Heart Health Checks: Your Quick Guide

Who Is Eligible for a Funded Heart Health Check?

Medicare-Funded (MBS Item 699):  Australians aged 45–79 who have not had a heart health check in the past 12 months. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from age 30. Patients with chronic kidney disease may also be eligible. Ask your GP at Lotus Family Clinics.

If you meet the age criteria and haven't had this check, you are potentially leaving a free, potentially life-saving service on the table. Book your Heart Health Check today at our Medical Clinics Ballarat.

What Does the Check Actually Involve?

A full Heart Health Check at Lotus Family Clinics covers all of the following:

Blood Pressure Measurement

High blood pressure (hypertension) is called the "silent killer" because it produces no symptoms until serious damage has been done. Blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg significantly elevates your risk of heart attack and stroke — but many people have no idea their blood pressure is elevated until it's measured.

Fasting Blood Tests

Your GP will arrange blood tests to measure: total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose. You'll need to fast for 8–12 hours before these tests. Results are usually available within 24–48 hours.

Body Measurements

Height, weight, and waist circumference are measured. Waist circumference is particularly important — abdominal obesity is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular risk than BMI alone in many patients.

Lifestyle and Medical History Review

Your GP will ask about: smoking history, physical activity levels, dietary habits, family history of heart disease, and existing medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease.

Your Absolute Cardiovascular Risk Score

Using all this data, your GP calculates your absolute 5-year risk of a cardiovascular event using validated tools like the Australian Cardiovascular Risk Calculator. A score below 10% is considered low risk; 10–15% is moderate; above 15% is high risk and warrants active intervention.

What Happens After the Check?

The real value of a Heart Health Check is not the score itself — it's what happens next. At Lotus Family Clinics, your GP will develop a personalised Heart Health Plan based on your results. This may include:

• Lifestyle modification advice — specific, practical, and achievable goals for diet, exercise, and stress
• Referral to our on-site Physiotherapists Ballarat team for a structured exercise programme
• Medication — statins for cholesterol, antihypertensives for blood pressure, aspirin in selected cases
• Follow-up blood tests at 3, 6, or 12 months to track progress
• Referral to a cardiologist if your risk is high or symptoms warrant specialist input
• Diabetes management if your blood glucose indicates pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes

Heart Disease Risk Factors You Can Control

Many people assume heart disease is inevitable if it runs in the family. This is partly true — genetics plays a role — but the majority of modifiable risk factors are within your control:

• Smoking — the single biggest modifiable cardiovascular risk factor
• Physical inactivity — 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days significantly reduces risk
• Diet — high saturated fat, processed food, excess sodium, and low fibre all increase risk
• Alcohol — more than 2 standard drinks per day raises blood pressure
• Stress — chronic psychological stress elevates cortisol and inflammatory markers
• Obesity — particularly central (abdominal) obesity
• Poor sleep — less than 7 hours per night is associated with increased cardiovascular risk

Heart Health and the Role of Physiotherapy

Exercise is medicine — and for cardiovascular health, it may be the most powerful medicine available. Regular aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure, improves cholesterol ratios, lowers blood glucose, reduces body weight, and decreases inflammation. The challenge is knowing how to exercise safely, especially if you're starting from a low fitness base or managing an existing condition.

This is where our physiotherapy Ballarat team plays a vital role. After your Heart Health Check, your GP clinic can refer you to a physiotherapist who will design a supervised, progressive exercise programme suited to your fitness level, health conditions, and lifestyle. The combination of GP-led medical management and physiotherapist-led exercise prescription is one of the most effective cardiovascular prevention strategies available.

Women and Heart Disease: The Underdiagnosed Risk

Heart disease is often thought of as a male problem — but it kills more Australian women than breast cancer. Women's symptoms of heart attack can be subtler than the classic "crushing chest pain" — they may experience breathlessness, nausea, jaw or back pain, or profound fatigue. Women are also more likely to have their symptoms dismissed or investigated less aggressively.

Our Family Doctor Ballarat team is specifically attuned to women's cardiovascular risk. If you're a woman over 45 — particularly post-menopausal — please book your Heart Health Check. The drop in oestrogen at menopause significantly increases cardiovascular risk.

Book Your Heart Health Check at Lotus Family Clinics Today

Don't wait for symptoms. Most heart attacks happen to people who had no idea they were at risk. A single appointment at our medical clinics Ballarat could provide you with a detailed picture of your cardiovascular health and a clear roadmap to protecting it for decades to come.



Book Your Heart Health Check  Medicare-funded for eligible patients. Call or book online at lotusfamilyclinics.com.au

Lotus Family Clinics welcomes new and walk-in patients all week, providing easy access to reliable medical care.

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Visit us today at:-  lotusfamilyclinic.com.au

Your health deserves the attention it needs — without the cost.