PM Transcripts

EMBARGO:-6uL,,
AU ST RALIAL PRESS STATEMENT No. 72.
8 April 1973
HEART WEEK 1973
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, today ( Sunday)
launched Heart Week 1973.
Heart Week is the focus of the education effort
of the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
This year the foundation is concentrating on
encouraging early recognition and treatment of high blood
pressure which it has found to be a major causal factor
in about 52,000 deaths every year.
Mr Whitlam said today: " In opening Heart Week
1973, I support the National Heart Foundation's efforts
to inform people of the dangers of high blood pressure.
" High blood pressure is easily the most common
chronic disease in Australia.
" It afflicts an estimated 1,200,000 Australian
adults and more than half of them are unaware of their
condition. " That is why the Foundation is emphasising this
problem in its education campaign th~ is year.
" The campaign will stress the point that, while
high blood pressure is a serious disease, its treatment
can be simple and effective.
" The first step is for people to have their blood
pressure checked regularly and I am happy to joint the
Foundation in urging all Australian adults to do this.
" This alone will lead to a lowering of illness
and death from coronary heart disease, strokes and other
conditions of which high blood pressure is a major cause.
" If Australians follow the Foundation's advice,
we will have a healthier nation."