Data reveals heart health concerns for Coffs Harbour-Grafton region

Data from the Heart Foundation has revealed some alarming heart health stats for the Coffs Harbour-Grafton region as everyone is being urged to take part in regular exercise

Research has found alarming heart health data in the Coffs Harbour-Grafton region.

Some worrying data has been revealed about our heart health as Australia’s Heart Foundation urges all of us to get moving regularly.

The Coffs Harbour-Grafton region ranks fifth out of 28 across NSW for heart attack hospital admissions, with our rate of heart attack hospital admissions totalling 18.1 out of every 10,000 people, about 25 per cent above the state average.

The data has also found out of 28 regions in NSW, the Coffs Harbour-Grafton region has the state’s 14th highest rate of death from coronary heart disease, with the death rate in the region 66.8 out of every 100,000 people, about 4 per cent above the state average.

In terms of heart disease risk factors, the Heart Foundation data has uncovered that the Coffs Harbour-Grafton region has the state’s ninth highest rate of obesity with around 36 per cent of adults living in this region are obese. This is higher than the state average of 31 per cent.

The region is also in the top 10 for smoking (just over 18 per cent) and high blood pressure (almost 24 per cent). About 66 per cent of adults in this region are not physically active enough for good health.

“Our research suggests that while many Australians know that movement is good for their hearts, and they have been advised by their doctor to be more active, they are not acting on this,” Heart Foundation Group CEO, Adjunct Professor John Kelly said.

“Overall, around one in two Australians aged 18 to 64 – that’s almost eight million people – are not active enough for good heart health. This is extremely concerning given physical inactivity is a key risk factor for heart disease, which takes 50 Australian lives each day, or one every 29 minutes.”

To encourage more Australians to get moving, the Heart Foundation has launched its Personal Walking Plans.

In this free, six-week program, participants will receive a walking plan tailored to their current activity levels, as identified during an easy, two-minute sign-up process.

Plans will be delivered via weekly emails and texts, which are designed not only to support and motivate participants, but also to deliver information about the many benefits of walking beyond fitness and heart health.

“This is a vital component of the Personal Walking Plans, because as our survey shows, simply understanding that physical activity is good for the heart does not equate to getting off the couch,” Professor Kelly said.

“Over this six-week journey with us, participants will learn about some of the lesser-known benefits of regular walking, like unwinding at the end of a stressful day; exploring their neighbourhood; becoming stronger and more flexible; and improving their mood.”

This is in addition to walking’s other incredible health benefits, Professor Kelly said.

“Walking for an average of 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of not only heart disease, but also stroke, diabetes, dementia and some cancers. It can also help maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and weight,” he said.

“That’s why we often call walking a ‘wonder drug’. If it were a medicine, we would all be taking it daily for longer, healthier, happier lives.

“By highlighting the unique and holistic benefits of walking, we are confident of recruiting an enthusiastic new generation to our Heart Foundation Walking family, while also continuing our mission to save Australian lives from heart disease.”