Matter of the Heart
8 May 2026
National Heart week begins from 4th May – 10 May. Each year the Heart Foundation uses Heart Week as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on heart disease and to help improve the heart health of all Australians.
How does the Heart works?
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood and oxygen to all parts of your body. Your heart is a vital organ. The functions of the heart are to: pump blood and oxygen around the body and deliver waste products (carbon dioxide) back to the lungs so they can be removed. The heart consists of four chambers which are connected by valves. Valves direct the flow of blood to big blood vessels. Blood travels in these blood vessels to deliver oxygen all around the body. Blood vessels also carry blood back to the lungs to remove waste and to put more oxygen in the blood. The heart also has its own blood supply. Coronary arteries supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. When the coronary arteries become blocked, oxygen can’t reach the heart muscle. This can cause chest pain (angina) or a heart attack. (Heart Foundation, 2026)
Heart Disease
• Heart disease is a group of conditions that includes coronary heart disease, arrhythmias (irregular heart beat), heart failure and valve disease
• Heart disease is a major cause of chronic health problems and death in Australia, although it has decreased in recent years, it is still a leading cause of death.
• Many types of heart disease can be prevented or treated with healthy lifestyle choices, medications and / or surgery.
Risk factors
• Lifestyle risks:
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Unhealthy diet
• Unhealthy weight
• Being inactive
Chronic Health condition risks
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
Mental health
Mental health including anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder, social isolation, chronic work and life stresses. Research shows some mental health conditions may increase your risk of developing heart disease. Depression can increase your risk of developing heart disease just as much as smoking and obesity. The better your mental health, the more likely you are to make healthy choices, such as being active and eating well.
Read this short article on stress and cardiovascular disease: https://www.hri.org.au/health/your-health/lifestyle/stress-and-the-heart
Other risk factors you cannot control
Family history
Some ethnic background such as South Asian, Middle Eastern, Maori and pacific islanders have higher risk of heart disease
Social environment (such as unhealthy living and working conditions or low socioeconomic background) impacts your overall health and wellbeing which impacts your heart health.
Keeping your Heart Healthy
Regular physical activity reduces your risk of having a heart attack or developing heart disease. If you are interested in developing a personalised exercise program, please contact Fr Jaycee Napoles who is our PriestFit Personal Trainer: Jaycee.Napoles@cam.org.au or join our 10,000 steps challenge in September.
Healthy eating can help look after your heart.
Quitting smoking decreases your risk of heart attack and stroke almost straight away.
Understanding and controlling cholesterol, blood pressure, or diabetes is key to your heart health If you are interested in exploring ways to look after your heart health, please contact your GP or Wellbeing Advisor, Trinh.DNguyen@cam.org.au
If you are 45 years or older, you should see your doctor for a Medicare-covered Heart Health Check. You may also be recommended to do a Coronary Artery Calcium scoring test to refine your risk. This test is not currently covered by Medicare so discuss with your doctor of the risks versus benefits and the costs.
You can also do a self-test Heart age Calculator: Heart Age Calculator | Heart Foundation
For more information on heart health, visit: www.heartfoundation.org.au
Health and Wellbeing
Clergy Life and Ministry Office