disease.  

The Heart Foundation is committed to improve the heart health of all Australians by providing information and resources to reduce risk of heart disease.  

The Heart Foundation has information and resources to reduce risk of heart disease. 

​

Warning signs of heart attack action plan  

From the Pilbara Aboriginal Heart Health Program 
Download here

Recipe booklet “Cooking in the Pilbara” 

From the Pilbara Aboriginal Heart Health Program  
Download here 

Reduce your risk of heart disease  

Certain risk factors make some people more likely to have heart disease. You can protect your heart by taking care of the following:  

Follow a heart healthy eating pattern

​Learn more: 
Healthy eating to protect your heart  

Take action: 
Nutrition action plan  

My heart my family our culture:Food ideas and recipes:
Heart Foundation recipes  
Heart Healthy Dinner Plan  

Be physically active (move more)

Learn more: 
Physical activity and your heart health 

Take action:
Physical activity action plan  
Heart Foundation Walking Group  
Personal Walking Plan  

Stop smoking tobacco/cigarettes

Learn more:
My heart my family our culture: Smoking  
Smoking and your heart 

Take action:
Don’t smoke close to the home  
Quit smoking action plan  

Limit alcohol intake

Learn more:
My heart my family our culture: Alcohol 
Heart healthy drinks  

Take action: 
Alcohol action plan  

Maintain a healthy body weight

Learn more:
My heart my family our culture: Healthy body weight  

Take action: 
Healthy weight action plan  

Take care of your mental health 

Learn more:
My heart my family our culture: Feeling sad and lonely  
Mental health and heart disease  

Take action: 
​Psychological and social health action plan  

A doctor (your GP) is a recommended first step to discuss your concerns.  

 Manage health conditions  

We offer information and resources to support you to take the right steps to manage your health conditions that increase risk of heart disease. 

Blood pressure   

​Learn more:
My heart my family our culture: High blood pressure  
Blood pressure and your heart  

Take action:
Blood pressure action plan  

Cholesterol 

Learn more:
My heart my family our culture: High cholesterol  
High blood cholesterol  

Take action:
Cholesterol and triglycerides action plan  

Diabetes 

Learn more:
My heart my family our culture:Diabetes  
Diabetes and heart disease 

Learn more about managing diabetes on the Diabetes Australia website.

Take action:
Don’t smoke close to the home  
Quit smoking action plan  

Chronic kidney disease 

Learn more:
Make the Link: Chronic Kidney Disease
Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease  

Taking medicines

Learn more:
My heart my family our culture: Medicines  
Taking your medicines  

Recovery from a heart attack or angina 

Learn more:
Heart Foundation recovery and support resources  
Find a cardiac rehabilitation service near you  
Support after a heart attack  

Additional resources

The Heart Foundation has worked with St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney to develop a range of heart health resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

This partnership has built a nationally significant online resource to reach and inform communities across a range of heart health information. 

Visit the St Vincent’s Hospital NSW and Heart Foundation Aboriginal heart health website for more information.   

visit our shared website
Have you recently been in hospital for a heart attack or angina (chest pain caused by a blocked artery)? You can register for our free My Heart, My Life program. Your friends and family can also register.   

The program includes free resources, emails and text messages about your heart health.


Register for the My Heart, My Life Support Program  

See your  doctor, nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander  health professional regularly:  
To know your risk of heart disease, it's important to get a regular health check with your doctor or health service.   
 

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