Overview

The session highlighted the impact of cardiovascular disease in Australia, the lifestyle factors that increase risk, and the groundbreaking research being led by the Heart Research Institute to improve prevention and treatment.

Key Takeaways

• Cardiovascular disease remains a major health issue. It causes 1 in 4 deaths in Australia and has a significant personal and economic impact.

• Most risk factors are preventable. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, excess weight, smoking or vaping, inactivity, poor diet and excess alcohol all increase risk, but many of these can be managed through lifestyle changes.

• Small daily habits matter.
  Thirty minutes of moderate exercise, five serves of vegetables and three of fruit each day, reducing processed foods and having regular alcohol-free days can significantly lower cardiovascular risk.

• Know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. A heart attack is a blocked artery and requires urgent medical care. A cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating and requires immediate CPR and defibrillation.

• Research is changing outcomes. Innovations such as 3D-printed mini hearts and new treatments for peripheral arterial disease are helping to prevent heart failure and amputations.

Andrea Natoli

Andrea Natoli is Head of Gifts in Wills and Planned Giving at HRI. She comes from an extensive career in corporate Australia working in sales, marketing and business lead roles in medical hardware, medical devices, hospital and medical pharmaceuticals.

After a successful corporate career Andrea retrained as a lawyer and commenced working in the for-purpose sector. She utilised her marketing, communications and sales expertise to support organisations in the community sector.

Her experience spans community nursing, aged care and the NDIS environment, specifically supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Andrea is a qualified and practising legal practitioner, as well as being a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia