To mark Heart Week 2023, Western NSW Local Health District is reminding communities of the simple steps they can take to keep their heart healthy after Dubbo Hospital’s Cardiac Catheter Laboratory reached a significant milestone this week.
Heart Week is held across Australia in the first week of May each year to raise awareness of the importance of heart health and positive steps people can take to help reduce risk of heart disease.
Dr Neil Goonetilleke, Advanced Trainee Cardiology at Dubbo Hospital, said the Cardiac Catheter Laboratory completed its 500th angiogram since opening last year, on Wednesday – a timely reminder of the importance of prevention.
“Chronic diseases, like coronary disease, remain a major concern in our District but since opening the Cardiac Cath Lab here in Dubbo it has significantly improved access to this life saving care for patients all over the District,” Dr Goonetilleke said.
“As one component of our District-wide cardiology service, we’ve treated patients from here in the Dubbo community but also from remote areas like Lightning Ridge, Bourke and Walgett.
“While the service has been incredibly successful so far and reduced the need for patients to travel for cardiac care, we can all take simple steps to help keep us out of hospital.
“Maintaining a healthy diet, doing regular physical activity and quitting smoking are three positive steps that can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease, particularly by helping to reduce and control blood pressure and cholesterol.
“Understanding heart health and other risk factors like age, family history, diabetes and obesity is also incredibly important. I encourage everyone to speak to their doctor and have a Heart Health Check to understand and manage their risk.
“Don’t ignore any warning signs as heart disease can very easily lead to heart attack, or failure. Warning signs of a heart attack include chest pain, arm or shoulder pain, jaw pain and shortness of breath. If you have these symptoms, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.”
The Dubbo Hospital Cardiac Catheter Laboratory began operations in June 2022 and was the final service to come online as part of the $306 million Dubbo Health Service Redevelopment.
