HealthWISE set to host ‘girls night out’ for heart health
24/02/2017

HealthWISE set to host the first of three heart health events on February 24. ‘A girl’s night out for heart health’ will be held at the Roxy Theatre in Bingara.

The girl’s night out forms part of a successful bid in securing a NSW Heart Foundation community grant. The grant aims to promote women and heart disease as part of making the invisible visible campaign. Heart Foundation NSW Women and Heart Disease Manger Angela Hehir said that more than 90 percent of Australian women have at least one modifiable risk factor for heart disease, and half of all women have two or three risk factors.

“Our statistics show risk factors including smoking (22%), being overweight at (37%) and obesity (33%) for heart disease are significantly higher in the Gwydir region than for the rest of the state” she said. “We are delighted to have the HealthWISE team promote this important campaign and look forward to working with HealthWISE to make this Invisible issue more visible,” she added.

Heart Foundation Regional Health Promotion Coordinator for New England, Penny Milson said that heart disease in women was under researched, under diagnosed and under treated. “Through our Making the Invisible Visible campaign we want to make women aware that this is not just a man’s disease and that there are things they can do to reduce their risk,” said Penny.

“Women broadly speaking don’t see heart disease as personally relevant so are less likely to be checked or act on the signs and symptoms of heart disease when they have them and often prioritise the health of others over their own,” said Ms Milson.

Join HealthWISE for a great girl’s night out including canapés from Swan Fine Foods, drink on arrival and guest speakers including Penny Milson from the Heart Foundation.