Heart disease in men: all you need to know

What is heart disease?

Cardiovascular disease – often just called heart disease – is an umbrella term that includes a number of different diseases and heart conditions.

The most common and serious types of cardiovascular disease affect the blood vessels of the heart or the brain, causing them to become narrow or even blocked. If this blockage stops the blood flow it can cause a heart attack or a stroke.​

What are the symptoms of heart attack in men?

Chest discomfort or pain is the most common heart attack symptom for men. It might feel like an ache, squeezing, pressure or a feeling of fullness. It may also spread to other parts of the body, including the arms, neck, jaw or back. 

For some people, this discomfort or pain is severe but for others it’s mild. And it may last for several minutes at a time or come and go in waves.

For men, this pain or discomfort may also be accompanied by: 

• nausea
• a shortness of breath.

However, no 2 heart attacks are exactly the same. Warning signs vary and some people won’t experience any chest pain. 

It’s also possible to have what’s called a ‘silent heart attack’, which doesn’t cause any symptoms.

If you do experience warning signs of a heart attack that are severe, become worse or last for longer than 10 minutes, treat it as a medical emergency and call an ambulance. 

5 risk factors for heart disease in men

Four in 5 men in Australia are living with at least one modifiable heart-disease risk ​factor.¹

The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop heart ​​disease, but most cardiovascular disease risk factors are modifiable or ​​preventable. 

These are called lifestyle risk ​​factors and they include the following:

1. Unhealthy weight

Seventy-five per cent of men in Australia are overweight or living with obesity.² This raises the risk of developing other health conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which increase the risk of heart ​disease. For example, people living with diabetes are up to 4 times more likely to have a heart attack or ​stroke, while high blood pressure – which is more common in men than women​​ – remains the top risk factor for ​stroke. 

Calculating your waist-to-height ratio is one way to monitor whether your weight poses a health risk. To find your ratio, divide your waist measurement by your height (in centimetres). A waist-to-height ratio of greater than 0.5 is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. You can also use a BMI calculator as an additional tool to assess your weight and set some weight-loss goals if you need to.  

2. Unhealthy diet

The food you eat directly impacts your weight as well as your cholesterol levels and blood pressure. For example, consuming too much saturated fat increases levels of LDL, or ‘bad’ cholesterol, while a diet high in salt may increase the risk of high blood pressure. On the other hand, eating at least 5 serves of vegetables a day – something fewer than one in 20 men in Australia do – can lower the risk of heart disease.

A heart-healthy diet is rich in fibre, antioxidants and healthy fats, and low in salt, added sugar and unhealthy ​fats. To achieve this, eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, wholegrain cereals and breads, and nuts and seeds. Choose healthy sources of protein, like fish, lean cuts of meat and legumes, and use olive oil for cooking. And instead of salt, use herbs and spices to add flavour.

3. Being inactive

Seventy-three per cent of men in Australia don’t do enough physical and muscle-strengthening ​​activity.³ This can increase the risk of developing heart disease as well as high blood pressure and high ​cholesterol.

Aim to do at least 2½ hours of moderate intensity or 1¼ hours of vigorous intensity physical activity each week, and include muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week. Try to do something active most days of the week. Even better if you can do something active every day.

4. Smoking

By damaging the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart and brain, smokers are 3 times more likely to die of a heart attack and 2 times more likely to die of ​​stroke.⁴

In Australia, smoking rates are highest amongst males, with one in 6 men being smokers. If you need help to quit, contact Quitline on 137 ​848.

5. Too much alcohol

Over time, as well as weakening the heart, heavy drinking can cause the level of some blood fats to rise and can increase blood ​​pressure, too. As a result, people who drink heavily are 3 times more likely to have a ​​stroke.⁵

While a quarter of adults in Australia drink too much alcohol, it’s men who are significantly more likely to fall into this category. There’s no ‘safe’ level of drinking as far as your health is concerned, but the less you drink, the lower the risk of harm. Try not to drink more than 4 standard drinks on any single day, and no more than 10 in total, a week.

There are also some heart-disease risk factors that you can’t control, such as your age and if you have a family history of heart disease. While growing older is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, you may also be at a higher risk if you have a close family member, such as a parent or a sibling, who’s had a heart attack or stroke before they turned ​​60. 

Prevention of heart disease also involves catching any risk factors, both those that you can and can’t change, as ​​early as possible. For this reason, regular ​​Heart Health Checks are recommended to men aged 45 years and over, or 30 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ​​peoples.