Shoalhaven residents are less likely to go to hospital for a heart condition, but more likely to die of one, according to the Heart Foundation.
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The number of heart related hospital admissions is lower than the national average (47 per 10,000 people compared to 48 per 10,000 people) but deaths are 72 per 100,000 people, compared to a national average of 68 deaths per 100,000.
The most common risk factors were not exercising enough, obesity and high cholesterol.
While cholesterol levels in the region were on par with the national average, and high blood pressure was slightly less common, Shoalhaven residents are almost 8 per cent more likely to be obese than the "average Australian" , five per cent more likely to smoke and three per cent more likely to not exercise enough.
According to the same report, the Shoalhaven is old and less educated. It said 25 per cent of residents are over 65, compared to a national average of 15 per cent, and 16.3 per cent left school at year 9 or below, compared to a national average of 11.3 per cent.
