A RECENT survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlighted three in four Australians aged 45 and above demonstrated risk factors for heart disease.
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The findings indicated 5.6million adult Australians had high-total cholesterol – a leading cause of heart disease – but only one in 10 people are aware they were at risk.
Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the IMB Building Society Community Foundation, Bega residents will soon have the opportunity to have a free heart health test administered by the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
For the second consecutive year, the VCCRI was granted funds to operate a fully-mobile Health Check Booth that travels through various communities where IMB members live and work, including Bega.
The booth will be set up within the Sapphire Marketplace on Thursday, between 9am and 5pm.
The Health Check Booth will benefit residents through free testing of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels – all major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
The Health Check Booth will be run by NSW registered nurses and participants will receive results immediately.
In the past two years, a total of 1823 people were tested by the IMB funded Health Check Booth.
More than one in four people tested were deemed “at risk” and recommended to seek follow-up counsel with their GP.
“After witnessing the success of the Health Check Booth’s visits last year, we felt it was imperative to continue raising awareness of the major risk factors of heart disease, which affects thousands of Australians each year,” said IMB Community Foundation chairman Lynton Nicholas.
“The test takes just 10 minutes and the results could be life-saving, so I urge all Bega residents to come down and take full advantage of these free heart tests,” Mr Nicholas added.
IMB CEO Robert Ryan said IMB was delighted to continue its relationship with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute to increase awareness of cardiovascular disease and ultimately save lives.
“The Health Check Booth is such a worthwhile local community project and we are pleased to be able to give back to the communities that have supported us for so many years,” Mr Ryan said.
“With heart disease responsible for the death of more Australians than any other illness, IMB is proud to support such a positive initiative.”
Established in 1999, the IMB Building Society’s Community Foundation was created to provide financial support to not-for-profit community groups operating where IMB members live and work. Since the foundation’s origin, IMB has granted $6.6million in financial support to more than 400 diverse projects and initiatives.
For further information on the Victor Chang Health Check Booth, visit www.victorchang.edu.au.