By Jena Carr
Doctors are urging the Geelong community to monitor common health conditions that could increase their risk of heart failure.
A new study by Hearts4heart found that more than four million Australians were not aware that comorbidities, which are co-existing health conditions, could increase the risk of heart failure.
Geelong University Hospital cardiologist Dr John Amerena said heart failure was the most common cause of hospital admissions in people aged over 65 and was a growing issue.
“One of the issues we’ve got with heart failure is that it is often unrecognised, but once we pick it up; we can stop it getting worse,” he said.
“Heart failure is an increasing problem in the Australian population. As our patients get older, they have more comorbidities…which can increase the risk of developing heart failure.
“It is Heart Failure Awareness Week (June 24 to 30), so we’re just trying to increase the profile of high value, make people realise it is a big problem in Australian society and it’s predicted to get worse than that.”
Dr Amerena said it was predicted by 2030 that there would be close to 750,000 people in Australia with heart failure, with an estimated 67,000 newly diagnosed each year.
Heart failure symptoms can include breathlessness during minimal exercise or while resting, sudden weight gain, new or worsening tiredness, loss of appetite, dizziness, confusion and sadness.
Discomfort or swelling in the tummy or lower body, increased trouble sleeping, swelling of the legs, ankles, or feet, dry cough, and an irregular heartbeat or palpitations could also be symptoms of heart failure.