Baby-boomers warned of high health risks

Myanmar News.Net
Tuesday 18th May, 2010

An Australian study has found that one in five Australians aged over 55 is in danger of suffering a potentially fatal heart attack or stroke in the next five years.

The risk assessment was made in the The Generation Risk report, which was carried out by Access Economics.

A collection of risk factors such as high blood pressure, being overweight or smoking led to conclusions that cardiovascular risk in Australians aged 55 or over was extremely high.

While smoking as a risk factor was seen to be declining, physical inactivity, being overweight or obese and increasing levels of diabetes had placed great strain on ageing Australians.

Researchers also found that 80 per cent of people prescribed medication to reduce the risk of a heart attack and stroke stopped taking their medication at around the two-and-a-half year mark.

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