A leading Bundaberg cardiologist is urging men and women to take care of their heart health.

Bundaberg Cardiology cardiologist Dr Andre Conradie said fighting against heart disease was an important cause, as it was the single leading cause of death in Australia.

“Heart disease affects two out of three families and kills four times more women than breast cancer. Every 27 minutes, one Australian is killed by heart disease.”

Dr Conradie said everyone should act now to improve heart health to prevent heart disease, or to prevent any more problems.

“Lowering cholesterol and blood pressure can help to reduce the risk of heart attack, even in patients who show the early signs of heart disease,” Dr Conradie said.

Dr Conradie said moving more, eating better and in the right portion sizes, having a healthy mindset and monitoring things like cholesterol, blood pressure, weight and sugar levels were the essentials for maintaining a healthy heart.

As a leading regional cardiology facility, with the only Cath Lab between the Sunshine Coast and Townsville, the Friendly Society Private Hospital is at the forefront of making sure patients in the Wide Bay community have access to local treatments.

Chief Executive Officer Alan Cooper said plans are already underway to further expand the hospital’s cardiology facilities.

“Once we made the decision to provide these services for our community, we needed to make sure this service expands with the growing population and need,” Mr Cooper said.

“This costs millions of dollars, which is why one of the key fundraising efforts of The Friendlies Foundation will be for cardiology expansion,” Mr Cooper said.

Dr Andre Conradie says anytime is a good time to take a look at the health of your heart.