Atherosclerosis — the build-up in artery walls that leads to heart attacks — develops silently over decades. Most heart attacks happen to people who felt well the day before. Assessing your risk allows that process to be identified and managed before it causes an event.

Australian guidelines recommend cardiovascular risk assessment from age 45 for most people, from 35 for people with diabetes, and from 30 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If heart disease runs in your family, talk to your doctor earlier.

Coronary heart disease is the leading single cause of death in Australia. The AIHW reports around 57,100 acute coronary events — heart attacks and unstable angina — in 2023, roughly 156 every day, and cardiovascular disease underlies about a quarter of all Australian deaths.

It depends on the appointment or test. Some services attract a Medicare rebate only when you have a referral from your GP. Call reception on +61 8 6166 5790 and we will tell you what you need before you book.

The INTERHEART study, across 52 countries, found nine factors accounted for roughly 90 per cent of the risk of a first heart attack: the LDL to HDL cholesterol balance, smoking, diabetes, raised blood pressure, abdominal weight, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol, and psychosocial stress. Most can be changed.

No. Heart disease appears seven to ten years earlier in men on average, which is where the misconception comes from. Because women live longer, the total burden across a lifetime is actually greater in women. Symptoms can also present differently, contributing to delayed diagnosis.

Lipoprotein(a) is a cholesterol particle set almost entirely by your genes and not much changed by diet, exercise or statins. Around one in five people has a raised level and most do not know. It is a single blood test and, because the level is genetic, once is generally enough. Discuss with your doctor whether it is worth measuring in your case.

Yes. A parent or sibling who developed heart disease early — before 55 in men or 65 in women — raises your own risk, and some inherited conditions such as familial hypercholesterolaemia run strongly in families. Bring what you know about your family's history to your appointment.

No. A risk calculator gives a population-derived estimate of the chance of an event over a set period. It is not a prediction about you as an individual, and it cannot detect existing disease. It is designed to start a conversation with your doctor, not replace one.

As atherosclerotic deposits age they calcify, and calcium shows clearly on a low-dose CT scan. A calcium score measures what your arteries have actually accumulated over a lifetime, rather than estimating from risk factors. Whether it is appropriate for you depends on your risk profile and symptoms.

No, and more testing is not automatically better testing. Tests are worth doing where the result would change what happens next. Unnecessary investigations can produce incidental findings that cause worry and lead to further procedures without improving your health.

An echocardiogram is a specialised ultrasound of the heart. It shows the size and structure of the heart chambers, how well the pumping chambers are working, and how the four valves are opening and closing. It uses no radiation and is the usual first test when a murmur or heart failure is suspected.

Your referral if you have one, a list of your current medications and doses, any recent blood test or imaging results, and your Medicare card. Knowing whether heart disease runs in your family, and at what age, is also useful.

Consulting rooms are at Unit 1, 346 Barker Road, Subiaco WA 6008. Call +61 8 6166 5790 to arrange an appointment or to ask about availability.

Yes. Your GP coordinates your overall care, so correspondence and results are sent back to the doctor who referred you unless you ask otherwise. If you would like results sent elsewhere as well, tell us at your appointment.

If you have chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or think you may be having a heart attack or stroke, call 000 immediately. Do not wait for an appointment and do not use this website to assess an emergency.