Don't Become a Statistic

In 2007, more than 80% of all premature deaths were due to chronic disease, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report, Premature mortality from chronic disease, shows that of these premature deaths— deaths among people aged less than 75 years—more than three in five were potentially avoidable.

Karen Bishop of the Institute’s Population Health Unit says: "Among men, coronary heart disease was the most common cause of premature mortality, accounting for 16% of years of life lost from chronic disease."

According to the Australian Heart Foundation, staying fit and eating healthy can substantially reduce your risk of heart attack.

Here are the Heart Foundation’s top five tips for sticking with healthy living resolutions:

• Small changes to your eating habits can make a big difference. Try switching to reduced fat milk instead of full fat milk, ditching the cakes or biscuits for morning tea and choosing a piece of fruit or opting for wholegrain bread instead of white. 
• Look for ways to build physical activity into your day. Walk or ride a bike instead of driving. If you must drive, park further away and walk the extra distance rather than driving around for the perfect park, or take a break during the day and go for a 15 minute walk. 
• Review the changes you’ve made and note how you are feeling. Changes should be long term so it’s important to be enjoying your life and feeling good about yourself. 
• Reward yourself – when a change becomes a habit, buy yourself some new clothes, or visit a place you enjoy. 
• Keep going with your changes – it’s normal to have days when it all becomes too hard, but don’t worry about it. Just keep going with your changes the next day.