Heart Attack

Heart Attack symptoms, causes, treatment options available in Australia, and when to see a doctor. Evidence-based medical information.

Dr. Louis J Sisk

BSc(Hons) MBChB MRCS(Glasg) MTrauma

Published: August 23, 2025

Heart Attacks in Australia

Heart disease remains one of Australia’s biggest health challenges — but the things that raise risk are, to a large extent, knowable and modifiable. This guide explains the major risk factors for a heart attack, how common they are in Australia, and the specific actions that make the biggest difference. If you only remember one thing, make it this: small, steady changes — backed by medicines where appropriate — save lives.

In an emergency: If you have severe or worsening chest pain, breathlessness, or pain that spreads to your arm, neck, jaw or back and lasts more than 10 minutes, call 000. Don’t drive yourself.

Risk Factors

A heart attack happens when a coronary artery supplying the heart muscle becomes suddenly blocked, typically by a blood clot forming on a cracked (“ruptured”) plaque. That blockage starves the heart of oxygen; heart muscle starts to die within minutes. Most first heart attacks develop on the background of risk factors — things that, over time, drive plaque build-up, high blood pressure or unhealthy blood chemistry. Reducing these risks slows the disease, stabilises plaques, and lowers the chance of a sudden blockage.

In plain terms: the lower your total risk, the lower your odds of a heart attack. That “total risk” comes from a bundle of factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, activity, diet, alcohol, weight, age, sex, family history, and more). Australia’s national data sets help us see which factors are most common — and where to focus effort. See the Heart Foundation’s Key Statistics for a current snapshot.¹

Snapshot in Australia

The Heart Foundation’s Key Statistics combine figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Here are the headlines:

• High blood pressure (hypertension): About 1 in 4 adults (23%) live with hypertension, and the likelihood rises steeply with age (nearly 4 in 5 by 75). Many Australians don’t recognise high blood pressure as a key heart-disease risk.¹
• High cholesterol: More than 2 in 5 adults (42%) have high cholesterol, with the highest rates in those aged 55–64.¹
• Overweight and obesity: About 2 in 3 adults (66%) live with overweight or obesity; around 1 in 4 children and adolescents are above a healthy weight.¹
• Smoking: Around 11% of adults smoke daily — down from 22% in 2001, but still too high.¹
• Physical inactivity: 3 in 4 adults don’t meet activity guidelines; 1 in 8 report no physical activity at all.¹
• Alcohol: 27% of adults exceed Australian alcohol guidelines; for conditions like atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure, risk rises with intake.¹
• Diet quality: Over 93% of adults fall short of the recommended 5+ serves of vegetables; modelling suggests meeting veggie targets alone could cut CVD risk by ~17%.¹

Looking at disease burden, AIHW data show about 600,000 adults (≈3%) report living with coronary heart disease (CHD), and 430,000 report a past heart attack or other CHD.² Heart attacks remain common and serious: over 150 Australians are hospitalised every day (about one every nine minutes) and ~19 people die each day — though deaths have been falling over time.³

Risk Factors Exposed

1) High blood pressure (hypertension)

Why it matters: High blood pressure damages the inner lining of arteries, accelerates plaque growth, and makes plaques more likely to crack. It also strains the heart, contributing to heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

How common: About 23% of adults — and nearly 80% of people in their mid-70s — live with hypertension. It is often silent.¹

What to do (practical steps):

• Measure it properly at home (seated, rested, back supported; average several readings across days).
• Move more, eat smarter, reduce salt, limit alcohol, maintain a healthy weight — these can lower BP naturally.
• If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, take medicines consistently; modern combinations are effective and well tolerated.

2) High cholesterol

Why it matters: LDL (“bad”) cholesterol feeds plaque formation. Lowering LDL reduces heart-attack risk in a dose-dependent fashion — the lower the LDL (within reason), the lower the risk.

How common: Over 2 in 5 adults have high cholesterol, especially those aged 55–64. You won’t “feel” high cholesterol — your arteries do.¹

What to do:

• Know your numbers (total, LDL, HDL, triglycerides).
• Adopt a Mediterranean-style pattern: vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fish; fewer ultra-processed foods and less saturated fat.
• Statins and other lipid-lowering medicines substantially reduce risk when used for primary or secondary prevention.

Alcohol and your heart: Earlier headlines suggested a small cardio-protective effect from wine. Current positions are clearer: there’s no safe or recommended amount of alcohol for cardiovascular health, and risk for atrial fibrillation and hypertension increases with intake.¹

3) Overweight and obesity

Why it matters: Excess body fat, especially around the abdomen, worsens blood pressure, lipids, insulin resistance and inflammation — a perfect storm for coronary disease.

How common: Two-thirds of adults live with overweight or obesity; about a quarter of children and adolescents are above a healthy weight.¹

What to do:

• Think habits, not heroics: slightly smaller portions, more plants, fewer ultra-processed foods, and regular movement.
• Aim for 5–10% weight loss if you live with overweight/obesity — even this modest reduction improves BP, cholesterol and glucose.
• Discuss dietitian support, structured programmes, and, for some, medicines or surgery with your GP.

4) Smoking

Why it matters: Smoking injures blood vessels, promotes clots, reduces oxygen delivery, and multiplies the harm of other risk factors.

How common: About 11% of adults still smoke daily — a major drop from 22% in 2001, but with substantial room to improve.¹

What to do:

• Quit completely. Combining behavioural support with nicotine replacement or prescription medicines doubles to triples your chance of long-term success.
• Keep trying; most ex-smokers made several attempts before quitting for good.

5) Physical inactivity

Why it matters: Regular movement improves blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, lipids, mood and sleep — and helps stabilise plaques.

How common: 75% of adults fall short of guidelines; 12% report no activity at all.¹

What to do:

• Start where you are. If you do little now, try 10–15 minutes of brisk walking most days; add steps across your day.
• Build gradually towards 150–300 minutes of moderate activity per week, plus 2–3 light resistance sessions.
• Break up long sitting — even short movement breaks help.

6) Alcohol

Why it matters: Alcohol raises blood pressure, can trigger atrial fibrillation, adds empty kilojoules, and can worsen triglycerides and sleep quality. There’s no cardiovascular benefit to starting (or continuing) alcohol.

How common: 27% of adults exceed Australian alcohol guidelines; men are roughly twice as likely as women to exceed them.¹

What to do:

• Aim for zero or as low as possible for heart health.
• If you drink, treat the national guidelines as a hard ceiling, not a target.

7) Diet quality

Why it matters: Diet influences most other risks — blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, blood sugar and inflammation.

How common: More than 93% of adults don’t hit the 5+ serves of vegetables target; lifting intake could reduce population CVD risk by ~17%.¹

What to do:

• Build meals around vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fruit, nuts and seeds, with regular fish and olive oil as your main added fat.
• Cut down ultra-processed foods high in salt, added sugar and poor-quality fats.
• If you’re unsure where to start, ask your GP for a referral to an accredited practising dietitian.

Heart Health Check

Statistics are useful, but your personal risk is what really matters. Ask your GP about a Heart Health Check (a structured assessment covering blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking status, diabetes screening and family history). It turns a list of numbers into a single risk profile with a practical plan: lifestyle changes and, when indicated, preventive medicines such as statins and blood-pressure tablets.

Many people also find a “heart age” tool motivating — it translates risk into a simple comparison with the average person of your age. The aim is to lower your heart age through better habits and targeted treatment. (Remember: calculators are estimates; your GP’s assessment is the gold standard.)

Who is most affected?

Risk increases with age and is generally higher in men. However, women often have heart disease that is under-recognised and under-treated; make sure symptoms are taken seriously and checked promptly. The burden of disease is also higher among people living with disadvantage and among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, underscoring the importance of culturally safe, accessible prevention and care.⁴

From risk to reality

• An estimated 600,000 adults report living with CHD; 430,000 report a past heart attack or other CHD.²
• Over 150 people are hospitalised for a heart attack every day; ~19 die each day — though mortality has fallen substantially over the past decade thanks to prevention and improved care.³
• The overall burden of cardiovascular disease has declined, but it remains a leading cause of lost healthy life — meaning there is still huge room for prevention.⁴

Medications in Heart Attacks

Lifestyle changes are foundational, but many people also benefit from evidence-based medicines:

• Statins (and other lipid-lowering therapies) to reduce LDL cholesterol and stabilise plaques.
• Blood pressure medicines to keep readings in target range.
• Antiplatelet therapy (e.g., aspirin) in specific circumstances, usually after discussion with your clinician.

If a heart attack occurs (or high-risk blockages are found), procedures such as angioplasty with stent or bypass surgery restore blood flow and reduce the risk of further events. Afterwards, cardiac rehabilitation — supervised exercise, education and support — is one of the most effective “medicines” we have: it keeps you out of hospital and reduces the risk of dying from heart conditions. Ask for a referral; it’s suitable for all ages and fitness levels.⁵

Simple Guidance

1. Know your numbers
   Book a Heart Health Check with your GP (BP, lipids, diabetes screening, smoking status, family history). If you already have heart disease, ask whether you’re on optimal preventive therapy.

2. Move most days
   Start with 10–15 minutes brisk walking and build to 150–300 minutes/week. Add light strength work 2–3 times per week; break up long sitting.

3. Eat for your heart
   5+ serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit daily. Base meals on whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil; include fish regularly. Cut down on ultra-processed foods high in salt, sugar and refined starch.

4. Be alcohol-smart
   For heart health, less is best. If you drink, stay within national guidelines as a maximum — not a target.¹

5. Quit smoking — completely
   Use a combination of behavioural support and pharmacotherapy. Every quit attempt teaches you something.

6. Sleep & stress
   Aim for a regular sleep routine and build a simple stress-reduction habit (breathing, walking, stretching, brief journalling).

7. Take medicines exactly as prescribed
   Preventive medicines work only when taken. If side-effects occur, ask about alternatives — there usually are some.

Finally: Preventation Works

Australia has seen steady declines in cardiovascular burden thanks to better prevention, acute treatment and secondary prevention. But with so many people still living with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low activity and sub-optimal diets, there’s enormous potential to prevent first heart attacks — and to prevent another in those already affected. The earlier you act, the more you gain; it’s never too late to start.

References