February is Heart Health Month, a great time to focus on keeping your heart healthy and strong. Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of illness in Australia, but the good news is that many risk factors can be managed with early assessment and healthy lifestyle choices.

A healthy heart starts with simple, everyday habits — staying active, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, getting quality sleep, and avoiding smoking. Regular check-ups also play a key role, as many heart health risk factors don’t cause symptoms until problems arise.

Your doctor can assess your heart health in several ways, including:
- Blood pressure checks
- Cholesterol and blood glucose testing
- Heart health risk assessments
- Lifestyle and family history reviews

These assessments help identify any risk factors early and allow your doctor to work with you on a personalised plan to reduce your risk and improve your long-term health.

If it’s been a while since your last check, or if you have a family history of heart disease, we encourage you to book an appointment and speak with your doctor. Taking small steps now can make a big difference for your heart in the future.