Your health is at the centre of your family’s health, so it’s important to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle to avoid some of the more serious diseases such as heart disease.

Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Aotearoa New Zealand. Every 90 minutes someone dies from heart disease, and many of these deaths are premature and could be prevented.

Some of the factors that increase your risk of heart disease cannot be avoided. However, there are several other factors you can change that will significantly reduce your risk of getting heart disease.

You can reduce your risk by:

• Being smokefree
• Being physically active
• Eating heart healthy foods
• Keeping to a healthy weight

It’s also important to have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly. If you’re 35 or older, you should find out at what age you should start having a heart check.

Visit healthnavigator.org.nz and search for “heart assessment” to find out more.

You can also use an online tool called ‘My Heart Check’ which will give you an idea of the health of your heart. Visit heartfoundation.org.nz and click ‘my heart check’ on the home page.

For any other health needs call Healthline on 0800 611 116. Interpreting services will be available if you need them.