The HPA is working with the Ministry of Health, the Heart Foundation, PHARMAC, and interested PHOs to increase the number of heart and diabetes checks that are undertaken.
Nine facts about cardiovascular disease
- Every 90 minutes a New Zealander dies from coronary heart disease (16 deaths a day). Many of these deaths are premature and preventable.
- Approximately one in two New Zealanders are obese or overweight.
- Obesity is a risk factor for a number of diseases including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and some cancers.
- One in 20 adults have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. That’s 161,000 adults and includes 89,400 who have had a heart attack resulting them in being hospitalised.
- Key risk factors for heart disease include smoking, lack of exercise, poor diet, and family history.
- Cardiovascular disease made up almost 35% of all deaths in women in New Zealand in 2009.
- 42% of women who have heart attacks die within one year, compared to 24% of men.
- It is estimated that the number of people diagnosed with diabetes exceeds 200,000. There are also about 100,000 people who have diabetes but are not yet diagnosed.
- Prevalence of diabetes in Māori and Pacific populations is about three times higher than other New Zealanders.
What does HPA do?
HPA’s work will:
- increase awareness of the need for more heart and diabetes checks, particularly cardiovascular risk assessments
- get people to go to their family doctor or nurse to get their heart and diabetes check
- help meet the national health target of 90% of the eligible population having a heart or diabetes check in the last five years by 1 July 2014 (60% by 1 July 2012, 75% by 1 July 2013).
Key audiences
- Māori, Pacific and South Asian males 35-74 years
- Māori, Pacific and South Asian females and all other ethnic groups of males 45-74
- All other ethnic groups of females 55-74.
Bring back Buck
Ex-All Black Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford is working with HPA to promote the important ‘Get your heart checked’ message.
What is a heart health check?
A heart health check (or cardiovascular risk assessment) will give you information on how to reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years.
It will let you know what your risk is and, more importantly, the best strategies to improve your heart health and lead a better life.
Your family doctor or nurse will:
- ask about your risk factors such as smoking, exercise and diet
- ask if there is any family history of heart attack or stroke
- measure your blood pressure, height, weight and waist
- test your cholesterol and blood glucose levels (for diabetes).
After considering all the risk factors, your doctor or nurse will calculate your risk of having a heart attack or stroke over the next five years.
You can also do a basic heart check at knowyournumbers.co.nz but only your doctor or nurse can do a full heart health check.
Resources
How's your engine poster [4MB]
How's your engine brochure [1.7MB]
Bring back Buck poster [2.9MB]
Bring back Buck brochure [1.2MB]