"Regular heart screening can change the trajectory of your heart health” - Local cardiologist Dr Julian Yeoh encourages Australians over 65 to stay on top of their heart health WANGARATTA locals aged 65 and over are being encouraged to get a free heart health check in Benalla next week to help Australia reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed heart valve disease. Over half a million Australians have heart valve disease with another quarter of a million estimated to be living with the condition undiagnosed. Australians aged 65 years and above are at a higher risk of HVD2 and due to the ageing population, it is estimated that the number of people living with heart valve disease will double by 2040 and triple by 2060, globally. Beryl Kuiper, 79-year-old Wodonga based disability support worker and former nurse lives with heart valve disease and explains, "as we age, there's often an assumption that certain health issues are just a normal part of getting older. “If you feel this is happening, don't settle for that answer, seek out other opinions and keep pushing for the right answers," Beryl said. Australians like Beryl, alongside Dr Julian Yeoh Interventional and Structural Heart Disease Cardiologist at Austin Health and Warringal Private Hospital and Australia’s leading interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, are calling for greater awareness and early intervention of heart valve disease to ensure the condition doesn’t become Australia’s next cardiac epidemic. "Early assessments such as regular heart screening can change the trajectory of your heart health," Dr Julian Yeoh said. "Without it, we can't intervene. "Even if you have no symptoms, something could be happening beneath the surface that you’re unaware of.” Regular heart health checks, including blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol tests, and cardiac assessments, can help identify risks early and allow for timely intervention. Encouraging routine heart screening helps older Australians to take proactive steps in managing their heart health and living longer, healthier lives. Medtronic is partnering to offer free heart health checks for Australians aged 65+. Book a free heart screening at Church Street Surgery, Benalla on Friday, 28 March. Find out more about heart valve disease via Hearts4Heart.
