Heart Health Check in Point Cook
High blood pressure and high cholesterol usually cause no symptoms, which is why so many people find out about them late. A Heart Health Check in Point Cook brings your risk factors together into one number: your chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years.
Knowing that number makes it easier to decide, with your GP, what is worth changing.
Who should book a heart health check in Point Cook
The Heart Foundation recommends a check if you do not already have heart disease and you are:
- 45 or older
- 35 or older and living with diabetes
- 30 or older and an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
Medicare has funded these checks since April 2019. The Medicare item can be claimed once in 12 months, and not if you have had another Medicare health assessment (such as the 45-49 assessment) in the previous 12 months.
The four steps
The Heart Foundation describes the check in four parts:
- Discuss: smoking, family history, diet, activity and medicines
- Measure: blood pressure, plus cholesterol and blood sugar results
- Calculate: your five-year risk using a validated risk calculator
- Plan: agree on steps to bring that risk down
Risk factors you can and cannot change
Age, sex and family history are fixed, but they are only part of the calculation. The factors you can work on include smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and how active you are. Because the risk score combines them, an improvement in one area can lower your overall number even when other factors stay the same, which is why small, steady changes are worth the effort.
Blood tests before your visit
The calculation needs recent cholesterol results. If you have not had them in a while, the GP can arrange a request beforehand and you can have blood collected at the onsite pathology centre, then book the check once results are back.
Making sense of your result
A low result is reassuring but still worth repeating as you get older or your health changes. A moderate or high result does not mean a heart attack is coming. It means there is room to lower your risk, often through quitting smoking, moving more, eating differently or treating blood pressure and cholesterol. Some people are started on medicine, and some are referred on. Ongoing care continues through blood pressure care where needed.
Warning signs need urgent care
A heart check is for people who feel well. Chest pain, pressure or tightness, especially with breathlessness, sweating or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, needs an ambulance: call 000.
Common questions
Does it cost anything?
Ask reception how the check is billed when you book, as Medicare covers the item and billing can vary.
I already have heart disease. Should I book one?
The check is designed for people not already known to have heart disease. If you do, your GP will manage your risk as part of regular care.
I have diabetes. Can I have one before 45?
Yes. The Heart Foundation recommends a check from age 35 for people living with diabetes, and your GP can link it with your diabetes care.
How often should I have one?
Medicare funds one Heart Health Check every 12 months. Your GP will suggest when to repeat it based on your result.
How should I prepare?
Bring a list of your medicines, any home blood pressure readings and what you know about heart disease in your family.
Is this different from a general check-up?
Yes. A general health check can cover many things, while this visit focuses on heart attack and stroke risk.
Good to know
Before your appointment
If you are a new patient, please arrive at least five minutes before your consultation and bring:
- Photo ID
- A valid Medicare card
Fees and billing
We offer bulk billing to all patients with a valid Medicare card for standard consultations. All procedures are subject to fees.