Heart Health

Every 90 minutes a New Zealander dies from heart disease. Many of these deaths are premature and preventable, so it is important to know about these simple but significant ways to take care of your heart.

Here are some great ways to show your heart some love:

Being smoke-free
Regular exercise – ideally 30 mins a day
Eating a healthy and balanced diet – for heart-healthy guidance and recipe ideas visit heartfoundationorg.nz/wellbeing/healthy-eating
Reducing alcohol intake – the Heart Foundation notes that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption
Taking heart-related and blood pressure medication as prescribed

When should I go and see my doctor?

Most people should get a heart check with their doctor every 5 years, starting at the following ages:

Group	Males	Females
Māori, Pacific and South-Asian	Over 30	Over 40
People with known risk factors such as smoking, family history of heart problems, or with high risk of developing diabetes	Over 35	Over 45
People with a severe mental illness	Over 25	Over 25
People with diabetes	Yearly after your diagnosis	Yearly after your diagnosis
People with no known risk factors	Over 45	Over 55

If you fall into these age categories and have not had a check in the past five years, contact your local Defence Health Centre or GP to book an appointment.

Take a free online heart check

My Heart Check is a free online heart health check. It gives you an idea of your heart’s “age” compared to your actual age, while calculating your estimated risk of having a heart attack or stroke and importantly it provides tips on how to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Warning signs of heart problems

Be aware of warning signs of heart problems, which include feeling pain, discomfort, pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the jaw, neck, shoulders, chest, arms or back. You may also feel dizzy, tired, sweaty, short of breath or sick.

Call 111 immediately if you experience any of these symptoms for more than 10 minutes.

And if you aren’t sure, call anyway – the emergency services would always rather you call and not need them, than not contact them at all.

For more information, see the Heart Foundation website

Additional resources:

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