TAL Heartchecker

We’re committed to helping Australians live healthier lives through proactive healthcare. That’s why we’re partnering with the Heart Foundation and asking Australians to keep to the beat with TAL HeartChecker.

Heart Age Calculator Articles & Recipes

Over 1 million Australians are living with Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease and strokes.1 Lowering your risk of CVD doesn’t always require drastic intervention — it's about understanding your risk factors and making small, positive changes. That’s why we created TAL HeartChecker — to keep your heart beating strong and to put you in control of your heart health.

Be Informed

Understanding the dangers of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking is crucial for keeping your heart healthy and strong. Approximately 1.3 million Australian adults (6.7%) reported living with one or more heart, stroke, or vascular conditions in 2022.1 These include:

  1. Coronary Heart Disease: Blocked heart arteries causing angina or heart attacks.2
  2. Stroke: Interrupted blood supply to the brain (ischaemic) or burst blood vessel or artery in the brain, causing leakage of blood in the brain (hemorrhagic).3
  3. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Narrowed arteries that reduce or restrict blood flow in any body part outside of the heart or brain.4
  4. Heart Failure: Heart struggles to pump blood the way it should and is a long-term condition, requiring lifelong management.5
  5. Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats (e.g., atrial fibrillation).6
  6. Rheumatic Heart Disease: Heart valve damage caused by acute rheumatic fever.7
  7. Congenital Heart Disease: Heart structure, heart valves or blood vessels that present defects at birth.8
  8. Cardiomyopathy: Abnormal heart muscle making it harder to pump blood.9
  9. Venous Thromboembolism: Blood clots in veins (DVT or pulmonary embolism).10
  10. Hypertensive Heart Disease: Hypertensive heart disease: Changes to the left ventricle, left atrium and coronary arteries as a result of chronic high blood pressure.11

Your lifestyle plays a crucial role in preventing and managing CVD.
Causes can include smoking, inactivity, obesity and hypertension.12

Know Your Numbers

Understanding your blood pressure and cholesterol levels is essential for assessing your heart health. These numbers provide valuable insights into your risk of developing CVD.

For more detailed information, visit the Heart Foundation’s website

Check Yourself

Find out your heart age in just a few beats—then book a Heart Health Check with your GP (details below) to better understand your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Knowing your heart age is a great way to take charge of your heart health. Your heart age is an estimate of your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. If your heart age is higher than your actual age, it means you may be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A lower heart age suggests a lower risk compared to other people in Australia.13

Find Out Your Heart Age

The Heart Age Calculator is a simple and effective tool designed for people aged 35-75 to better understand their heart health. Scroll down now to check yours; it only takes a few minutes.

Get a Heart Health Check:14

Book a heart health check with your GP for a comprehensive assessment of your cardiovascular disease risk. This 20-minute check-up helps you understand your risk of heart attack or stroke over the next five years. Most importantly, your GP and nurse will support you in lowering your risk.

During a Heart Health Check, your GP will:

  • Analyse your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. A healthy blood pressure level is typically less than 120/80 mm Hg.15
  • Perform a finger prick blood test for a deeper analysis of your cholesterol and blood sugar.
  • Discuss your family history, lifestyle habits and overall health.4

Being proactive about your heart health helps you stay in the rhythm.

Take Action

Reduce your heart disease risk by increasing physical activity and eating well. Making positive changes to your lifestyle can significantly improve your heart health. Here are some key steps:6

Prioritise physical activity Regular exercise helps strengthen your heart, control blood pressure, and reduce stress. Aim for at least 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Walking 30 mins a day can reduce your risk of heart disease.16

Nourish your body: A balanced diet rich in wholegrains, fibre, vitamins, antioxidants and healthy fats supports heart health. Limit added sugar, saturated fats, and excessive sodium.

Manage stress: Chronic stress can negatively impact your heart. Incorporate relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing into your routine.

Quit smoking: Smoking significantly increases your risk of heart disease. Seek support to help you quit.

Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can strain your heart. Focus on gradual weight loss through diet and exercise.

Regular check-ups: Having a regular heart health check with your GP will help you to keep your heart healthy and better understand your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

It is also good to keep track of your resting heart rate. A normal resting heart rate is between 60-100bpm but can vary based on age and gender.18

Remember, small steps can make a big difference. Keep to the beat by incorporating one healthy habit at a time and gradually build upon your progress.

Did You Know? 17

  • Half of Aussies have three or more modifiable CVD risk factors.
  • Heart disease, including heart attacks, is largely preventable.
  • Small, regular steps can be as good as taking drastic intervention to improve your heart health.

Keep to the beat

Remember, small changes can keep your heart beating strong. Start today.6

  • Exercise: 30-60 mins most days to keep your heart beating strong.
  • Eat Healthy: A balanced diet supports heart health.
  • Quit Smoking: One of the best things you can do for your heart.
  • Manage Stress: Relaxation techniques help keep your heart happy.
  • Regular Check-ups: Early detection saves lives.

For more information, visit the Heart Foundation's website.

Do you know your heart age?

If you’re aged between 35-75, the first step to finding your heart-healthy rhythm begins with knowing your heart age. The Heart Age Calculator, developed by the Heart Foundation, is a simple and effective tool that estimates your heart age based on lifestyle factors and key health indicators.

To understand your heart age, it applies an algorithm that calculates the probability of experiencing a cardiovascular event in the next five years - based on a series of quick questions about your general health and lifestyle choices.

By knowing your heart age, you can have a better understanding of your risk of a heart attack or stroke, and most importantly, the positive steps you can take to live a heart healthy lifestyle.

Visit the Heart Foundation Heart Age Calculator now to begin your new rhythm of heart health.

Click through to take the test
Click through to take the test
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