One Australian dies from cardiovascular disease every 12 minutes.
Heart attack is a leading cause of hospitalisation and death in Australia, claiming on average 19 lives every day.
And, studies have also found that COVID can impact normal heart function.
These are the alarming statistics behind the Heart Health Tour, set to visit Glendale on Monday 8 May.
Between 9am and 5pm, free heart checks will be on offer for community members at the Stockland Glendale Shopping Centre.
The Heart Health Tour checks are sponsored by IMB Bank Community Foundation, which has donated more than $11.5 million to grassroots projects since 1999.
A heart check could help avoid a sudden cardiac arrest – a condition that affects more than 33,000 Australians each year.
In fact, an estimated 430,000 Australians have had a heart attack at some point in their lives.
Victoria McGee knows all too well the dangers associated with heart attacks.
The Hunter-based country and western singer, X Factor and Australian Idol contestant and judge on All Together suffered from a severe form of cardiomyopathy for 15 years (which was repeatedly misdiagnosed).
On May 1 2019, she underwent heart transplant surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, after the birth of her son Onyx weakened her heart.
Victoria is one of the lucky ones, with nearly three times more women dying of heart disease than breast cancer in Australia each year.
Only one in three women experience “typical” heart attack symptoms such as pain in the centre of the chest as well.
Victoria is now extremely grateful to be back on stage performing and touring across the country.
She is urging everyone to get a free check.
Victoria will be on hand to share her story on Monday.
In 2023, there is $700,000 in grant funding available.
Community groups should visit https://www.imb.com.au/community to apply. Applications close 16 June.
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